![]() ![]() The Equinox was nimble, light on its treads and really easy to drive. That’s a lot of weight even for something as hefty as an automobile. It had been redesigned for 2018 model year and had shed some 400 lbs. It was thick but not so thick as to be too big. We don’t know the size of the steering wheel but it felt good in our hands. Either or, we found the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox very maneuverable. The size of the rubber depends on what trim level you got. The 2018 Equinox had a turning radius of 37.4 inches with 17-inch wheels but we had 19-inch aluminum wheels. It was equipped with electric power assisted rack and pinion steering which was quick and responsive to driver input. The MacPherson strut front suspension and four-link independent rear suspension smoothed out the road. Our House First Time Home Buyer’s Series.Watch Casey’s video of the 2018 Chevy Equinox.2018 Chevrolet Equinox Small but Strong - The Washington Informer Close The Equinox starts at $23,580, but came to $32,430 as tested. All in, the all-new Equinox seems to revel in its lighter load. Smaller size puts it closer to competitors like the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forester. It’s a little narrower, but with 400 pounds shed, it feels more athletic and accelerates briskly. I suspect they’ll like this one very much. In full disclosure, my parents owned two of the previous generation Equinox. That’s certainly not a crossover’s main purpose, but the Equinox is more fun to drive. ![]() Its lighter weight makes it more fun to toss through corners. The Equinox is tomb solid, rumbling over rough pavement with only a hushed slapping of tires. One thing I appreciate in most GM products is their absolute lack of squeaks, creaks, or rattles. If fuel economy is your main concern, there’s also a newly available 40-MPG Diesel. All-wheel-drive helps plow through snow, but front-wheel-drive models minimize fuel consumption. A new nine-speed transmission and auto stop/start enhance fuel economy. Base models now dance with a 170 horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but power hounds will hunt the 2.0-liter turbo-four that delivers 252 horsepower, 260 lb.-ft. ![]() Gone are the previous normally-aspirated four-cylinder and V6 engines. Enhanced safety came from blind spot warning, rear cross path detection, rear camera, and parking sensors. Push button starting, dual-zone automatic climate control, Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto added convenience. Our vehicle sufficed with a 7-inch touchscreen instead of the optional 8-inch version, and the volume knob was nice, but it also needs a tuning knob. Dash and doors feature soft-touch trim, but rendered in black. Charcoal canvas seats with orange stitching were heated and felt ritzy despite their lack of hides. You can order your Equinox with contrasting-color dash inserts, leather seats, and a panoramic sunroof, but our model had none of that. Opening the power rear hatch reveals a roomy cargo compartment, expandable by deploying the rear seatbacks with two handles in the rear sidewall. It’s narrower and rear legroom feels slightly compromised, but most people wouldn’t notice a difference from its predecessor. Inside is where you notice the Equinox has shed a few inches of interior space. While it is sleeker and more sculptural, it’s clearly an Equinox. Rear corners are more angular for cleaner aerodynamics. Our LT-grade model skipped roof rails, but rides on 18-inch wheels and dresses up in Orange Burst Metallic paint. It’s also sexier, sporting a pinched version of Chevrolet’s twin-port grille and flowing side sculpting that echoes the Malibu sedan. Chevrolet is right-sizing its crossovers to better meet competitors, so the new version is less mid-size and more compact. The Equinox is not just lighter it’s also smaller. A new line of powertrains and advanced safety tech put the finale on this road show. Of course, it’s also undergone a style makeover that makes it even more handsome than it already was. The 2018 Chevy Equinox is lighter on its wheels – as in its about 400 pounds lighter, a 10 percent reduction in weight, for improved fuel economy and more adept handling. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |