2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel first drive: Ready for the long, if not heavy haul | Fox News

2018 Chevrolet Equinox DieselGeneral Motors will soon offer 12 models powered by diesel engines in the United States, but don’t call them the dirty dozen.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel:  General Motors will soon offer 12 models powered by diesel engines in the United States, but don’t call them the dirty dozen. Despite the recent Volkswagen emissions scandal, and a quickening industry-wide shift toward electrification, GM sees a promising future for the technology.

Looking for a Diesel Equinox?  Call our Customer Care Team today at 630-598-1029 or visit us online.

The lineup covers a wide range of vehicles that already includes the Chevrolet Cruze, GM’s heavy duty trucks and even the high performance off-road Chevy Colorado ZR2 pickup. But the newest entries have the potential to be the biggest-sellers.

Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain compact utility vehicles powered by diesel engines are on the way to showrooms now. They will be the only diesels and boast the highest highway fuel economy in the segment when they go on sale in a couple of weeks. The pair use the same 137 hp 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine as the Cruze, and get EPA ratings of 39 mpg highway (38 mpg AWD) and 32 mpg combined. Only the Nissan Rogue Hybrid has a better combined rating at 34 mpg, but it trails the GM models on the highway at 35 mpg. The Equinox can also go 577 miles between freeway fill-ups (592 miles for AWD models thanks to a larger tank.)

GM’s sales pitch is based largely on that highway efficiency, and the robust 240 lb-ft of torque that comes with it. By contrast, the standard 170 hp 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine has 203 lb-ft of torque, but only gets 32 mpg highway, while an optional 252 hp 2.0-liter engine cranks out 260 lb-ft of torque and a 29 mpg highway rating.

Dan Nicholson, GM Vice President Global Propulsion Systems, is confident there is a large and largely untapped market for diesel-powered light duty vehicles in the United States. He points to the success of the Colorado and GMC Canyon diesels, which make up about 10 percent of the sales for those two midsize pickups, along with studies that found 16 percent of compact crossover buyers would consider a diesel, which will represent nearly half a million of them by 2020.

When asked if VW’s woes have soured consumers on diesels, Nicholson said indications are that owners felt let down by the brand but don’t blame the technology. They’re still interested when it’s done properly, and he stresses that the latest offerings from GM have had their emissions certified under the most rigorous federal scrutiny yet required.

During a very short drive of the Equinox diesel on secondary roads, the engine felt as potent as advertised. The Equinox exhibited strong acceleration, and even a little torque steer in the front-wheel-drive model I was in when I floored the accelerator. GM claims the engine is roughly half as loud as the diesel in the Jaguar F-Pace, and it is nearly silent while cruising. Tucking the timing chain into the transmission bell housing at the back of the engine for added insulation was one clever way GM’s engineers reduced some of the noise. However, it still makes a muffled, yet recognizable diesel clatter at idle and under load.

2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel(Super-short Equinox review: regardless of engine, I think it’s one of the best vehicles in its class, which includes the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. It’s very refined, has an excellent ride and plenty of room for passengers and cargo, plus lots of tech. The only thing missing is adaptive cruise control, although you can get it with automatic emergency brakes. The old Equinox was a strong-seller. This one definitely deserves to be.)

I didn’t get to go far enough to get a read on fuel economy, but assistant chief engineer Mike Siegrist said he gets better than the EPA rating at sustained high speeds in the real world. That’s often the case with diesel engines and likely to be true here.

One advantage the diesel Equinox doesn’t have over the gas models is towing. Its official rating is the same as the 1.5-liter’s at 1,500 pounds and well below the 2.0-liter’s 3,500-pound max. Considering diesels are typically touted for their heavy hauling capability, this might seem counterintuitive, but the Equinox body doesn’t deliver enough cooling airflow for the hotter-running diesel engine in the toughest tests. Nevertheless, Siegrist said that towing isn’t a top concern for shoppers in this segment.

As for what they’ll pay, the lowest priced diesel available is a mid-level Equinox LT, which starts at $31,435. The closest comparably-equipped Equinox with the 1.5-liter is $1,795 less, and the 2.0-liter $600 more (although both of those have a power liftgate that’s valued at $400 and only available on the diesel through a much different configuration.)

