 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Click image to enlarge |
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2010 Chevrolet Equinox
Grand Bend, Ontario – Whenever auto companies pack a jam of journalists into a fleet of whatever vehicle it’s launching, they will very occasionally have a couple of the competitors’ models they’re targeting, to enable the writers to drive them back-to-back. It’s always a useful exercise, but of course it’s skewed: no one’s going to bring in a rival that outperforms the new model being showcased. And so, when GM put us in the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox and then handed over some Toyota and Honda keys, everyone took notice.
The RAV4 and CR-V have deservedly earned their spots in the sales race. But this completely redesigned Equinox has done something its predecessor could not: it gives GM the ability to solidly stand head-to-head in the crowded compact SUV market against all domestic and import opponents. The biggest hurdle it’s going to have to face is public perception, because it’s got pretty much everything else in line with its competition.
Its advertising campaigns will weigh heavily towards its fuel economy, which GM says is class-leading, but this Equinox also earns high marks for its looks, performance, interior and comfort.
  2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Click image to enlarge |
It’s also trimmed and badged as the GMC Terrain, and both are built in GM’s CAMI plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, which also produced the Suzuki XL7 until slow sales brought an end to that model’s production. GM reps say there’s none of the XL7 in the new Equinox, and while the upcoming and redesigned Cadillac SRX shares the same basic platform and some of the Equinox’s components, it’s its own vehicle, and not simply an Equinox wearing a Cadillac crest (the SRX is made in Mexico).
For 2009, the Equinox came only with a choice of V6 engines, in 3.4- or 3.6-litre displacement. There are still two engines for 2010, but the selection is now a 2.4-litre four-cylinder or 3.0-litre V6, both completely new and with direct injection, and both mated to six-speed automatic transmissions. Both can be ordered in front-wheel drive, or with an all-wheel system that primarily runs the front wheels, but sends power to the rear wheels when necessary. In FWD, the I4 rates a fuel-sippy 7.8 L/100 km (36 mpg Imp) in combined driving, and 8.7 L/100 km (32 mpg Imp) in AWD. The V6 uses 10.2 L/100 km (28 mpg Imp) combined in FWD, and 10.5 L/100 km (27 mpg Imp) in AWD. Numbers can get boggling, so to simplify, GM says the four-cylinder front-wheel version gets better mileage and costs less than comparatively-equipped 2009 versions of the RAV4 and CR-V, and the less expensive but thirstier 2009 Ford Escape. Both engines are GM units: the four-cylinder is made in Spring Hill, Tennessee, while the V6 is cranked out of St. Catharines, Ontario. Both also use a timing chain, rather than a timing belt, which will keep down maintenance costs for long-term owners.
When asked if the Equinox might also emerge as a hybrid, GM’s representative said that the company isn’t making any announcements right now, and that given the fuel economy of the four-cylinder, there’s not a lot of advantage to a hybrid when the extra price is factored in.
I’m old enough to remember when four-cylinder engines meant you’d bought solely by your budget, and you kept enough back so you could buy a calendar to time the car’s acceleration. That’s seldom true now anymore, and frankly, I’d take the Equinox’s four-cylinder over its V6 any day. Both are very smooth and work very well, moving the FWD’s curb weight of 1,710 kg (3,770 lbs) very easily, but it’s an extra $1,725 to put the V6 under the hood. The larger engine also requires that you order 18-inch wheels, at $325, so the package adds $2,050 to the price.
 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Click image to enlarge |
The four-cylinder produces 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque, while the V6 spins out 264 horses and 222 lb-ft of torque. But as odd as it sounds, the smaller engine actually feels livelier on acceleration. GM has also wisely made it available throughout the lineup, unlike the days when you had to take the bigger engine if you wanted all of the bells and whistles. The base LS comes only with the I4, while the progressive trim lines of 1LT, 2LT and top-line LTZ can be ordered with the I4 or the V6. Both engines come in front- or all-wheel drive. The starting prices for the FWD I4 are $25,995 for the LS (a $1,345 drop from the base 2009 version); $27,725 for 1LT; $30,110 for 2LT; and $33,460 for the LTZ. The all-wheel drive system adds $1,610 to each.
The four-cylinder is a very refined powerplant and uses some impressive technology. The direct injection provides up to three per cent better fuel efficiency than a comparable non-equipped engine, and reduces cold start emissions by up to 25 per cent. That’s a huge number, given that most of an engine’s worst pollution exits the tailpipe just after the engine starts up, and all automakers are under the gun over what spews out the back.
 2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Click image to enlarge |
Low rolling resistance tires and improved aerodynamics help both engines improve efficiency, but the four-cylinder has another trick up its sleeve: a noise cancellation system within the cabin. Two sensors in the headliner, one above the driver and the other in the rear, measure noise in the cabin. They then instruct the rear subwoofer to put out a wave to cancel any noise, in the same way that noise-cancelling headphones work. This allowed the engineers to run the engine at a lower rpm for improved fuel economy, but without passengers hearing any extra engine noise. All of the Equinox models have been sealed and sound-deadened to within an inch of their lives, with the result that this is possibly the quietest in its class within its price range. I got into a Buick Enclave test vehicle a few days later that didn’t seem to be any more silent than the Equinox.
The four-cylinder also includes an “Eco” button on the centre stack, which changes the transmission’s shift points, but it’s very subtle and doesn’t drastically affect performance the way similar buttons do in some of the newer hybrid models. The six-speed transmission shifts smoothly and includes a manual mode for those who like to pretend they have a clutch, but the button is on the side of the shift lever and isn’t as easy as a shifter that you move back and forth.
The models also differ in their steering, with the four-cylinder using rack-mounted electric power steering, and the V6 getting a hydraulic rack-and-pinion system. They’re both responsive and nicely weighted, and the electric system doesn’t have any of the artificial feel that used to be inherent to the breed. It feels like you’re driving a car, not an SUV (or it might be a crossover; I still haven’t figured out all the labels), with no torque-steer, minimal body sway, confident brake feel and a smooth ride over gravel roads and rough pavement.
