Pricing: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Chevrolet has announced pricing for the 2010 Equinox - $23,185 with destination for the front-wheel-drive LS base model. GM estimates that the four-cylinder will achieve an ad-worthy 30 mpg in the EPA highway test. (See our Chevrolet Equinox preview.)

The Equinox should be a significant improvement over the uncompetitive current Equinox. (See our Equinox road test and ratings.) Despite improvements that came along for 2007, the out-going Equinox still had lumbering handling and a cheap-looking interior. Worse, the Equinox never offered an efficient four-cylinder engine, relying instead on a hoary 3.4-liter pushrod engine in the volume models. We only managed 18 mpg overall in our tests—near the back of the small SUV pack. This time around, most Equinox models will have a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, similar to the Malibu’s base engine but with direct-injection, and a direct-injection 3.0-liter V6 will be optional.

As GM’s fuel economy claims show, improved mileage was clearly a goal of this redesign. So were improved interior quality and better seating. A very brief drive of a pre-production Equinox revealed that GM is indeed playing for keeps. The four-cylinder had reasonable power, and both ride and handling showed definite signs of improvement. The roomy rear seat remains, but it is now in a better-furnished interior.

Comparing base prices with destination, a lot of competition is cheaper – the front-wheel-drive Honda CR-V LX starts at $21,915, the all-wheel-drive-is-the-only-way-it-comes Subaru Foresterv 2.5X automatic is $21,890, and the front-wheel-drive Toyota RAV4 base model rings in at $22,245. But the press release notes that the Equinox has standard power adjustments for seat height and lumbar and 17-inch wheels that the others (save the CR-V) lack at their base prices. The Equinox is also bigger and offers unusual options for this class, like a power tailgate.

We’re looking forward to the Equinox’s on-sale date in June to see if this redesign finally gives GM a competitive small SUV. Early signs are very encouraging.

—Tom Mutchler

See our SUV buying guide.

Comments

[Cale]

I found the advertised 30mpg highway (EPA estimate) rating less than impressive when I learned that it is achieved using the Eco mode on the Equinox and related GMC Terrain. The driver-selectable Eco button remaps the throttle responses, shift patterns and torque converter lockup speed to improve fuel economy. That sounds like a cheat because the four-cylinder model will only have "reasonable power" when Eco mode is OFF and it won't have the maximum rated fuel economy.

[Nick]

I have a question that is only tangentially related. Does anyone know what GM's BAS Hybrid plans are in the near term? Before all the product launch push-backs, they were planning to switch to lithium batteries and a more powerful electric motor in the BAS hybrids like the Saturn VUE Green Line for 2010. My assumption is technologies like a 6-speed automatic and direct-injection will make it into such an update, and combine with the new batteries and electric motors to make the BAS hybrids competitive with "full hybrids" from other automakers. I'm wondering if anyone knows if these plans have been delayed or canceled.