2010 Chevy Equinox Review
Summary:The Equinox is a classy mid-size SUV with a quiet interior cabin and plenty of room in the back seat. Steering, however, is not the best compared to some rivals and it could use a smidge more cargo space.
If there was one model you would say represents the "new" GM trying to revive the struggling auto firm after emerging from a brief bankruptcy process, the Equinox would be have to be up there. The company has made some serious changes to the car while maintaining the features that consumers fell in love with in previous models. You'll notice a new engine in particular, switching up from a V6 down to a more effiecent V4. This helps boost mileage numbers to be sure, but still has comparable acceleration to other midsize SUVs in the industry. The model also received an overhaul in terms of looks, with a much more sleek and sophisticated exterior than previous models. Seriously, this thing stands out in a crowd, and as a result many consumers are flocking to the 2010 Equinox. We don't blame them.
Performance:
As we stated previously the 2010 Chevy Equinox is sporting a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine which brings 182 horsepower and also 172 pound feet of torque to the table. If you insist on more power than what the base engine has to offer, fear not, you can upgrade to a V6 with a beefier 264 horsepower if that's up your alley. Fuel efficiency wise you'll be looking at an EPA estimated 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway or 26 mpg combined. The V6 isnt quite as impressive with 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 combined. A pretty steep dropoff, but that's the price you'll pay for more power.
Safety:
The 2010 Chevy Equinox is no slouch in the area of safety. As you'd expect it comes standard with antilock disc brakes and traction and stability control. For airbags you get front seat, side curtain, and Onstar. If you're a gadgetry proponent, you can opt for a rearview camera with parking sensors.
Other Features:
The Chevy Equinox has seen some upgrades inside the cabin. In particular the Equinox boasts a whole new stereo set and climate controls. Some consumers have stated that the audio controls are a bit hard to reach, but it's a minor concern. The backseat is also quite spacious, but cargo space is a little short compared competitors like the Honda CR-V, which has about 6 cubic feet more space compared to the Equinox's 31.4 cubic feet. A concern for future models but hardly a deal breaker.
Driving It:
Even with a 4 cylinder engine, the Equinox has plenty of pep and you won't feel slighted when you accelerate. I've always considered a quiet drive important, and the Equinox does not disappoint even at higher speeds. Still the handling of the vehicle is rather bland.