    2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Click image to enlarge |
Styling has improved immensely over the previous generation, as well. The wheelbase is the same, but other dimensions change: it’s wider, but not as long or as tall. It also features the brand’s split-grille nose that debuted on the redesigned Malibu. Headlamps and taillights wrap around, the wheels are set off by strongly defined arches, and the back window curves up to the roof to provide good visibility.
GM has made great strides with its interiors, and the Equinox is very well done. There’s a lot of hard plastic, but it’s fitted with minimal gaps and the design is handsome. The steering wheel looks like it was copied from Acura, but that’s a good thing: GM was famous for its ugly steering wheels, and when it’s the part of the car that’s always in front of you, that’s no way to make an impression. Deep-set dials house the instruments, and if I have any complaint, it’s that bright sunlight reflects off the textured steering column and directly into these dials, making it difficult to see the speedometer. The centre stack control buttons are too small to be trying to find one while driving, but they’re intuitive. Small items can be popped into a dash-mounted covered cubby or an open centre stack cavity, but while the door pockets will hold a water bottle, they’re too shallow to be any use at holding maps or papers. On the other hand, the deep console bin will easily swallow a laptop.
The front seats truly impress: I don’t remember any Chevrolet with chairs this comfortable. The LTZ comes with leather upholstery, but the fabric seats in the lower trim lines felt more cushioned and easier on the spine. Little details show that the company’s serious about making its mark in the segment: contrasting seat stitching, ambient lighting, and electric rear-door child locks that work via a button on the dash. The Equinox is strictly a two-row vehicle, and the rear seat, dubbed Multi-Flex, slides 203 mm (eight inches) back or forward, to maximize cargo space or legroom, depending on whether parcels or passengers take precedence. The 60/40 seats fold, although not quite flat; cargo volume runs from 889 litres with the seats up, to 1,803 litres with them folded.
  2010 Chevrolet Equinox. Click image to enlarge |
The features list is also fairly complete, and the LS offers air conditioning, telescopic wheel, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows, power driver’s height and lumbar adjustment, automatic headlamps, and CD/MP3 stereo. The 1LT adds features such as charcoal-coloured roof rails, heated mirrors, premium cloth upholstery, automatic climate control, deep tinted glass, fog lamps, compass and floor mats, while the 2LT adds eight-way power driver’s seat, Bluetooth, rearview camera (which displays in the rearview mirror if navigation isn’t ordered), remote starter, premium sound system, leather-wrapped wheel, and tire pressure monitoring system. The LTZ tops up with chrome accents, heated leather seats with memory, rear park assist, and a power liftgate that can be set to open at different heights. Safety-wise, all Equinox models have electronic stability control and six airbags, although active front head restraints aren’t included.
So how did the Equinox stack up against the competitors at the event? It faces a large number of rivals, including the Ford Escape, Hyundai Santa Fe, Dodge Nitro, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester, but the RAV4 and CR-V were brought along because they are perceived by the public to be the most refined, GM said. I took all three on a loop of road, and at the risk of sounding like a shill, Chevrolet has squarely hit the mark. All are decent contenders, of course, but in comparison, the RAV4 was noisy and choppy, with far less comfortable seats. I’ve always liked the CR-V, especially its smooth engine, but the seats still fell short of the Equinox, the sportier suspension transmitted every road bump through them, and while it was quieter than the RAV4, there was wind noise at the tops of the windows. In its favour, though, its centre console doesn’t extend between the front seats, and so there’s a place to put a purse or a bag within reach on the floor. If a company’s going to market to a female audience, it’s a very important consideration.
This is a very serious segment: these compact SUV/crossover vehicles command 27 per cent of the light truck market in Canada, and 12 per cent of the total new vehicle market overall. GM’s big hurdle is to get buyers into the showroom and set them behind the wheel. Once that happens, this newest Equinox will very easily sell itself.
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at 4:19 am
A good looking vehicle but the interior still a half-step behind its rivals.. I suspect it should sell well and a worthy competitor to its Japanese/Korean peers..
at 6:14 am
Have had mine (I4, 2LT) for a week now and must say I love the car. Not as sporty as the Volvo V70 and SAAB 9-5 I had before, but the engine is just as smooth, the engine shift points are barely noticeable and the overall quietness in the cabin is something I haven’t been accustomed to. The Pioneer sound system is great and its name comes up on the display everytime you turn on the ignition, as if Chevrolet knows it has something good!
My only complaint is with the integrated roof rack which is way too short (had to replace my old Thule adventurer box which would not fit) and is further reduced it seems by the presence of the antenna which sticks up way too high.
Leaving for a 5 passenger road trip from Montreal to Delaware in three days.
I CAN’T WAIT!!!! :O)
at 6:38 am
I hope the I4 doesn’t have the same electric power steering system as the 2005 Pontiac G6 did. They only had it for one year and with good reason. I purchased one of those monsters and after 2 years traded it in at a loss to end the nightmare. steering rack was replace 3 times in 50,000 km. Tow after tow. I was a loyal GM customer and have been totally soured to the brand. Would be nice if they can get things going in the right direction but they won’t have this customers help.
at 7:36 am
I can’t figure out why GM doesn’t consistently promote its “no timing belt” advantage. This can be a huge maintenance cost advantage over the long term.
at 8:49 am
but the RAV4 and CR-V were brought along because they are perceived by the public to be the most refined.
Funny GM leaves out the best seller CUV the Escape, even though public perception thinks Rav4 and CR-V are the top contenders.
