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2009 Chevrolet Equinox Quality Review

March 15, 2009

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

plenty of headroom and legroom up front
ConsumerGuide

quiet, well-insulated cabin
Edmunds

the front seats are no treat
MyRide.com

Occupants are greeted with a copious amount of interior space, but the 2009 Equinox suffers from the use of lesser materials that are not complementary with some of its more luxurious design elements.

Reviewers at Kelley Blue Book point out "more rear-seat legroom than even the biggest SUVs." Edmunds praises the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox as having "lots of stretch-out room for both rows," while ConsumerGuide grumbles that the "bench seat is hard and flat," though at least "there's plenty of headroom." The "roomy and versatile cabin" impresses Edmunds, while ConsumerGuide says there’s "plenty of headroom and legroom up front." MyRide.com finds the "front seats uncomfortable" and "lacking anything resembling lateral support." The most remarkable element of the interior's accommodations is the vast amount of rear seat hip and legroom, though. Chevy puts the rear seat on sliding tracks so that it moves forward and back up across an eight-inch range. The rear seat's backrest also folds forward in a 60/40 split, and the right front passenger seat folds flat into a table. Car and Driver applauds how the "Multi-Flex rear seating aims to provide flexibility for passengers and cargo."

Elsewhere inside, Chevrolet augments the front console with several "hidden storage compartments," Edmunds reports, and in the back, space is further increased by "integrated storage bins." Behind the seats, though, the cargo area is about the size of that in the smaller Ford Escape. Families are sure to like the "height-adjustable cargo shelf [that] serves as both a security cover and a picnic table," Car and Driver says.
The storage capacity of the interior is also singled out and praised for "69 cubic feet of total cargo capacity," placing the Equinox "among the class leaders."

Kelley Blue Book reports, “As for materials in the Equinox, Chevrolet has created an "interior marked by ill-fitting plastic, ho-hum cloth upholstery and a general lack of sophistication." MyRide.com bemoans, "stalks for the turn signals and wipers felt brittle when used." Edmunds says the Chevy Equinox delivers a "quiet, well-insulated cabin." However, most remain unmoved by "sub par interior materials" and workmanship. That’s a common complaint among several reviewers; Car and Driver contends, "less than impressive interior materials make Equinox feel less refined than its competitors."

Noise is another common grievance. The poorly insulated 2009 Chevy cabin is further assailed by "tires, which roar on smooth road surfaces,” says ConsumerGuide, adding, "wind noise is obvious at highway speeds.”

Conclusion

The 2009 Chevrolet Equinox is praised for its design, which combines lots of storage room in a small package but is marred by a lack of attention to the details.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:plenty of headroom and legroom up frontConsumerGuidequiet, well-insulated cabinEdmundsthe front seats are no treatMyRide.com Occupants are greeted with a copious amount of interior space, but the 2009 Equinox suffers from the use of lesser materials that are not complementary with some of its more luxurious design elements. Reviewers at Kelley Blue Book point out "more rear-seat legroom than even the biggest SUVs." Edmunds praises the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox as having "lots of stretch-out room for both rows," while ConsumerGuide grumbles that the "bench seat is hard and flat," though at least "there's plenty of headroom." The "roomy and versatile cabin" impresses Edmunds, while ConsumerGuide says there’s "plenty of headroom and legroom up front." MyRide.com finds the "front seats uncomfortable" and "lacking anything resembling lateral support." The most remarkable element of the interior's accommodations is the vast amount of rear seat hip and legroom, though. Chevy puts the rear seat on sliding tracks so that it moves forward and back up across an eight-inch range. The rear seat's backrest also folds forward in a 60/40 split, and the right front passenger seat folds flat into a table. Car and Driver applauds how the "Multi-Flex rear seating aims to provide flexibility for passengers and cargo." Elsewhere inside, Chevrolet augments the front console with several "hidden storage compartments," Edmunds reports, and in the back, space is further increased by "integrated storage bins." Behind the seats, though, the cargo area is about the size of that in the smaller Ford Escape. Families are sure to like the "height-adjustable cargo shelf [that] serves as both a security cover and a picnic table," Car and Driver says. The storage capacity of the interior is also singled out and praised for "69 cubic feet of total cargo capacity," placing the Equinox "among the class leaders." Kelley Blue Book reports, “As for materials in the Equinox, Chevrolet has created an "interior marked by ill-fitting plastic, ho-hum cloth upholstery and a general lack of sophistication." MyRide.com bemoans, "stalks for the turn signals and wipers felt brittle when used." Edmunds says the Chevy Equinox delivers a "quiet, well-insulated cabin." However, most remain unmoved by "sub par interior materials" and workmanship. That’s a common complaint among several reviewers; Car and Driver contends, "less than impressive interior materials make Equinox feel less refined than its competitors." Noise is another common grievance. The poorly insulated 2009 Chevy cabin is further assailed by "tires, which roar on smooth road surfaces,” says ConsumerGuide, adding, "wind noise is obvious at highway speeds.” ConclusionThe 2009 Chevrolet Equinox is praised for its design, which combines lots of storage room in a small package but is marred by a lack of attention to the details. 2009 CHEVROLET EQUINOX STYLING | [7 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: “begs for more in the way of color and contrast" Autoblog: "dowdy and utilitarian" ConsumerGuide: "overall quality still significantly trails most rivals" Car and Driver: "handsomely styled" The wedge shape of the 2009 ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

All of these competitors to the 2009 Chevrolet Equinox feel considerably more refined. The Saturn Vue has underpinnings that are related to those of the Equinox, but its 2008 redesign puts it on a higher plane than the Equinox. The Ford Escape was reengineered for the 2008 model year, and it’s surprisingly responsive to drive. Both are offered with hybrid powertrains, but neither has as much second-row seating room as the Equinox. The best in the class of five-seaters is the Honda CR-V, which has controversial styling but still offers the best assembly quality in the class. The top-rated Subaru Forester is another model to look at; it’s arguably the safety champ in this class and has the best handling.

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See the Chevrolet Equinox in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005

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