The diesel will save the average driver $100 and $550 annually compared to each engine, respectively (minus an extra $15-$20 every 5,000-6,000 miles to refill the required diesel exhaust fluid that keeps it clean.) That’s assuming 15,000 miles driven each year. If you do more of those on the highway, or the spread between gas and diesel prices where you live is smaller, the savings will be greater.

Ultimately, GM is offering a unique choice for a specific type of customer, not a silver bullet for all. If you’re a long-hauler, but don’t haul a whole lot, it could be the right one for you.

Thanks for reading this article about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel.  You may also enjoy this article:  2018 Equinox Video Review

Source: 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel first drive: Ready for the long, if not heavy haul | Fox News

Chevrolet Bolt recall: Battery Might Die Suddenly, GM Warns Some Owners

Chevrolet Bolt recallA few hundred owners of the Chevrolet Bolt have been asked by the automaker to have their battery checked. The company warns that the Chevrolet Bolt battery might unexpectedly run out.

Chevrolet Bolt recall-

General Motors is warning some owners of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV that their electric car may suddenly lose power because of faulty battery cells—the first known battery glitch for the automaker’s well-received all-electric car.

If you own a Bolt, feel free to contact our Service Department at  between the hours of 7-7 daily or 8-4 on Saturdays at 630-898-9630 or drop by.  We will be happy to check and see if your Bolt is affected.

Or, you can always visit us online to schedule an appointment.

“Due to a battery low-voltage condition, the car may incorrectly report remaining range at low states of charge and lose propulsion before the customer expects,” Chris Bonelli, coordinator of global advanced technology communications for GM, said Friday morning.

Bonelli added, “Of the more than 10,000 Bolt EVs sold to date, less than 1 percent have experienced this issue so far.” But a few hundred have shown signs that the battery is at risk, and GM is contacting the owners of these vehicles, he said.

What Bolt Owners Should Do

Owners contacted by GM should take their Bolt into their dealer. A mechanic will inspect and repair the battery, or change it out. For replacements, owners will get a new, already tested battery that GM knows is operating correctly, Bonelli said.

“We don’t want all owners to think they’re going to have an issue,” he said. “This happens with a very low state of charge. If someone is affected, we’ll contact them soon and get it addressed as soon as possible.”

GM is not aware of any injury or damage reports because of this issue, he said.

If you haven’t received a notice but still have concerns, Consumer Reports recommends paying more attention to the remaining expected range gauge on their cars.

“Keep your state of battery charge high, even if that means topping it before you normally would,” says Jennifer Stockburger, director at CR’s Auto Test Center.

CR also recently tested the Bolt’s range in a head-to-head comparison with Tesla’s Model S 75D, under normal driving conditions. The Bolt traveled 250 miles before running out of juice on one full charge. The Model S made it 235 miles in the CR test.

Bonelli said the automaker became aware of the problem from data sent through GM’s OnStar telematics system, which sends vehicle performance information from the car to the automaker.

Consumer Reports owns a 2017 Bolt EV (shown above), and we’ve run just over 4,000 miles on it without a battery incident, according to CR chief mechanic John Ibbotson. And CR has not been notified to date by GM, he adds.

The 2017 Bolt EV is a CR-recommended vehicle in the electric car/hybrid category.

One Driver’s Experience

The effect of the sudden power was dramatic for Brad Berman. His Bolt stopped suddenly on a North Berkeley, Calif., road even though readouts indicated that it had dozens of miles of range available.

He said the failure came with little warning. Berman, 54, spoke with Consumer Reports on Friday. He first noted his incident on PluginCars.com.

“There was some kind of warning, a mild beep of some kind, that would indicate that you had a door ajar, but there wasn’t even enough time to figure that out on the dashboard before the steering wheel shuddered,” he said. “It was a dramatic and immediate halting of the car’s movement.”

Berman was on his way home from work as a journalist and video producer, and was less than a mile from his home when the Bolt stopped around 5 p.m. Aug. 8.

