2005 Chevrolet Equinox
by Jim Prueter - 7/04

Moving to the top of the “Cute Ute” list

Until Chevrolet announced it was introducing a new SUV, the only time I thought about an equinox was in March and September when the sun crosses the equator, seasons change, day and night share equal time and our seventh grade science class tried to balance eggs on end.

The Equinox is the replacement vehicle for the discontinued Chevy Tracker, a small, inferior and underpowered SUV that was outclassed by the likes of the Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4, Jeep Liberty, Honda CRV and Ford Escape.

The Equinox takes direct aim at those models and is a far superior vehicle to many of them, let alone the Tracker it replaces. I think it’s the best small SUV you can get for your money.

This is Chevy’s first car-based SUV and is the largest vehicle in its class. The Equinox utilizes the same GM platform as the Saturn VUE, except Chevy stretches it out another six inches to a 112.5-inch wheelbase. That’s more than nine inches longer than Santa Fe and a huge 14 inches longer than RAV4’s 98-inch wheelbase. All of that extra size pays off handsomely for the Equinox in terms of room and ride quality.

Chevy’s “cute ute” is available in two trim levels (LS and LT) and with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. All Equinoxes come with the 3.4-liter 185-horsepower V-6 engine (made in China) paired with a five-speed automatic transmission (made in Japan). No other engine or transmission choices are available. Equinox is built in Ontario, Canada, the same assembly plant as the Tracker.

What’s exceptional about the Equinox is its room. Not only is there 35 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats, fold down the seats and you’ve got a total of 69 cubic feet. I could quibble about the intrusive rear strut towers that narrow the rear cargo area, but an adjustable rear cargo shelf expands loading options and also functions as a picnic table.

Not only do all the doors open wide (really wide), the second-row “Multi-Flex” bench seat can travel eight inches, meaning that tall passengers (all 6’6” of me) can ride comfortably with limo-like legroom (42.7 inches) by sliding the seat bottom back. This is the most legroom in its class and even exceeds that of a Ford Expedition. Chevy does not offer a third-row seating option.

The basic layout and design of the Equinox’s dash is similar to that of the VUE, but improved. The materials used seem to be of a higher quality. The dash has an upscale look and feel with brushed aluminum accent trim on the center stack and across the door armrests. Gauges are large and easy to read. And, a first for Chevy and breaking with tradition, the headlight switch is not on the dash, rather at the end of the turn-signal stalk á la Japanese cars. What I didn’t like was the placement of the power window switches on the center stack behind the shift lever, nor did I like the location of the parking brake on the right side of the driver’s seat.

I found driving the Equinox most satisfying and car-like. I drove the Equinox on the hilly, twisting rural roads around Carmel and Monterey, Calif. Handling was quite good for such a tall vehicle, aided I’m sure by the long wheelbase and the electronic-assisted steering system. There was engine roar under full acceleration but otherwise the cabin was surprisingly quiet with little wind and road noise. We didn’t take the vehicle off road, but my guess is it’s not meant for heavy use over rough terrain.

Standard equipment on both models includes power windows/locks/mirrors, AM/FM/CD with six speakers, roof rack, alloy wheels and air conditioning. The LT model adds cruise control, dark glass, ABS brakes and fog lights. Options include heated seats ($250), sunroof ($595), leather seats ($545), XM satellite radio ($325), and power seat package ($550).

Safety-wise, the Equinox offers dual front air bags, LATCH child safety seat anchor system, safety-belt pretensioners and optional side-head airbags ($395). Disappointingly, side-impact airbags, traction control and stability control are neither standard nor offered as an option. However, in crash test ratings by National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Equinox earned the highest five-star frontal crash test results for driver and passenger and the highest five-star rating for front and rear side impact.

Bottom Line:
Equinox arrives late to the crowded “cute-ute” party and quickly becomes the pick of the litter. Don’t confuse it with a re-named Saturn VUE, it’s a much better vehicle in every measure. Chevy hits a home run with the Equinox and no other vehicle in its class comes close. If you’re in the market for a small SUV, Equinox is worth a look. Would I buy one? Yes. I highly recommend it.

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