GM is getting some nice design styling going. It a good looking truck.
at 10:24 am
I have been looking forward to this redesigned Equinox, the GMC Terrain version looks awful. I enjoyed reading your review. You say you would rather drive the I4 than the V6, but you don’t say why? I guess in the Test Drive review we will know the differance between the two other than the steering system differance, the fuel economy, and the horsepower. For example, some people actually use these things to tow, so is there a differance between towing capability?
at 10:34 am
I wonder why they left out the Tiguan?
at 10:54 am
That is one nice looking SUV. If it matches the Malibu’s reliability, I’m sold.
at 11:33 am
Is GM trying to sell left over Saturn Vue vehicles under a disguised equinox name? There is plenty of resemblance to the Vue, a failed Saturn line vehicle. GM, please invent new vehicles from the ground up, don’t just change the front grill and a few plastic interior panels. Perhaps, if GM would stop trying to dupe customers….
at 12:00 pm
Don’t be fooled by looks. These vehicles are only average reliability. They also lose value quickly.
at 1:54 pm
re: comment from Old Guys Rule. If you would do a little research you would know that this is not a ‘left over Saturn’. I have a 2007 Torrent which replaced a 2006 Escape. The ONLY advantage the Escape had was a tighter turning radius but it also had a shorter wheelbase, choppier ride and not nearly the comfort or fuel economy the 2007 Torrent has. The 2010 Equinox/Terrain improves on any shortcomings on the prior model, and then some. This will be my next vehicle when my lease is up – or before!
at 2:04 pm
The new Equinox is easily better than ALL its competitors. Time for you who have been hoodwinked by the foreign competition to smell the roses.
at 2:11 pm
Cheap interior plastics and poor fit and finish are GM’s trademarks…those who have a keen eye won’t even consider it. SMARTEN UP GM.
at 3:08 pm
DPR; Here you go…
While GM is presenting the Equinox as all-new, it isn’t. The truth is that the 2010 Equinox is only mostly-new. The vehicle still rides on what engineers call the Theta platform, the same as the previous Equinox and Vue. This has not been a chassis that consumers have generally enjoyed driving.
While the platform has been stiffened, one GM engineer admitted that not much was done to improve ride dynamics. This makes you worry about squeaks and rattles, a reported problem with several Theta vehicles.
P.S.
Have you considered buying instead of leasing your next GM product? Or are they still too unreliable and troublesome to keep for the long run.
at 3:24 pm
I wouldn’t consider buying or leasing at all. If someone gave it to me for free i’d sell it right away. GM cars are simply cheap,unreliable,poorly engineered..i could go on and on.
at 3:32 pm
Old Guys Rule…
Never once did I state that this vehicle was all new, but an mprovement on the previous model. I will absolutely purchase my next unit. I would also not have any reservations on buying my current ‘07 at lease end. I have owned over fifteen gm vehicles over the years and never once had a repair anything other than minor. My daugher drives a 99 Cavalier with 100000 miles and it is nothing but reliable and great on fuel. I’ve had other gm vehicles five to ten years old that have been virtually problem free. What about those rusty Japanese vehicles? Oh, and the ‘normal maintenance’ repair bill of $1,000 plus that you should happily accept to replace the timing belt so you will avoid the 4 or 5 thousand dollar bill for a major engine repair if you don’t. Somehow they’ve convince people that they should be happy with this.
at 4:04 pm
DPR
You asked and I did. Let us get back to point;
1-The Equinox is a left over Saturn Vue, check.
2-If the Equinox is a Saturn Vue, GM attempted to dupe the Consumer, check.
3-Saturn is a failed GM line, check.
You have owned over 15 GM vehicles and never once had a repair other than minor, and your daughter drives
a 99 Cavalier with over 100K and is nothing but reliable, please….nobody believes that. I wonder what your daughter would say about that, better yet, what she thinks of you for making her drive such, well…..POS? DPR, you may not want to hear that, but the truth is, young folks would prefer to drive a Honda Civic over a Cavalier, hands down.
About timing belts, I will grant you that. The thing is, the Japanese have smarten up and have switched back to timing chains a long time ago. Look it up.
at 4:29 pm
The Equinox is no more a warmed over Saturn Vue / Opel Antara than a Toyota Venza is a warmed over Camry, or a Pilot a warmed over Accord. Platform sharing and common engineering is practiced within all car companies and is crucial to achieving economies of scale.
It is disingenuous to insinuate that GM is trying to “dupe” anyone with anything just as it is to insinuate that GM models are any less reliable than brand XYZ. Anyone who has been paying attention to statistical reliability studies from CR, JDP, et al should know that all car companies have made significant strides in reliability over the past ten years, and there is nothing to show that one should expect significantly less reliability from a given GM model than it’s competitors.
<– owner of two Japanese cars, never owned a GM car, who simply can’t stand blatant uninformed prejudice against what’s actually a damn good car company
at 4:55 pm
Mike K.
Clarify when you say a “damn good car company”, did you mean GM? Have you seen the news lately? GM duped the American taxpayer and went into bankruptcy to avoid paying it’s debts that it had piled up for years.
You sir, are disingenous writing that GM is a good company.
When GM openly advertises the 2010 Equinox as an all new vehicle and false advertises as being better than Toyota and Honda compact SUVs, then GM is left open to scrutiny.
Again, back to point.
1-The Equinox is not an all new vehicle, but a rebadged failed Saturn Vue; an attempt to dupe the consumer, check.
2-If the Saturn Vue, and other Theta platform vehicles were unreliable, then the next rebadged same car must be unreliable, check.
If it looks, walks, and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck. Quack, quack, quack, another failed GM car.
at 5:07 pm
Rebadging exercise continues as afore with the GMC model as the “Terrain”… GM is a company that does not get it. They WILL eventually go into liquidation
at 5:17 pm
The entire point of a chapter 11 filing is to free the new restructured company from the debts and burdens of the previous entity so that the new entity can thrive. And GM’s was practically orchestrated by the US government. How is that “duping” the American taxpayer?
I sincerely doubt you know what the word “rebadging” means as the Equinox does not share body panels with the Vue. Inferior to the CR-V and RAV4? How is that some sort of absolute truth? Let me guess, your viewpoint is objective and the article writer’s is not.
I would describe you as a troll, Old Guys Rule, but from your username I’m not sure you’d understand what that means.
at 5:32 pm
Mike K.
