Equinox packs a surprising punch under the hood
1,500 rpm, but unlike some others with multi-gear transmissions — the new Jeep Compass comes to mind — there’s no pathological aversion to downshifting here.
As these were U.S.-spec Equinoxes, we observed 24 MPG on this mix of highway and winding two-lane roads. Plus, not only does the Equinox run on regular grade fuel, an auto start/stop system is standard across the line.
The first stop is the hamlet of Leipers Fork, about an hour outside of Nashville. If you’re looking for a killer fried chicken sandwich and some fried green tomatoes, drop in on the friendly folks at The Country Boy diner. And if you’re looking to jam on some funky vintage instruments, wander two doors down to Serenite Maison. There’s an old Kay standup bass leaning in the corner — been there for decades, they say — along with a selection of Gibson and Martin guitars hanging on the wall. No, they’re not for sale — I asked — they’re purely for the pleasure of anyone who wants to play them.
Chevrolet has the 2018 Equinox armed for connectivity. Standard is a Chevy MyLink infotainment system with wireless audio streaming, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, and one year of OnStar that bestows, among other services, a 4G LTE wireless hot spot.
The Equinox’s dash looks to be lifted right out of the Malibu, which is no bad thing, as all the controls, major gauges and menu structure are clear and logical. The cabin looks good dressed up in this two-tone tanand-black combo, but lesser trim models in all black are a bit dour. The quality of materials is not up to class leaders, such as the CX-5 and the Sportage, and some of that faux-chrome trim hints of an old-school GM hangover.
The front seats are comfortable, and rear passengers are not left out here, getting plenty of headroom and legroom, two USBs, a power adapter, a 110-volt outlet and heated seats. It doesn’t stop there; rear-seat riders can choose whether they want warm butts and/or backs.
A raft of new radar- and camera-based safety kit is on the menu, including surround vision, forward collision alert and automatic braking, plus lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist systems. Additionally, the standard Rear Seat Reminder warns if a child or dog is left in the second row.
There’s plenty of functionality in the 2018 Equinox. The 60/40-split second row easily folds forward with a low-effort fluid motion, creating a flat and smartly configured load space. There is a hidden compartment under the floor. The hatch opening is large, too, although you’ll find more cargo room in a CR-V, Forester or Toyota RAV4. With the 2.0-L turbo engine, the Equinox’s tow rating leaps to 3,500 pounds (1,558 kg).
Landing in dealerships now, this accomplished crossover with its bigger engine, grown-up, comfy road manners and classleading technology is the first prong in the Equinox’s assault on the compact crossover segment. Later this year, the Equinox will get a 1.6-L turbodiesel engine with 136 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.