First, this third-generation Equinox, offered with front- or all-wheel drive, bucks trends by shrinking — not growing — compared to the vehicle it replaces.
Second, despite being Chevy’s second-best-selling nameplate in 2016 (Silverado was first), it’s willing to take styling chances.
Third, it’s the first multi-engine Chevy ever to field a motor menu comprised solely of turbocharged engines — all four-cylinders.
Looking for something with a modern style? The 2018 Equinox could be perfect for you! Call our Customer Care Team today and schedule a V.I.P. test drive. Or, visit us online anytime.
This guy is not risk-averse.
Offered in L, LS, LT and Premier trims, Equinox is available with a 1.5-liter making 170 hp; a 2.0-liter making 252 hp; and a 1.6-liter diesel good for 137 hp. The 2.0 buttons to a nine-speed automatic, the others to a six-speed. We drove a front-drive LT 2.0T.
Notably smaller than Generation 2, this Gen 3 Equinox, riding a 5.2-inch shorter wheelbase, casts an overall shadow that’s 4.7 inches more compact. That, and the resulting 400-pound weight savings, allows this guy to claim EPA mpg ratings that are better than average for the class.
Helping is Equinox’s standard stop/start engine feature, which — typical of GM — has no “off” button. Fortunately, it’s notably less irritating here than in many vehicles.
Weight loss notwithstanding, we suspect the base engine has its hands full (we haven’t driven it), but the 2.0-liter blown four in our front-drive LT was lively. With 260 lb.-ft. of torque managed by a smooth nine-speed, we never felt deprived of power, even as our front-driver returned 24 mpg over 150 miles, more in-town than highway.
From a styling standpoint, Equinox looks great. We loved the front’s Malibu-esque grille and the profile’s forward-leaning C-pillar, trailed as it is by a blacked-out D-pillar, giving the flank an in-motion look.
The cargo bay aft of the (foldable) second row is small by segment standards, but people room is aces front and rear. If anything, we found the front buckets overly supportive, with a beefy horizontal shoulder bolster that, paired with the seat back’s big side bolsters, sort of gave the impression of leaning back into a catcher’s mitt.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox styling: In our LT’s quiet cabin, infotainment, including an audio volume knob, was happily simple and soft-touch buttons on the steering wheel had pleasant tactile feel.
Pricing tells us Chevy is proud of the quantum leap this new Equinox has made over its predecessor. A base L front-driver starts at an accessible $24,525, but our front-drive LT, with the stronger engine and nine-speed, had a base price just over $30,000. To that we had to add a $1,945 package to get heated seats, power liftgate, dual-zone climate, Rear Park Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic, Blind Zone and Lane Change alerts.
That done, our LT 2.0T was very nice, indeed, and a real competitor in a segment that includes the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