1-GM had to file Chapter 11, therefore GM is a failed company, check.
2-Failed GM jettisoned Saturn, Saturn is an even worse failed car line, check.
3-The equinox has failed Saturn genes, therefore, the equinox origins come from failure, check.
Mike K, You may try to dupe someone else, but believe me, all we hear you say (write) is quack, quack, quack. If you speak like a duck, then you must a GM duck.
at 5:57 pm
The turning diameter is too large at 40 ft (have to find it on the US website as usual) and if GM would really care about details and fuel economy, the luggage rack would be optionnal on all trim levels. In the US, it’s standard only on the top trim LTZ but on all but the base LS in Canada.
Wake up manufacturers, 95% of the owners never use them and they’re a pain in our canadian winters and for washing/waxing as well.
at 5:59 pm
Attempting to conclude that the Equinox is a bad car from the fact that GM declared bankruptcy is the textbook definition of a strawman argument. Go ahead, troll some more.
at 7:15 pm
I’ve owned the First year version of the 2005 Equinox, and I keep my vehicles in top conditions inside and out, after a year, the car made cluncky noises from the body, me and my wife called it the cluncker, the interior deteriorated like there is no tomorrow even if we took super care of it, after 4 years and only 37000 km, the red book value wasn’t worth anything, nice for an original retail value of $38k. Don’t be fooled, they look nice but they don’t hold up, interiors are cheap. I now own a German car made in Germany, man are they ever solid.
at 8:14 pm
Old Guys Rule was probably cut off by a Chev Equinox on the way to work this morning.
at 8:44 pm
I came very close to buying a 2005 Equinox LT – it looks better than this super ugly blob.. I instead chose a 2000 Subaru Forester – VERY HAPPY WITH THE FORESTER! – great on gas, fun in the snow, extremely reliable – the best feature is that the seats fold Completely Flat! with lots of balanced cargo room
Why is it that in 2009 Chevy can’t get this right?
What’s with the Bland RubberMaid interior?
I can’t stand looking at the “Racoon Eye” Dasboard!
come on chevy – you can do much better than this
The new Malibu is amazing!
Hey…it does look a bit like a bloated Vue…
Smarten Up GM – this is what you get when old men in their 70s decide on what 25 to 45 year old get to support their local economy..
at 10:09 pm
So I have bought a Saturn, I hate to agree with Old Man Rule, but I feel GM duped me into buying from Saturn. Then they ditched Saturn to the lowest bidder. I have looked into selling the Saturn, but it is worth way less than I owe. I will not buy anything from GM for a long time.
at 10:10 pm
THose who buy or bought GM vehicles need to get their brains checked. A bunch of gullible people. Remember the classic Pontiac SUNFIRE?!?! THAT CAR WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST CARS EVER BUILT!!!
at 10:28 pm
Gm can go to he double hockey sticks
at 10:33 pm
Mike K.
Simple, if you fish the poisoned pond, you get dead fish. GM is a broken company, their vehicles are likely dead or in the verge of dying.
But if it makes you feel better, looks like you and JAMIE can start quacking at each other.
at 10:51 pm
My father makes me drive a 99 Cavalier with over 100K miles. Believe me, I am the laughing stock and the butt of jokes for my friends. The popular cool kids drive sleeks Hondas or Scions, me on the other hand, is stuck with this oil burning, broken interior, unsafe, and the AC stopped working many years ago, crappy car.
If only my dad would think more like the old guys rule writer. Just maybe, I would get something safer and newer, like a good used Honda Civic.
at 11:13 pm
Why does it have to look so big and clumsy?
36 MPG on which planet?
Rav4’s and CRV’s don’t have intake manifold leaks at 100,000kms or need a new brakes every 25,000kms!
The new ad should read “The all not so new Equinox designed by idiots for people with their eyes closed”
IF THIS IS A SIGN OF “THE NEW GM” well then I want the old one back that built my 97 grand am, 87 bonneville and 96 GMC Safari… The new GM is kinda scary!
at 11:32 pm
DPR – I did some research… top 5 reasons you like GM
You:
1. bought lots shares in the new GM on 123trade.com
(dude .25c per share is still a ripoff! get a refund!)
2. is currently apporaching your 90th birthday
(can’t see, read, hear, reason or find the toilet)
3. equate buying GM cars with being patriotic
(actuall Gm treats their employees like garbage)
4. Is realted to Rick “make em cheap” Wagoner
(you should tell everyone that he was adpoted)
at 12:27 am
As nice as this car is on the outside, the mechanicals still a concern and interior a little bland.
One car that I think will change the landscape a bit will be the New Hyundai Tuscon. I would say it was the CRV if it wasn’t for that hideous front ‘gaping jaw’..
For now tho, this Equinox has to rank right up there for best exteriors as of now..
at 12:39 am
Alex…all car companies ”can” design a great looking car but it’s the inside that really counts. GM hasn’t been able to deliver reliable quality vehicles..IT’s IN GM’s BLOOD!! They can throw in all the goodies to entice the customers to buy but the mechanicals,engine and fit/finish..etc are next to crap. Real car enthusiasts won’t even consider GM..even worse than FORD.Go figure.
at 3:42 am
GM cars lack in refinement..the Japanese do it better.
at 8:39 am
Might as well point out that this Equinox is simply a re-badged Buick Enclave, which is a re-badged GMC Acadia, which is a re-badged Saturn Outlook.
Not really the smartest move by a carmaker to flood the market with four different versions of essentially the same vehicle, but there you have it.
