Chevrolet Equinox First Drive Will Be In 2018
It’s a new season in the timeline of the Chevrolet Equinox, and the all-new 2018 model may be a spring forward for the popular American crossover. In addition to refreshed appearance that tie the Equinox esthetically to its brandmates, plus a number of safety and technology updates, the Equinox is taking a big breath of fresh air with a trio of turbocharged engines below the hood.
The first version to hit franchises sports the smallest-displacement motor – a 1.5-liter turbo four – and we headed to the Carolinas to offer it a good twice-over in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains between Greenville and Asheville. As well as a new set of powerplants, the updated Equinox gets an aerodynamic makeover and sheds a formidable 400 pounds of weight for the new generation.
Chevrolet Equinox Features
The 1.5-liter Equinox, which containsnets fuel economy figures of 26 mpg, city engine start-stop and 32 highway for the front-wheel-drive model, while adding all-wheel drive subtracts just 2 mpg across the board. For note, the outgoing 2.4-liter 2017 Equinox was rated at 21 city/31 highway mpg for the Front-wheel drive model, and 20 city/28 highway with All-Wheel Drive.
The seats in the LT are firm and supportive, although the side bolstering on the seatback may feel a little tight for a good range of drivers. Still, you will not be fighting to keep up a proper upright position directly behind the wheel when traversing tight corners. we preferred the extra bit of cosiness the Premier trim’s leather seats afforded. If you do not need to tow anything, the 1.5-liter turbo engine is potent enough for this car.
Down 12 Horsepower from the outgoing 2.4-liter I4, the new motor offers 31 more pound-feet of torsion, that makes itself available low in the rev range. Tied to the 6-speed automatic transmission, this base-motor Equinox was entirely up to the task of accelerating up the nearly endless series of hills on our meandering drive route between Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC. The sound is also both reasonably quiet and reasonably satisfying, not some whiny little hair dryer below the hood.
Chevrolet Equinox Performance
As for the selectable all-wheel drive, it did not make for a lot of of a practical difference on the dry, paved roads we encountered. It would have been a consequence, however it felt as if the Equinox got simply a bit more cooperative sawing through the corners with AWD engaged. The added peace of mind for those people who endure the northern winters could be a plus, too. Got a straight, dry stretch of highway ahead of you? simply disengage the AWD with the push of a button to maximise your mileage between fill-ups.
The Equinox promises to continue to be a popular vehicle, and owners are certain to be pleased with the 2018 model. We were with the overall package and it should compete well in this segment against cars like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. If the 1.5-liter turbo simply will not cut it for you, this summer chevy is adding a 2.0-liter turbo to the lineup – mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission – to exchange the outgoing V6, and the introduction of a 40-mpg-highway, 1.6-liter turbodiesel has our interest piqued.
Come fall of 2017, the LT cut level can get the facultative redline treatment for those owners who want to visually stand aside from what are sure to be a veritable crowd of other new-gen Equinoxes on the road in the coming months. Chevy tells us to expect additional Equinox news (and ad campaigns) in the close to future.
