Chevrolet Equinox - 2005 Review

Bottom-Line: Over all, I was disappointed in the Chevrolet Equinox and by the end of the day I was glad to rid of the baby SUV and driving off once more in my comfortable Impala.

The Chevrolet Equinox had first come to my attention some time ago when GM was seriously considering making this beautifully style compact SUV a hybrid.  At that time I was well prepared to trade up as it were in order to get better gas mileage, but much to my dismay GM pulled the plug on the hybrid idea and stuck an older (underpowered) pushrod V6 into the baby SUV and I lost interest.  However I love the exterior styling of the Chevrolet Equinox and decided that the gas mileage even without the hybrid technology was acceptable enough to give it a try. 

As I stated about the exterior styling on the Chevrolet Equinox is stunning.  Gone are the square boxy lines of the Geo Track, which the Equinox replaced.  These are replaced by fluid sensual curves that speak of power and majesty; indeed the styling is decidedly Lexus-like in its execution and demeanor. 

My Viewpoint:

Interior Styling

The interior styling however, falls short of the mark by a considerable margin.  Though Chevrolet has come a long way in banishing the cheap looking, plastic knobs, dials, and moldings, they still haven't quite gotten the message that it's the ergonomics stupid that help sell cars.  The automatic window controls have been moved to center console, which in-and-of-itself is not so bad, but unlike my Impala (and most modern vehicles), the controls are not backlit!  Hello!  Another grip is the center consol itself; while the radio and climate control knobs and dials are easy to reach, some of them are too small to read without squinting.  The arm rest is sparse on real space and in order to get to stored CD's, you have to lift it up; a major hindrance while driving. 

The instrument cluster is just ho-hum, and not what I would have expected in an SUV with such aggressive exterior styling, but I have to remember that this is a Chevrolet after all, not a Cadillac.  

The cup-holders, which spring from the center console, are flimsy looking and placed down too far for the driver to practically use the one of his (or her) side.  There is another cup-holder set into the bottom of the center consol, but it much too far away for the driver practically use.  The cup-holders in the back are of the same flimsy design. 

The seats, although leather, looked cheap and were far too small for my tastes.  I am a big man with a broad back; the small side boaster did not provide nearly enough support, and I continually felt like I might slide out of the seat at any moment.  Lumbar support was non-existent as well, and at the end of the day, my lower back was begging for relieve.  I couldn't even imagine taking the Equinox on a road-trip wherein I drove 10-13 hours as I have been know to do. 

Performance

Chevy decided to give all models of the Equinox an older pushrod 185-hp 3.4L 3400 V6 engine that generates 210lb.-ft. of torque at 3800 rpm.  They mated the engine with a five-speed automatic transmission that shifts rather smoothly.  The engine is nothing special; it provides adequate power for everyday driving; rapid acceleration at the low end of the curve is not in the card unless to mash the accelerator, but once revved up the engine is quick to respond; i.e. it will get you off the on-ramp respectable time.

The steering on the Equinox was like nothing I have ever experienced; it is almost too easy to move the wheel.  The SUV is equipped with Variable-assist Electric Power-Steering or EPS.  One of the first things I notice after I started driving the Equinox, was how light the steering was; I did not like it, and I never really got used to it.  I noticed the difference immediately when I got back behind the wheel of my Impala, whose steering is noticeably tighter and more responsive.  With EPS, the Equinox needs constant attention on order to keep the SUV in its own lane.  Upon acceleration, the front end wanders because the steering is so light.  I say again, I did not like it. 

Over all, I was disappointed in the Chevrolet Equinox and by the end of the day I was glad to rid of the baby SUV and driving off once more in my comfortable Impala.  So, of course in the end, I decided to pass on the Chevrolet Equinox and try another (much larger) vehicle, one with a more comfortable ride and better shoulder room and lumbar support.