2010 Chevrolet Equinox

While some vehicles are simply over the top with the chrome body jewelry, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox finds a near-perfect balance between its various styling elements, so much so that Edmunds says the new Chevy Equinox “looks more grown-up and sophisticated than its many competitors (and its predecessor).” Jalopnik claims “it’s got a clean, modern look, which is simultaneously inoffensive and handsome,” a winning combination in the midsize crossover class.

Unlike the first-generation Chevy Equinox, which suffered from disappointing late-’90s GM cabin styling themes, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox boasts one of the most attractive interiors in the segment. Car and Driver reports that the Chevrolet Equinox’s “dashboard is easily the most futuristic and detailed in its class, with silver-trimmed, Camaro-like ’squircle’ gauges bracketing a classy CLD containing an array of trip- and vehicle-related data.” Edmunds also loves the “quiet and stylish cabin” that is highlighted by “a dual-cowl dashboard [that] recalls vintage Corvettes,” while the “eye-catching two-tone color schemes make its rivals’ cabins seem dull and unimaginative by comparison.” Cars.com adds that the Equinox Chevrolet’s interior design “is modern yet functional,” which Autoblog confirms by noting that “the controls are well-placed and easy to use, with plenty of storage compartments.”

All 2010 Chevrolet Equinoxes come equipped with what Car and Driver describes as a “six-speed automatic…with manumatic shifting (still a novelty in this class),” regardless of which engine sits under the hood. Front-wheel drive is standard, but Jalopnik reviewers point out that all Chevy Equinoxes have “optional all-wheel drive.” Automobile Magazine reviewers love the engine/transmission combination, declaring “powertrain refinement is excellent” thanks to the fact that “the transmission shifts smoothly and the Active Noise Cancellation keeps engine noise intrusion to a minimum.” As noted earlier, the Equinox Chevrolet’s six-speed automatic has a manual shift feature, but Car and Driver “see[s] this manual-shifting capability as geared more to those who tow than to gear-rowing enthusiasts.”

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox has got a lot going for it, and if gas prices come anywhere near summer ’08 levels, then the Chevy Equinox’s class-leading fuel efficiency will become another very compelling reason to buy this second-generation crossover. The official EPA estimates for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox are 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with the four-cylinder and AWD transmission, while the FWD and four-cylinder combo gets an astounding 22 mpg city and 32 mpg on the highway. For the V-6, the numbers are somewhat less impressive, although the EPA still rates the FWD V-6 Chevy Equinox at a very respectable 17/25 mpg, with the AWD coming in just behind at 17/24.

Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com invariably mention top-notch fuel economy, and Jalopnik points out that the Chevy Equinox “beats out the main competition from Honda, Ford, and Toyota in all trim levels in both city and highway figures.” Cars.com states that the Chevy “Equinox’s claim to fame is its gas mileage,” which is better on the highway than the Ford Escape Hybrid (at least when equipped as a FWD four-cylinder).

Vehicles that emphasize fuel economy don’t normally rate too highly on the fun-to-drive scale (think Toyota Prius), but the Chevrolet Equinox surprises more than a few reviewers with its better-than-adequate handling and steering feel. Jalopnik contends that the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox “delivers like its Japanese competitors don’t” when it comes to overall driving performance, claiming “road feel is actually not too bad” and “body control is excellent for the segment.” MyRide.com agrees that the “new Equinox handles better than its predecessor,” with a “more carlike” feel and less lean in turns.

The only serious gripe about the Equinox Chevrolet comes from Automobile Magazine, where reviewers report that the brake’s “pedal feel is lackluster; there’s a mushiness to it that doesn’t inspire confidence,” despite the fact that “the brakes don’t have any trouble bringing this crossover to a halt.”

