Chevrolet Equinox History
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The Chevrolet Equinox is a mid-size crossover that competes with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape and many others. All have optional all-wheel drive and a wide range of available safety features, making the the Equinox a little less unique, but a solid choice nonetheless.
See our most recent review of the 2013 Chevy Equinox for more information, including options, prices, gas-mileage ratings, and specifications.
While it shares no body panels, the Chevy Equinox is nearly identical to the GMC Terrain--both vehicles are made by General Motors, and differ mostly in styling, interior, features, and options.
Today's Chevrolet Equinox first went on sale for 2010. It comes with either a four-cylinder engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission, or as a V-6 crossover with an automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive option. It's known for good ride quality; safe, secure handling; and a much improved feature set compared its predecessor. The Equinox's EPA rating of 32 mpg highway is still competitive, even as a new generation of crossovers has emerged.
At the same time, it retains an exceptionally roomy second-row seat, which slides on a track to increase passenger foot room or to boost cargo space in the rear. There is no option for third-row seating, however. Competitive but slightly larger vehicles such as the Dodge Journey and Kia Sorento offer a third-row seat as an option.
The Equinox has seen few major changes in recent model years, although it has received some of the latest connectivity and active-safety features. Those include lane-departure warning and forward collision alert, plus Chevy's MyLink system, for easier hands-free calling or media access. In 2013, the Equinox introduced a combination of MyLink and touch-screen navigation, while a new 301-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 replaced the 3.0-liter V-6 as the top-level powertrain. A replacement for today's Equinox and Terrain crossovers will likely arrive for the 2015 model year.
With many new luxury features added to the latest Equinox, this is a model that can be a bargain in its base form. Yet it's relatively easy to push its $22,500 base price up near $30,000--where a seven-passenger Chevrolet Traverse wagon might make more sense.
The first generation Equinox debuted in 2005, one of four then-new crossover vehicles that used the same underpinnings. Only the Equinox survives; the other three has passed into history (they were the Saturn Vue, Pontiac Torrent, and Suzuki XL7). That 2005 Equinox waspositioned as a 'just right'-sized crossover utility vehicle--a little larger than compact crossovers like the Ford Escape, but a little smaller than three-row mid-size entries like the Toyota Highlander. That edition of the Equinox was offered with front- or all-wheel drive, and four- or six-cylinder engines, through the 2009 model year. While reviewers appreciated the interior room of the first Equinox, its antiquated, coarse V-6 engine and bland styling were outdone by competitors from Honda, Ford, Toyota and Subaru. In 2008, Chevrolet added a smoother, more powerful V-6 to the Equinox lineup (and to the Pontiac Torrent as well).
