With its ample roominess, stylish and quiet interior, solid fuel economy and high-tech feature availability, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is a small crossover SUV right up there with segment leaders such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Small crossovers are now the hottest-selling SUVs and GM certainly needed a contender in this crucial segment. With the new Equinox, they now have one.
This year's model was the recipient of a complete redesign, including a sleek new exterior, an upgraded interior, increased fuel efficiency and even lower pricing. Not only can it now boast the top gas mileage performance in its class, it's also one of the quietest due to its generous acoustic insulation and noise-canceling system.
The new Equinox simply has an awful lot going for it.
Trims, Standard Features And Options:
The 2010 Equinox is offered in four trim levels: LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ.
Standard features on the already well-equipped base LS model include 17 inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, air conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, power front seat height adjustment, a sliding and reclining backseat, OnStar and a 6-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.
The 1LT has all of the above plus rear tinted windows, upgraded cloth upholstery, a compass and roof rails. Those with the optional V6 engine also come with 18 inch wheels.
The 2LT then adds an 8-way power driver seat, remote ignition, foglights, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming mirror, Bluetooth, a USB audio jack, an 8-speaker Pioneer stereo and a rearview camera.
The top-of-the-line LTZ model adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver memory, a power tailgate, automatic headlights and rear parking sensors. Most of these features are available as options on the 2LT.
The 2LT and LTZ can be equipped with an optional rear entertainment system as well as a navigation system that features voice recognition, a touchscreen interface and a 40GB hard drive for digital music storage. There's also 19 inch chrome-clad wheels available as an option on the LTZ V6.
Engines, Powertrain And Gas Mileage:
Powering the 2010 Chevy Equinox is a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine that generates 182 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. There's also an optional 3.0 liter V6 (not available on the LS) that produces 264 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque. The standard transmission is a a six-speed automatic that's mated with front-wheel-drive. All-wheel drive is optional on all models.
Gas mileage performance for the Equinox is a strong point. Fuel economy for a front-wheel drive, four cylinder Equinox is EPA-estimated at 22 mpg city and 32 mpg on the highway. Estimates for the all-wheel drive dips slightly to 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. Estimates for a front-wheel drive Equinox V6 come in at 18 mpg city and 24 highway, while the all-wheel-drive V6 models drop 1 mpg in each category.
Safety:
Standard safety features on all 2010 Equinox models include antilock disc brakes (ABS) with brake assist, stability control, traction control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and OnStar. In addition, rear parking sensors as well as a rearview camera are available options.
Interior:
The cabin of the Equinox is stylish and attractive, mindful of the old classic Corvette with its dual-cowl dashboard. Its two-tone color schemes are also a distinctive contrast from its competitors. Material and build quality is high and the new stereo and climate controls are particulary attractive, adding to the overall upscale look and feel.
The seating is comfortable and supportive, while the backseat is particularly passenger-friending with seats that both recline and slide. Storage space behind the backseat comes in 31.4 cubic feet and increases to 63.7 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded.
Drive:
Acceleration with the new four-cylinder engine is competitive with the class while gaining kudos for its impressive fuel economy. And its 264 horsepower V6 is second only to the RAV4. While handling isn't out of the norm, its overall drive is comfortable and competent. In addition, it's impressively quiet.
How To Get The Lowest Price:
Best Negotiating Tactic: Well, there's definitely a 'best way' when it comes to new car buying. If you want to get the best bottomline, out-the-door price you need to know exactly who to talk to at the dealership, how to make the contact and how to make this person eager to quickly drop prices as low as possible to get your sale.
Those of you in the market for a used car may want to check out this article about how to buy a used car at the lowest price. It details a super effective buying method, one that often beats down prices to wholesale levels.
And somewhat related to this, here's another excellent method that identifies Price-Distressed Cars Right On Dealer Lots. These are vehicles they are so desperate to unload they would welcome your wholesale offer.
In addition, you can also try Bank Repo Car Auctions in your own geographic area. While there can be a lot of junk vehicles at these auctions, there are often absolute gems sprinkled in as well. This article reviews what to expect at open-to-the-public car auctions and how to locate them in your own area.