Consumer Reports says the Buick, GMC and Saturn versions of these vehicles are suffering sub-par reliability, and I’d assume the Chevy would as well…but who knows?
at 9:02 am
It is true then. If it looks, and walks, and talks like a duck, then it is a GM LAME DUCK.
at 10:08 am
WOW!!! It is simply amazing to see the level of misinformation (disinformation) people have about cars and the ease with which said knowledge flows from their keyboards. Let’s just say that the new Equinox has very little in common with the VUE (a simple look at motors and transmission should be enough…), and is totally different from the Enclave/Outlook/Acadia trio. That would be the TRAVERSE…
Inasfar as commenting on a brand because it shares a plstform with another, again, Motortrend has just favored the 2010 Cadillac SRX over the 2010 Lexus RX350. So if the Equinox shares a platform with the Cadillac SRX, does that mean, well, that my Equinox,…well you know…
at 10:33 am
My mistake David…Traverse it is!!
at 11:27 am
David
Geeez, and I thought I was the old guy.
Read Forester Man posting above, does that apply…well you know, to you.
at 3:54 pm
I can tell you all this….the 2010 Equinox and GMC Terrain are the first launches for the “New GM”. These vehicles have superior performance,handling and the interiors quality and craftsmanship are Best in Class.Yes…the old Equinox was not the greatest vehicle….but have a look at one of these on the dealer lots…they are very much an all new , best in class vehicle….beating out Toyota and Honda and Ford in Price, Fuel economy, Quality and Craftsmanship. The seats are extraordinarily refined and comfortable….they exude quality. Give it a try….test drive one….don’t just listen to me or a bunch of whining old guys!!
at 4:41 pm
The ‘new GM’ is a marketing scam. There is no way GM could change this quickly. They still have the same engineers, managers, bean counters….just a bit less of them now…The question is will this new GM be a quality vehicle 6-7 years down the road? Time will tell, but if history is an indicator, the answer is no. Oooops, I forgot, this is the new GM.
at 5:12 pm
Hey Bob Lutz – How much “Bailout” money did Rick Wagoner pay you to write the load of horse poop!
are you not also in your late 80s or early 90s
(no offence to folks in their later years – there is lots of experience and wisdom to be learnt from)
Bob you should be doing Fritz’s job!
You have the skills don’t you!
at 5:13 pm
Dam It! Why Can’t These Seats Fold Completely Flat!
at 5:16 pm
Lemmie P. Twogsnoggle III:
So an American car does not count as “foreign”?
I will never buy an American car.
at 7:33 pm
BOB LUTZ? more like BOOBY LUST…u fake SOB.
at 12:31 am
I will take my Acura RDX anyday
at 7:31 am
Bob Lutz???
Anybody else smell a……duck here?
at 8:29 am
ah yes…..lets make it look cute, use older technology and spend another 2 billion or more a year advertising that we are a new company
and lets con the reviewers too!
at 9:00 am
It is sad to realise that after working there (GM truck plant in Oshawa, Ont.) for over ten years back in the eithies….I came to the conclusion (after seing Toyota and Nissan starting to built their own trucks) that this compagny would not “EVOLVE” into modern age!! I quit and move to Ottawa for a new Job.
Look what they did with the Tucker Car compagny (Gm, and the other big two) this compagny way back was a lot like the Japs…a head of it’s time….simplier, more efficient vehicules, better quality than anything GM or the other two could built. THEY made sure it doesn’t survive (with help from the US govert)…what happened with the famous “Turbine” engine back in the fifties?
Look a what they did with the A head of its time EV1 project….UNFORGETABLE….all you old Crooners-Greeders that make decision for GM stop thinking short term profit and think long term advance economy product
Do the Oil comp. own you or what? Look at your SUV’s a bunch of L.A. style dinky toy trucks…Get on with it…what about real four wheel drive system (Like the Mitsu or Subaru system)and with “HIGH” ground clearance!?
I can’t wait to see what is going to come out from your product line within the next five years or so….it will make you (strive) or you will go for “Liquidation” once and for all…:-(
at 9:23 am
You just dont GET IT yet…..Mr. Wagoner, Honky-donky and comp. (including you too mr. Lutz) YOU have shot your credibility down for good….what GM needs now is a whole new bunch of Japaneese eng. and CEO to take over and restart-rebuilt your philosophy approach…let these guys do the business for you and believe me GM will be re-born for anything you hace seen; Higher ground standards for real….
at 9:30 am
Look at your only real GM credible product out there for now….CADILLAC….after so many years of taking slack from the real world people like me on the Top brand GM product you finally understood that “QUALITY” pays big in the end!!
Why dont you cut 50% of your fat ass people up there and start saving money in order to re-invest in the Chevy line product and come up with something closer in quality with the Koreans (Japs are still king here)….:-(
at 9:46 am
….Oh! you new Chevy Volt when it come’s out next next year will still be way too unaffordable (remember me, the real world guy…) to expensive (oh, yeah the Ontario govert will give you incentive….to help out what exactly?….with the people’s money via bailout) and the competition will still be a step ahead of you still!!
The idea of the volt is not bad….just make it with more autonomy (like at least 200 kl. before recharging it or before the Gaz engine kicks in) and use one of the super charge system that take only one hour to recharge instead of eigth hours.
Also, come up with an powerfull mid-size SUV FWD style vehicule (5 passenger with lots of trunk luggage)with the Volt system AND at an affordable price.
Can you guy’s (GM) confirm this somehow??
at 9:46 am
Damm it! anyone got a few heavy cinder blocks I can rest on these rear seats so they can fold flat Please!
at 9:58 am
Did you know; Chuck “make em cheap” Wagoneer was paid $8.5 Million dollars to leave GM, plus a base salary for life. Typical GM, rewarding failure. I wonder what “the stuck with the bailout” American taxpayer, would say to that.
To the real Bob Lutz; If you have any honor, pride, or sense of shame, walk away from GM and refund the taxpayer 3/4 of your unearned salary. You and your cronies had your chance and blew it.
