![]() ![]() It’s a vague, slow-ratio process to point the SUV in new directions, and feedback doesn’t improve much through long sweeping turns. Chevy has improved on the old model’s spongy brakes and excessive body roll, but the steering remains too soupy for any curvy-road thrills. Related: Does the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Improve Blind Spot Visibility?įun to drive, however, the Equinox is not. You can also get 17- or 18-inch wheels with higher-sidewall tires, which should theoretically soften things up more. ![]() Our test cars - front-drive 1.5-liter models with 19-inch wheels - exhibited some turbulence over undulating stretches of highway, but the chassis is otherwise unfazed by rough pavement, with controlled shock absorption and infrequent harshness. Wind and road noise are remarkably low, even over concrete patches. Still Refinedĭespite the weight loss, the Equinox maintains much of the refinement that distinguished the outgoing model. There’s still room for improvement - especially on the highway, where accelerator lag and a transmission that resists downshifting conspire against passing - but in a class known for modest power, this is more than adequate. It’s a noisy climb to higher revs, but the drivetrain’s 203 pounds-feet of torque makes the ascent brisk enough. ![]() The new base engine, a turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 170 horsepower, moves the Equinox with a punchiness its underpowered four-cylinder predecessor lacked. brands are Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC.) The new platform helps shed about 400 pounds - more than 10 percent of curb weight - and it’s immediately noticeable. Nearly 5 inches shorter than 2017, the 2018 Equinox shares its platform with the redesigned GMC Terrain but no other GM models in the U.S., officials at the automaker’s South Carolina media preview told me. This one feels more like the rest of them, but it lands there with undeniable refinement. The new Equinox is less distinctive than its predecessor, which had a certain bigger-is-better appeal among smallish rivals. Likewise, its interior remains reasonably quiet at speed, something that’s always - No longer a plus-sized entrant among compact SUVs, the redesigned 2018 Chevrolet Equinox takes direct aim at popular models like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. The vehicle’s ride is firm without being too harsh, something that helps keep body roll to a minimum. This is, to put it mildly, quite annoying. I found it decently communicative and the thick-set wheel nicely shaped, but even with the optional lane-keep assist enabled the Equinox wanders, requiring constant correction to keep it within the lane markers. If there’s a downside to the way this bow-tie utility vehicle drives it’s the steering. This exhaustive tuning reduced air resistance by around 10 percent compared to the outgoing model. Helping deliver those impressive figures, the Equinox’s body spent more than 500 hours in the wind tunnel. SEE MORE: 2017 Cadillac XT5 Platinum AWD Review With front-wheel drive and the base powerplant this vehicle stickers at 26 miles per gallon city (9.0 L/100 km) and 32 on the highway (7.4 L/100 km). Buyers that want more giddy-up can always opt for the 2.0-liter engine, but they’re not going to achieve the same efficiency scores. Still, on flatter terrain or lower elevations the performance provided is perfectly fine for a large swath of crossover customers. A full load of passengers and parcels would reduce vigor even more. Max one out and plan on dropping around 40.Ĭlimbing skyward through the Blue Ridge Mountains around Asheville, North Carolina revealed that this crossover is a little taxed, moseying up the hills even at wide-open throttle. The range-topping, Premier-trim front-wheel-drive model I tested in Orange Burst Metallic hue went for just shy of 36 large. You can get an Equinox with some pretty generous equipment, but what does it cost? Well, the bargain-basement price is a not-unreasonable $24,475, including $895 in delivery fees ($26,995 in Canada). SEE MORE: 2017 Honda CR-V Long-Term Test Introduction Blind-spot monitoring rear cross-traffic alert Surround Vision, a visual parking aid and a vibrating Safety Alert Seat are also offered. Preventing crashes in urban environments is available Low-Speed Forward Automatic Braking. Keeping up with the Joneses, or rather, the Hyundais, Subarus and Toyotas, Equinox offers a wide range of advanced driver-assistance technologies, the sort of amenities that are rapidly becoming expected by consumers. Really, unless you are at one extreme or the other, Chevy’s new Equinox should be able to accommodate you without issue. Front or rear, seat comfort is admirable.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |