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| The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox is here! I quite liked this Orange Burst color and its fuel economy ratings are acceptable. From the side, I see aspects of the 2018 Traverse's design that have been carried down to the new Equinox, too. |
Its ALLLLLLLLLL THAT! Well, maybe for some people anyways. But its hard to deny that the all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has a fresh look that not only brings it more in line with its brand's new design language, but it makes it appear more upscale as well, even in lower trims. This particular example I saw the other day at Feldman Chevrolet in Lansing, Michigan was a more basic LS model in the new Orange Burst Metallic color. I've seen orange as a color on Chevy products in the past (my dad wanted an orange Avalanche some years ago) and always thought it looked tacky, but I must say, on this new Equinox it doesn't look half bad. The interior color was grey cloth, but grey, black, and even brown colored leather is available on higher trim levels.
Trims & More
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| The 2018 Equinox's interior looks to use better materials than the 2017 model's. |
Speaking of trims, the 2018 Equinox is offered in four: L, LS, LT and Premier. This is definitely less confusing than Chevy products of the past, which offered numerous trims under one "trim", such as 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, 1LTZ, and 2LTZ. One engine is available from the get-go, with two other options coming later, one of which is quite unique. A 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder making 170 horsepower and 203-lb-ft. of torque is standard on all trims. A 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder seen in other GM products will be available (I assume) soon on the top-end Premier trim, and will make around 252 horsepower. What's truly interesting, is that a new-to-North America 1.6-liter turbodiesel-four engine will be offered as well in this generation of the Equinox, making it the only diesel-powered small SUV of its kind on sale right now in the U.S. due to VW's crisis (unless Mazda eventually fires back with their new 2018 CX-5 that was just redesigned as well). All engines except for the 2.0-liter turbo will be paired to a six-speed automatic transmission, but a GM developed nine-speed transmission will be standard on the 2.0. Expect the diesel-powered model to achieve EPA fuel-economy ratings of 40-mpg or more possibly.
On Sight
At first glance the side profile of the car definitely looks more sporty, and the taillights will remind you of the redesigned Cruze, especially the hatchback model. However, looks don't always equal substance, so it needs to be backed up with more. And Chevrolet says this new Equinox weighs 400 pounds less than the outgoing model due to high-strength steel being used more strategically. This should translate to a more nimble driving experience, although the previous Equinox based on my own experiences wasn't awful in that regard. My mother owned a 2011 model, and while it rode smooth, was very roomy, and even handled above average, it was the power department that was the issue.
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| 2017 Equinox; I really didn't like the refresh they did to this model... Also, our 2011 Equinox seemed too underpowered. It was black, just like this one. |
We had constant engine troubles out of our 2.4-liter 2011 Equinox LS. So much so, until we had to just get rid of it entirely and we got an older, more reliable car (a Buick Lucerne CXS) to replace it! You could floor it and its like nothing would happen... Well, you'd clearly HEAR it, but that's about it. However, I feel as though this issue will be rectified in this generation Equinox. I can't help but notice that the engines this time around make much more torque, which is great, since a 1.5-liter, or even the old 2.4-liter engine in a car of this size without proper tuning will likely prove too weak to move the vehicle out well. Couple that with the "active eco" mode that you had in older four-cylinder Equinoxes, and it felt like you were driving a tortoise that had zombies strapped to its feet. To add insult to injury, we were never able to match the EPA's advertised 22 city/32 highway rating in our 2011 Equinox either... Thus, I recommend going for the stronger engine options in the Equinox. If you're looking at a pre-2018 model, this would be one of the V6 engine options (note: a 3.0 V6 was offered before the 3.6 V6). However, for 2018, you would of course have to go for the 2.0-liter engine, which makes less horsepower than the outgoing 3.6 V6, but will be paired to a better transmission.
Changing Seasons
Overall, the Equinox has come full circle. The new model looks more solid and upscale than the 2017 on the exterior, its interior still looks to be roomy and have less plastic all over in higher trims (although the standard subwoofer is now gone, which is disappointing), and what's more is that its well equipped even in lower trims. Starting at $24,475 with the L model, the LS model that I stopped to look at stickered for $27,010 and comes standard with OnStar with 4G LTE Wi-Fi, a 7-inch touchscreen with Chevy's MyLink infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a rear backup camera, Chevy's teen driver alert system, cruise control, and the expected array of modern safety features such as frontal, side, and curtain air bags, traction control, and stability control. Some available or standard features on top trims are rear cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, HID or LED headlights, LED taillights, power seats, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and a hands-free power liftgate. All-wheel-drive (AWD) is available on all trims except the very base L, but is expensive and adds nearly $4,000 to the price tag... If you live somewhere where you don't absolutely need AWD, then I'd probably skip it. You'll enjoy slightly better fuel economy, too.
What do you think of the 2018 Equinox? Have you ever driven any of the older Equinox models, and what was your experience? Which model's styling do you like best, 2017 or 2018? Undoubtedly, it looks as if the new Equinox is poised to take a bigger chunk out of its competitors' sales and redefine its own image. I look forward to fully testing one myself someday to note all of the intricate differences! Seasons change, but Chevy's Equinox has come better prepared than ever before to weather the elements.
Until next time, there's only one thing to do: ROLL ON!
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