There was a time being a “GM man” was something to be admired. Not anymore.
at 2:02 pm
I have to say I’m no big fan of GM (after owning a Pontiac Sunfire POS..) and have own Mazda’s for a few years now. I bought 2008 Equinox as I did not like the Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape and I have to say that it’s been quite the good SUV. I now have over 42,000 km’s and still not a single problem… It comes down to this, some vehicles are lemons, regardless of what brand they are, but I have to say if they keep up the qualitly that I’m experiencing with the 2008, then the 2010 should be good as well…..
at 2:44 pm
Paites…u can get away with the first year…but 2-3 yrs later problems will come up…so don’t be fooled. GM cars are designed not to last long…a.k.a. Pontiac Sunfire(among others). Warranty will cover everything but if a car has tons of problems wut will the consumer think about the brand?
at 9:09 am
Can’tbelieveGM, I hope your wrong. It should be interesting to see what will last the longest, my 2003 Mazda Protege LX(pd 23,000 new) or the 2008 Equinox(pd 36,000).
at 11:16 am
Paites, my money is on the Mazda. GM has been broke for many years now, conventional wisdom dictates that GM had to take cost saving shortcuts. First thing to go is R&D and quality control.
Good luck, hope you have a valid extended warranty on your GM.
at 2:31 pm
Paites …U SAID U’RE NOT A BIG FAN OF GM but u still bought your 2008 EQUIKNOCKS…wtf is that suppose to mean? U got scammed/duped by GM and u still wanna do it again. GOOD for u Mr. Gullible.
at 8:02 am
My 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe is hands down a better SUV than ANYTHING the Big Three can produce for the same price. We’ve all been scammed by them at one time or another, and they’re still serving the same BS in all of their ads and “deals”…..never again!
at 9:54 am
Yikes it’s pretty funny how this review and the following comments have turned from talk about the 2010 Chevy Equinox to a chance to slam GM – seems like some of you folks need to relax. Lots of misinformation from your comments such as the new Equinox being a rebadged Saturn or Enclave or even a Traverse – it is not a rebadge of any of those! It seems that most people want to rail GM and that’s too bad because as this review has said and several others like it that the 2010 Equinox is an excellent vehicle with great fuel mileage to compete or surpass those of the well know competitors. I know this positive comment won’t change the thoughts of all the nay sayers here, but oh well, I’m a beleiver in the 2010 Equinox!!
Happy driving!
at 3:07 pm
GM and Ford and Dodge…etc OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY=COST-SAVING… hasn’t changed much over the years…while the Japanese are always striving for improvements and that’s why Toyota is now #1 over GM. Americans have no idea what they’re doing..they just stick with old technology and hope that they can cash-in$$ with little effort. Lame.
at 5:02 pm
Roser,
Just look at a recent photo of a Saturn Vue and Equinox, I primise you, you won’t have to squint your eyes to see they are identical in many ways.
at 8:38 pm
Believe me, I made the mistake of buying a
Saturn Aura. Now I fear what will happen long term for my car and finances. I also looked at the VUE and believe me, it is the Equinox, same platform, same exterior. The platform/car chassis was borrowed from the OPEL car. GM sold away the Opel company in Europe, so guess what? No replacement parts for the Equinox. Do not believe anything GM says at this point, they are desperate to offload defunct Saturn vehicles. I got duped.
at 10:48 am
The 2010 Equinox and GMC Terrain are both compact SUVs which are smaller than their cousin GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. Both Equinox and Terrain share the same chassis, or skeleton to the now defunct Saturn Vue. In essence, the two “not all new” compact SUVs are left over Saturn VUEs. The question remains, is that a good or bad thing? That all depends how you view the vue, with your rose colored glasses.
at 11:15 pm
Boy its amazing how everyone forgets about the rusted
& unreliable Hyundai pony.I have had GM cars & Trucks
since 1994 & liked every one of them.I now have a 2003 Chev Duramax with 140000 km,no problems & a 2006 Pontiac G6.Great car only back to dealer for L.O.F.
When lease is up I will look at the Equinox. I like to keep my money in N.A.
at 11:14 am
Lease your said, smart not to keep your GM for the long run.
at 10:56 pm
I Lease all my cars & buy my trucks.I have leased Fords & Chryslers. I like this G6 so much I may buy it out& still buy A new car.Sorry old guy but the domestic
three will out run rest.they have always been good to me.sorry you are such an idiot.
at 12:25 am
American cars have very little residual value.That’s a fact. Imagine selling the car 4-5 yrs later with a few thousand$$ more back in your pocket..makes all the difference. The imports have more advantages and are segment leaders.
at 9:47 am
GM used to own 5% of Subaru until 2005. Equinox’s AWD idea of shifting power to the rear wheels when needed reminds me of my Subaru with an auto transmission. Same idea, my Subie is mostly FWD until the power is needed in the rear.
I wonder if this AWD technology was borrowed from Subaru.
By the way I own Impreza (11 years now), and a Malibu Maxx (four years). Both cars have their ups and downs, but I’m happy with both of them. Just do you research before buying instead of relying on subjective opions posted by folks like “old guys rule” and “subaru4life”.
at 4:03 pm
Ray,
Yes, and buying a discontinued Pontiac makes you what? Ever wonder why Pontiac was sent to the toilet. Ever consider buying a Yugo also.
at 10:56 pm
PontiYUCK …thank god that brand is a goner now.
at 12:00 am
Ok Patrick,
You asked for a little research, so here you go RAY;
The Pontiac G6 was launched with much hype, but it proved to be utterly lackluster and failed to build upon the promise of the retired Grand Prix. Instead it became a rental fleet mainstay. GM, in its infinite wisdom, made two versions of the G6 convertible–a power-operated rag top and a power retractable hard top–both of which was expensive to develop and manufacture. At $32,660 the folding hardtop convertible, creaks like a haunted house.
