2018 Chevy Equinox
Compact crossover SUV a big player in the utility segment
Like a championship ball team with strong players, Chevrolet continues its winning streak with the 2018 Equinox compact crossover sport utility vehicle. Moreover, Chevy’s current roster of players — including the Impala, Malibu and Cruze — is the strongest lineup that the General Motors mainstay has fielded in its history.
The Equinox slots neatly into the compact class, which constitutes the most popular vehicle configuration in the U.S. market.
The all-new 2018 Equinox hasn’t lost any interior space but is nearly 6 inches shorter and almost 400 pounds lighter than its predecessor. One result: there no longer are any six-cylinder engines in the lineup; the tested Equinox uses a 170-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 203 lb.-ft. of torque. A 252-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-banger, along with a 137-horsepower diesel engine, are also included in the 2018 line.
The 1.5-liter engine is used in other Chevrolet models as well, including the desirable new-generation Malibu. To send the power to the front wheels or all four wheels, Chevy installs its competent six-speed automatic transmission.
The Equinox feels quicker than its 9-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration time. Turbo lag is nonexistent. The torque, or twisting force, is more than adequate for stoplight sprints, on-ramp acceleration and freeway lane-swapping. To enhance fuel economy, it uses a stopstart system to shut down the engine at stoplights.
Many stop-start systems tend to be annoying, restarting the engine with a shudder or with so much hesitation it feels as if the engine bogs down. That’s not the case with the Equinox. It engages instantly and smoothly, so there’s no anxiety getting a jump off the line. That’s a good thing because this stop-start system cannot be disengaged.
The Equinox also shines with effortless handling. There’s good grip and almost no lean around corners and it changes lanes smartly and smoothly without tossing passengers around.
Interior features
Inside, the Equinox delivers generous head and knee room for five people, plus 30 cubic feet of cargo space that expands to 64 cubic feet if the rear seatbacks are folded flat. There’s also a bit of extra out-of-sight stash space under the cargo floor. A power tailgate can be adjusted for height from a button on the driver’s door.
Front seats are supportive for long-distance comfort with modest bolsters on the seatbacks to hold the torso in cornering. Outboard back seats offer full comfort and even the center-rear position, a punishing place on most vehicles, is half-way decent thanks to a flat floor and minimal intrusion of the front console, though the seat itself is flat and hard.
Test drive
Tested for this review was the top Premier trim line with all-wheel drive. It’s a bit pricey for a compact crossover with a starting sticker of $35,330 and, with options, a bottom line of $39,645. However, the interior had an upscale look with quality materials and trim.
Equipment included full basic safety equipment plus forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic low-speed braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, and a rearview camera with an overhead view. However, there was no radar cruise control.
Also included was Chevrolet’s innovative teen driving parental control, which can set speed limits and audio volume, as well as produce a report card on the teen’s behavior behind the wheel.
The quicker Equinox than feels its 9-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration time. Turbo lag is nonexistent. The torque, or twisting force, is more than adequate for stoplight sprints, on-ramp acceleration and freeway lane-swapping.