“From every indication, the car had juice,” he said. “The only thing is, when I would try to shift—in the middle of a busy road where people whip around very fast—into Drive or Reverse, there was a message saying that it couldn’t be done.

“I tried to reboot the car: power down, power back up, and try again. I did that two to three times, until I realized ‘I’m not moving.’ It’s basically like a panic situation, because you don’t know what’s happening.

“After about 2 minutes, I just put it into Neutral. I let it roll back to where I could basically parallel park. It stopped blocking someone’s driveway, but to move it any more would have placed it into a curve in the road,” Berman said. He gave up and walked home, where he waited 2 hours for a tow truck to pick up his car.

Berman said he remains impressed with the Bolt’s range capability and said he’s a little frustrated by the 13 days it took to get his car back, and what he considered a lack of information from GM about the situation. Still, he said he understands that “it’s premature, because we don’t know what the deal is. The dealer said that they had not experienced this event before.”

It’s rare, but not unheard of, for new electric cars to have issues around battery strength readouts. Nissan issued two service bulletins for its Leaf electric car, for the 2011 and 2012 model years. One bulletin instructed dealers on how to improve the accuracy of the battery capacity level gauge, and the other instructed them on how to help owners whose Leaf wouldn’t start under certain conditions.

Thanks for reading this article.  You may also like: 10 Reasons why I like my Bolt better than my Tesla 

Source: Chevrolet Bolt Battery Might Run Out Suddenly, Automaker Warns Some Owners

High Desert Pkg 2017 Chevy Silverado Walk Around Ron Westphal Chevrolet Video

High Desert Pkg 2017 Chevy Silverado Walk Around Ron Westphal Chevrolet Video

Visit us online to find out more about this awesome Chevy Silverado!

Our Customer Care Team can be reached at 630-898-9630.  They’ll be happy to check availability, review pricing and answer any questions you may have.

If you like this video, then you’ll enjoy our more detailed video about the High Desert Package tonneau cover and lighted side boxes.  http://westphalchevyblog.com/index.php/2017/08/23/2017-chevy-silverado-desert-package-tonneau-cover-and-side-boxes-video/

Thanks for watching!

2017 Chevy Silverado Desert Package Tonneau Cover and Side Boxes Video

2017 Chevy Silverado Desert Package Tonneau Cover and Side Boxes Video

This short video features Ron Westphal Chevrolet salesperson Brian Crunican demonstrating how easy it is to use the lighted side boxes on the all new Desert Package on the 2017 Chevy Silverado.

Brian also shares how simple it is to remove the hard tonneau cover.

For additional information visit our website at www.westphalchevy.com.

Please call Brian Crunican or our customer care team at 630-898-9630 to verify availability, check pricing or answer any questions you may have.

If you like this video, you may also enjoy http://westphalchevyblog.com/index.php/2017/07/24/video-2018-chevy-traverse-redline-series-exterior-ron-westphal-chevrolet/

Danny Cardinal delivers another car at Ron Westphal Chevrolet

The first one was so good they came back for a second. Congrats again to salesperson Danny Cardinal!

Posted by Wesley A Westfall on Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Salesperson Danny Cardinal has been employed at Ron Westphal Chevrolet since 2014.  We are proud to have Danny represent Ron Westphal Chevy and the entire line-up of Chevrolet vehicles.

Danny trains continually and updates his product knowledge daily.  He is a true Chevrolet product specialist.

If you are looking for the all latest features or have any questions about a Chevrolet model, please contact product specialist Danny Cardinal at 630-898-9630.

Danny Cardinal is married with children and recently purchased a new home for his family.

GM Doubles Down On Diesel As 2018 Equinox Gets 39 MPG Rating, 577-Mile Range

2018 Chevy Equinox diesel engineGM doubles down on diesel with 39 mpg Equinox that has 577 mile range

2018 Chevy Equinox diesel engine

Flashback to June 2015. Volkswagen was the unrivaled leader in sales mainstream diesel-powered cars in America. The only other brands selling any notable number of diesel cars were the three German premium brands. VW’s only competitor was General Motors which had sold about 12,000 Cruze diesels over the prior two years with almost no marketing push. As GM was revealing the all-new second-generation Cruze including a new diesel engine, Powertrain VP Dan Nicholson declared that GM intended to become the U.S. market leader in passenger vehicle diesels. Three months later all hell broke loose for Volkswagen and it looked like diesel in America might be on the verge of extinction.