By the way, the Mali-BOO Maxx was also sent to the toilet. Anybody see the GM pattern here?
at 11:13 pm
A lot of you need to read from a lot more sources before you start flinging the shit around. Car And Driver and Motor Trend have both claimed this new Equinox to be the new class leader. If as some of you claim that this Chevy is a POS, then what are the CRV and Rav-4?
at 11:16 pm
And old guy, you’re calling GM unreliable. Funny I don’t see you naming any of the european nameplates, which make THE most unreliable cars sold here. Just check out what Mercedes and VW have done in the past 10-15 years. Garbage.
at 7:45 am
Mozeby,
Sources?? Haven’t you heard Saturn was sent to the toilet. The Equinocks is a left over Saturn. It doesn’t take a genious to figure it out. Saturn equals toilet matter, Equinocks must be toilet matter too. Or do you seriously believe, broke GM, has the ability to turn themselves around in 6 months an reverse 20-30 years of producing inferior, poor products?
Simple; If you fish from the poisoned pond, you get dead fish.
at 5:27 pm
I challenge the critics to do back-to-back test drives of the CR-V and the 2010 Equinox. I did, and I agree with the author; the new Equinox speaks for itself, and it wasn’t even close; I came away impressed.
I live in California, where foreign cars are very popular, but I had to drive 6 hours to find a dealer with a 4-cylinder engine left on the lot; these things are quite popular due to the combination of styling, fuel efficiency, ride, and roominess (I’m 205 cm tall (6′9″), and I fit well because of the choices GM made when designing the Equinox’s steering column and driver’s seat.)
at 12:29 am
Ed,
2 of the 3 nearby GM dealerships have closed down, so no thanks. It is to big of a risk to buy GM product, GM’s business future is too volatile.
at 10:41 am
The Equinox has a history of poor owner satisfaction ratings, and less than average reliability record. The V6 lacks refinement and gets 17 MPG overall. Handling is clumsy and the ride becomes unsettled a higher speeds. Interior quality is subpar with confusing controls.
at 5:29 pm
@ Old guys rule: there are a lot riskier companies to put your money in than a streamlined auto maker with the backing of the world’s largest government. But, I didn’t suggest you go buy one; just do a side-by-side comparison and test drive…just to see first-hand.
@ Consumer Advocate: those ratings had a lot to do with the old engine and transmission. You could hold a model’s past sins against it forever, but at some point it’s OK to judge a product on its own merits. And as for interior quality, I was HIGHLY disappointed with the Honda CR-V…it looked like it was designed a decade ago.
at 4:12 pm
Ed,
Sorry, but I wasn’t aware GM was drowing with profits, and was capable of re-tooling, re-train it’s workforce at a lighting speed and do a complete reversal from their past decades of poor products. They have the same Executives in place (except Wagoneer), the same ones that drove GM to the ground. GM parts suppliers are failing, if not gone already. We could go on and on. You must agree, GM’s state of affairs is dismal at best. Does GM deserve a second chance? That is up to the individual consumer. But the smart consumer knows that history always repeats itself.
at 4:28 pm
What more riskier car companies is there Ed? You need to get up mighty early to snow this old man. With the way things are going, no one can afford to throw caution into the wind. I don’t care if the Equinox has gold lining, as long as it has the GM label, it is a no go for many years to come. Sorry, this old man disagrees, there is an old saying, “fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.”
at 8:48 am
Is GM even open for business? Everywhere I look, GM dealerships have closed down.
at 1:23 pm
Jim all the KIA Dealers are blocking your view, that’s why your missing the GM Dealers….what there must be 5 KIA Dealers in the GTA by now. It’s hard to tell some of them were actually built as dealerships. My local KIA dealer was an old Coffee Time shop. Maybe I can get a double double while they fix my car (with KIA’s I’ll be spending a lot of time there…lol).
This car is a step in the right directon for GM, but the Ford Escape still sets the standard for a smallish SUV and it comes in 4WD. 4WD makes an SUV an SUV otherwise it is a station wagon. If I wanted a station wagon I would buy a RDX or Venza. Both those cars are less practical and cost way more money…lol. But hey they are station wagons and what the wife wants the wife gets.
at 7:37 am
Once an Equinocks, always an Equinocks.
at 10:18 am
i have never seen such stupid remarks in my entire life, as a foreign car buyer since 1979 and hated anything G.M. made since 2006, i can say bob lutz turned G.M around with quality interiors and style that G.M. never had the balls to ever do . look at 2008 cts cadillac , 2008 chevy malibu , buick enclave , something that looks like a pinninfarina design with coke bottle shape . I have owened many toyotas , hondas , who are living on past reputation and getting away with cheap plastic interiors and lots of road noise that if you drive a buick enclave or chevy malibu or 2010 chevy equinox which i own now for 1 month as my every day driver , it blows away honda crv and toyota rav 4 and don’t take my word for it go to edmunds .com and go ratings and go to consumer ratings and see for your own eyes what ex honda and toyota buyers are saying about 2010 eqiunox a 9.4 ratings way higher rating than toyota and honda . Now people are going to say i must work for G.M. well i sell many foreign and exotic cars at my own dealership , you can check my web site cars.com/autoexotica . I will tell all you non real car guys that G.M is building the best cars out there by far , and you will eat your words in less than 4 years when you see what G.M. has coming out . just to let you guys no how i qualify, my current cars are a ferrari 430 spider,a maserati granturismo s , and ferrari enzo as my track car , and for my daily drivers for me and my family 2010 chevy eqiunox LTZ , 2009 pontiac G8 GXP , 2008 buick enclave and 2009 hummer H2 and waiting for 2010 GMC terrain to come in 2 weeks for my son , i will tell you guys i have owened over 100 foreign cars in my life time , from italian , german , japanese and so on , G.M. is making the best cars out there , go out there and test drive one before you open your mouths and say things that aren’t true , after all we always root for the under dog , just as i did back in 1979 for toyota and honda and people laughed at me when i sad that they were better than american cars , well guess what G.M. cars are better than japanese cars !!!!! P.S. remember history repeats itself !!!!!
at 1:13 pm
GM false advertises 32 MPG, better than the RAV4 and CRV. Well the truth is the Rough and Noisy 4cyl Equinox get a disappointing real world 24 MPG, and the thirsty V6 gets a dismal 20 MPG for a small SUV. How is that better than Toyota and Honda?
