6 month Update. 2006 Chevy Equinox LT AWD.

[ChevyRules]

Can you believe it? It has been 6 months since I got this wonderful Chevy. My 'Nox is at 8836 miles( ) and it is driving great. The 'Nox has been pretty reliable so far with that one problem it had with the bearing which some of you know about. Now I will address a couple of things in this review. First, I will address the interior. I really like the look of the interior. The shifter can not be in a better place, but you can't say the same for the window switches. I like the switches in the center console, but GM placed them too far back for me to easily put down my window. I would of wished GM placed the Window switches in the setup of the Vue's. But, due to time though, I can lower the drivers window and the one behind it without looking, but it took some time getting used to. The A/C and radio controls trumps the shifter placement in terms of convenience . I swear that is the best setup I have ever had in any car I have ridden in. I can adjust the A/C without looking and same with the radio controls( Still haven't gotten into the habit of using the steering wheel controls). Back in my other review I mentioned my knees hitting the steering wheel upon entry and leaving the vehicle. I rather got used to it or I figured out a way to get in and out without my knees hitting the wheel. I just love the legroom that the front passenger and the rear seat has! Unbelievable! Although, the situation hasn't come up yet, I don't like those intrusive lumps in the trunk.

Now on to the features of this vehicle. The most interesting feature is that the headlights turn on if it is dark enough when you unlock the vehicle. That is a neat little feature. The best feature, IMHO is the sliding rear seat. I have slided it up twice now to increase my storage capacity. Then slide it all the way back for maximum legroom. Of course there is XM radio. I love it. Can't think of any other features, but will add more if I think of them.

Now the drive and the powertrain. The 3400 mated to the Aisin 5 Speed Auto is wonderful. It is nice and peppy. But, I am still in the club of the 3400 has to be killed. It is raspy when you get it into high RPM's, etc. It is a totally unrefined engine, even though it powers the 'Nox nicely. The 5 speed auto is just wow. So smooth. It is smooth on the up shift, and on a downshift, I can't tell it downshifted. Not from feel or engine noise. I must admit this Aisin 5 speed auto is better then the Hydra-matic in the my Suburban, and I love the hydra-matics. The hydra-matic matches the Aisin with the upshift with the smoothness, but it doesn't compare with the downshift. I can feel and hear the downshift with the Hydra-Matic. Now the ride. It is absolutely the best riding vehicle I have ever ridden in. The suspension just absorbs every imperfection in the road and giving a nice cushioning feel when hitting them. I have gotten used to the turning radius of the 'Nox.

Overall, I am really impressed. The Equinox should of been a hit. If only it had the new 3500 VVT or hell the 3800 V6, it would of been loads better then the 3400. The 3800 is a smooth and refined engine. Or at least the one in my rental '06 Grand Prix it was. :p It is the engine that killed the Equinox hopes of being an outright hit with the public. What more would you want from it? It is a nice unibody based SUV with decent cargo capacity. Almost as big as the Trailblazer. And the bloody 3400 V6 is what cost the Equinox from being a great vehicle.

[CRBoyd91]

Shoulda, coulda, woulda been a hit if it wasnt't for that motor.

[asim]

Yeah, one of the big things that held back the Equinox is the 3400...what a shame. lol

[nsap]

I've gotten my 'Nox to it's redline before, and the poor 3400 sounds like its going to commit suicide.

In all seriousness, the 3400 (for what it is) does a good job moving the 'Nox right along, but there is no denying that it needs replaced ASAP.

As for the steering... In some aspects I really like it, others I hate it. I love how it really tightens up at highway speeds and has strong on-center feel....At the other end of the spectrum, I hate it when I'm trying to park! Everyday when I go to park at work, I almost ALWAYS have to back-up to get it in straight.

Oh, and I kind of like the electric steering on Monday morning's when I'm backing out of the garage and I'm only half-awake. Hardly NO effort to turn!

[ChevroletRevived]

You're funny nsap. The Equinox would do really good with, let's say...the 3800 or the 3.6 or even the 2.8! Just get rid of that Chinese motor. It'll be interesting to see what the 2007 'Nox looks like.

[griswold44]

Hell, I don't care if they put an Aveo engine in the thing, just GET RID of that 3400.

[2005 Equinox LS]

I cant really complain so far about my Equinox. Got about 9500 miles on it. The engine is fine for me. Good torque, and its not too noisy. It could maybe use a bit more highway performance though. I did have a few problems though. The coolant issue where the coolant turns dark and smells bad. The CD player wouldnt accept CDs and needed to be replaced. The interior fits me very nicely and I am a big person.

[boydrive]

It is the engine that killed the Equinox

GM sold 12,583 Equinoxs in April and so far this year 35,189 in the first four months of the year, that does not include the 14,040 Torents in my book it is not a killed SUV. If someone is not complaining about the 4-speeds, where the Equinox has a 5 then it is something else. The Equinox is a hot SUV and GM will only make it better.

KEEP THE FAITH!!!

[ChevyRules]

Originally Posted by boydrive

GM sold 12,583 Equinoxs in April and so far this year 35,189 in the first four months of the year, that does not include the 14,040 Torents in my book it is not a killed SUV. If someone is not complaining about the 4-speeds, where the Equinox has a 5 then it is something else. The Equinox is a hot SUV and GM will only make it better.

KEEP THE FAITH!!!

Nice chopping of words. I never said it was a flop. The Equinox maybe selling at the average rate, but is in no way a hit for GM like the H2, Solstice, Sky, CTS, etc was. What IMO prevented it from not being a hit is the 3400. It needs the 3500 VVT.

[nsap]

Originally Posted by Chevy_Rules

Nice chopping of words. I never said it was a flop. The Equinox maybe selling at the average rate, but is in no way a hit for GM like the H2, Solstice, Sky, CTS, etc was. What IMO prevented it from not being a hit is the 3400. It needs the 3500 VVT.

It's not a hot item, but it's sustaining decent sales numbers. Something that is very vital to GM right now.

[jfnz24]

Originally Posted by griswold44

Hell, I don't care if they put an Aveo engine in the thing, just GET RID of that 3400.

That is a classic quote right there, and made even funnier in that it probably WOULD be a better engine.

[yoblues]

I would buy one tomorrow if it had the new 3.5 with flex fuel capability in it. What ever suit clown made the decision on putting the 3.4 in it should be fired. It's that type of suit that sunk GM so get rid of these people. This vehicle should be blowing the compitition away.

[Neanderthal]

Wonder if a NAIOA FWI would fit in your Nox? That really helps with sounds.
Glad you're happy with it, wish I'd looked at one more closely when I was shopping my Impala. I could use the inside space. But the Impala works fine. It would be even finer with the 5-speed.

[2005 Equinox LS]

Did anybody have an issue with the steering rack clicking and needing a pre-load adjustment? I was told there is a bulletin on it. Only thing is now it seems a bit too tight.

[orangehole]

How does the equinox do in the snow??? Also I wish they had a built in Nav unit