With all the space dedicated to passenger room, you might wonder if the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox sacrifices some cargo-carrying utility in the name of driver and passenger comfort. Fortunately, TheCarConnection.com’s research shows there is still more than ample room for all the gear that five people would need for a long weekend trip. In the rear of the cabin, Cars.com points out “a split-folding backrest lets you partially extend the cargo area to carry a golf bag, for instance, or you can fold down both sections of the seatback to expand the cargo area to 63.7 cubic feet.” Jalopnik reports the Equinox Chevrolet boasts “plenty of storage,” and although Edmunds says trunk space is rather large with the rear seats folded, it’s still “about 6 cubes shy of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, but still bigger than the smaller utes like the Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue.” In the passenger area, Car and Driver notes “lots” of “storage cubbies” for whatever small items you might need to stow, and the “elbow-deep center console is equipped with a power port, USB and aux jacks, and, most important, a light in the event that you drop something into that deep abyss.”

One of the areas where GM has made significant improvements of late is interior quality, and the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox is at or near the top of the class in nearly every regard. Car and Driver is surprised to find that the materials quality exceed that found on most Toyotas, and “the fact that the Equinox outshined the Honda [CR-V] was unexpected.” Jalopnik is slightly less impressed, but they note “we have to keep price point in mind when we’re talking about this segment, and while we’d have loved soft-touch plastics, you get solidly constructed rubberized plastic—like all the competition.” Unfortunately, MyRide.com feels “the interior materials look and feel like hard plastic.” TheCarConnection.com’s editors can shine some light on the competing descriptions here by pointing out that, although the majority of the Chevy Equinox’s cabin is bathed in top-of-the-class materials, there’s still a stray piece of trim or two that seems too plasticky.

Although not all of the materials can be considered luxurious, there is one element of the Equinox Chevrolet that rivals even the best from Lexus: interior noise levels. A near lack of cabin noise is easily the single biggest surprise reviewers find when testing the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, with Car and Driver raving about the “whisper-quiet Equinox” that is “shockingly calm and vibration-free inside.” Jalopnik adds that “what’s missing from the cabin is noise,” since GM’s “acoustics engineers bent over backwards to make [the Equinox Chevrolet] insanely quiet…the end result is a remarkably quiet cabin. Not just for the segment, for the market.” The trick, according to Automobile Magazine, is an “Active Noise Cancellation system” that “works much like your over-priced Bose Noise Cancelling headphones, using the stereo speakers to emit waves that cancel out certain frequencies.”

Ride quality suffers either moving to the V-6 or models with larger wheels, with Edmunds pointing out “the larger wheels add a little too much impact harshness,” although overall the Chevy Equinox’s “ride is generally civilized and comfortable.”

While you wait for the crash-test scores to come in, feel free to familiarize yourself with the Equinox Chevrolet’s list of standard safety features; it might take some time. According to Edmunds reviewers, the “2010 Chevy Equinox comes standard with antilock disc brakes (with brake assist), traction and stability control.” MyRide.com adds that the Chevy Equinox’s “safety equipment includes dual threshold front airbags, curtain side airbags, front side airbags, a tire-pressure monitor…hill start assist” and OnStar. The two major safety options for the Chevy Equinox are “a rearview camera and rear parking sensors,” according to Edmunds.

Along with its enviable list of standard and optional safety equipment, the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox boasts impressive driver visibility, especially for a mid-size crossover. Cars.com raves that “the driving position affords excellent forward views,” although reviewers there also caution that “taller drivers…might notice that the B-pillar blocks the view when checking their left-side blind spot.” Fortunately, Automobile Magazine notes that the available backup camera will provide blind-spot coverage by displaying its feed on the navigation system: “the optional back-up camera displays in the rearview mirror on cars without navigation.”

With the 2010 Equinox, Chevrolet has made high-tech gear an integral part of the options package; goodies ranging from a voice-recognition navigation system to rear parking sensors are available, but the associated price tags are steep. Beginning with the more mundane, Automobile Magazine says “an optional power liftgate opens to a programmable height to keep you from smacking the roof of your garage with your Equinox.”

Moving to the more interesting features, MyRide.com states that “remote engine starting and a leather-wrapped steering wheel” are available, along with “leather seats” and “heated front seats.” One of the real crowd-pleasers on the Chevy Equinox’s options list is the rear entertainment system, which Automobile Magazine reports features “two eight-inch monitors [that] are placed on the rear of the front seatbacks.” Last but not least, Cars.com notes that the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox offers a “touch-screen navigation system, which features a 40GB hard drive that can store songs” and is available for an additional $2,145.