The supposedly all new Equinocks is a left over Saturn VUE. The VUE is known for its noisy drivetrain and clanking noisy frame.
A wise old guy once said, “fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
at 1:25 pm
@ ferrari man’
Question?
When do you know a car salesman is lying?
Answer.
When his lips are moving.
at 5:03 pm
here we go again , stupidy at its highest level , 2.4 ecotec engine is smoother than 3.0 v6 where talking 2010 model , not past models , and again go to edmunds .com and read consumer ratings , and i guess all 34 people that posted there remarks must be salesman and stupid and you must be smarter than us even though you don’t own one and drive one everyday. MR JIM you should really no your cars before you shoot your B.S. 2.4 ecotec is a great motor if you would do some research , it was designed in germany by opel and saab and is one of the smoothest engines with balance shafts and direct injection for 2010 , so i guess an engine could never be improved because its a carry over from privious model year , well let me tell you a few facts , ferraris V8 from 308 ferrari to 360 ferrari was a carry over for 30 years of service and improving its engine every year making it a great engine , so what im trying to say is you learn to make something better everyday , and that is called evolution my friend . MR OLD FART GUY get out of your wheel chair and start walking again to get your blood to start circulating to your brain again , and this way you will start being smart again , instead of making stupid remarks without investigating your facts. P.S. 5 years ago the sheep crowd had FIAT for dead , now they own part of chrysler , maserati ,alfa romeo , world champion FERRARI ,iveco trucks and new holland and case tractors and mangneti mirelli and so on , and look at them now .
at 5:20 pm
old fart guy , i guess when your stupid and don’t know your facts , then you attack people and call them salesman and so on , atleast when my lips are moving there talking facts not stupity.
at 5:46 pm
checkout 2010 buick lacross , seeing is believing , what a car , G.M. is going to be the world standard .
at 6:24 pm
Your lips are moving again car salesman.
The EcoTec engine is a rough, noisy, POS.
Saab and Opel, are you kidding me? Both were shit canned by bancrupt GM. Saturns are rebadged Opels, an we know how they fared in North America, shit canned too.
FIAT stands for Fix It Again Tony, Chrysler who?
Ferrari, drive it for 2 hours, repair and fix for 6 hours.
If you were saleman worth a nickel, you would staying away from those failed brands.
at 6:39 pm
Ferrari Fool,
Keep repeating yourself, eventually you may convince one more person, NOT.
The rotten apple does not fall far from the bad apple tree.
at 7:46 pm
The Equinox roof rack is to small, it’s useless. The rear wipe and fog light are tiny. Poor front, side and rear visibility. Small side windows, low roofline and side mirros get in the way, it has huge rear blind spots.
It’s the same old GM crap.
at 10:53 pm
since your a old man , let me remind you ferrari has more world championships than any other company in the world and is the current world chanpion and if you know anything about cars the ferrari f430 is the world bench mark car that every car magazine in the world raves about and lets not even mention the enzo , and as for G.M., cadillac cts-v set the fastest lap in germany than any other 4 door car in the world and thats from a so called crappy company, and for fix it again tony ( fabbrica italiana automobile torino ) again your stupity shines every time you write something . I will tell you another fact , direct injection was invented by ( guess who , old fart man ) magnetti mirelli , owned by fiat and then sold patents to bosch for you info and if you watch discovery channel and watch ultimate factories ( ferrari)and you will see how a real car is built , god knows what p.o.s. you must drive , sorry forget, your wheel chair !!!! P.S. again people, don’t believe this salesman just go to edmunds .com and read consumer reviews and 2010 chevy equinox , there are 34 current owner reviews with a 9.4 rating higher than any other cars on that web site , every person could not believe how smooth and quite 4 cly engine is , again look for yourselfs and then see who is really giving you the same B.S.
at 11:14 pm
For your info , looks like there keeping opel , and they had over 5 buyers , again opel won car of the year in europe 2009.
at 11:34 pm
as far as toyota goes there best engine ever was there 3TC ENGINE 1.8, would almost run without oil thats how good that motor was , but that was in the 80’s , now lets talk today , let me see , toyota tundra V8 camshafts breaking under pressure , toyota avalon huge amount of transmision problems and lets not forget huge engine recall of 3.0 v6 engine ( HEAD GASKETS ) and many other problems , see us car dealerships get automotive news ( the bible ) of the car industry and we no facts not B.S. unlike old fart man that falls asleep while reading his playboy magazine and reading the toyota commercials on how great there cars are.
at 11:45 pm
go to edmunds.com, consumer reviews 2009 toyota avalon 8.1 rating, and read how great these cars are!!!!!!
at 12:00 am
edmunds.com , consumer reviews 2009 buick enclave 9.4 rating higher than any rice burner read and cry , old fart rice burner man , mostly past foreign car buyers that can’t believe its a G.M. product . OLD FART MAN you know much better than all of us stupid people !!!!!well people read and you tell me who is F.O.S. and you will see that old fart man is full of gas again , gas ex anyone !!!!!!!
at 12:14 am
pontiac G8 9.3 rating great car , check for yourself , they may bring back as impala ss .
at 12:23 am
Mr old fart man , i think you need to see a doctor because you played i think im turning japanese by the vapors so much that you have become brain washed !!!!
at 12:49 am
see old fart man ,i am a walking ecyclopedia when it comes to cars ,and you will lose everytime stupity comes out of that rusty old brain of yours ,because you have been in a coma for the last 4 years and have no automobile brains at all , your like all the other sheep out there , they follow where the crowd is going , see unlike others i bought $150,000 worth of ford stock at $1.01 in march , and sold it 2 weeks ago for $8.03 for a total of 1,200,000 not bad for a stupid salesman ,and did not buy G.M. but i will buy new G.M. i.p.o. when anounced , maybe you can learn next time from this salesman when he opens his mouth and thats why i own my own company with 4 very good salesman with 00000000000 complaints wth better buisness bearu of new jersey ( auto exotica inc ) you can check that too if you like . I wonder what your back round is B.S.