Looking for a diesel?  Call Ron Westphal Chevrolet’s Customer Care team now at 630-898-9630 or visit us online.

Two years later, Volkswagen has paid out billions of dollars in fines and updated millions of vehicles globally and repurchased most of the nearly half million affected vehicles in the U.S. It now appears unlikely that VW will ever sell another new diesel in this market and even Mercedes-Benz, the brand that sold the first ever diesels back in the 1920s has largely given up on the technology.

Despite that, it’s way too early to declare either the the rebirth of the demise of the diesel engine. Since VW was outed for cheating on diesel emissions, Jaguar-Land Rover has added diesel engines to most of its lineup, Mazda has announced a diesel in the new CX-5 and GM has launched the GMC Canyon, Chevy Colorado and Cruze. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to add its new 1.6-liter “whisper diesel” to a pair of its most popular vehicles, the Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain crossovers.

The manual transmission Cruze diesel got an EPA rating of 52 mpg on the highway and 37 mpg combined. With the Equinox about to hit dealers, it has achieved a label rating of 39 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined. That’s significantly better than any of its gas-fueled competitors and it even beats the numbers from the hybrid versions of the Nissan Rogue and Toyota Rav4.

 

It’s been about six months since the diesel-powered Cruze sedan went on sale and the results so far could charitably be described as modest. Sales of compact cars in general have been in a rapid decline of late as customers rush to crossovers and the marketing push for the diesel has yet to begin in earnest. Perhaps more importantly, the Cruze hatchback will be finally be offered with the diesel with the start of model year 2018 production.

“American diesel customers have generally shown a preference for five-door models so we expect the addition of the hatchback this fall to significantly boost Cruze diesel sales.” said Nicholson in a recent interview.

You may also like this post about 2018 Chevy Equinox Styling

Source: GM Doubles Down On Diesel As 2018 Equinox Gets 39 MPG Rating, 577-Mile Range

2017 Chevy Bolt Premier Interior Video Ron Westphal Chevrolet

2017 Chevy Bolt Premier Interior Video

Check out the all new electric Chevrolet Bolt EV at Ron Westphal Chevrolet in Aurora, IL near Naperville, Plainfield and more.

Visit our website or call our customer care team now to arrange your V.I.P hands-on evaluation.

Used 2011 Cadillac CTS for sale at Ron Westphal Chevrolet

Used 2011 Cadillac CTS for sale at Ron Westphal Chevrolet

This awesome Cadillac is available for immediate delivery at Ron Westphal Chevy in Aurora, IL.  Call our customer care team now at 630-898-9630 to arrange a V.I.P. test drive.  Or, visit us online at www.WestphalChevy.com.  

We are proud to stock a wide selection of vehicles ranging from convertibles to full-size 4-wheel drive models.  We carry Chevrolet models of course but also a large variety of non-GM vehicles such as Nissan, Toyota, VW, Kia, Hyundai, Lexus, BMW and many more.

If you like this video you may also like our 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche video.

Chevy Bolt vs Nissan Leaf video comparison

Chevy Bolt vs Nissan Leaf video comparison

Chevy Bolt vs Nissan Leaf Video Comparison Ron Westphal Chevy goes over just some of the Chevrolet advantages.

Spoiler Alert:  The Chevy Bolt creams the Nissan Leaf.

Want to see and/or drive a Bolt in person? Give our Customer Care Team a call at 630-898-9630 to arrange a V.I.P. demonstration drive.  If you prefer, visit our website at http://www.WestphalChevy.com.

Thanks for watching!

Ron Westphal Chevrolet is a family owned new and used car dealership located in Aurora, IL near Naperville, Plainfield and Oswego, IL. We are less than 1 hour from Chicago and in Kendall County, so we are very popular with residents from the Windy City.