NAIAS 09: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

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NAIAS 09: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
Finally, we're getting a new 'Nox!
www.gminsidenews.com
December 21, 2008

Short Take: After nearly five years on the market, the Chevrolet Equinox crossover is getting a full replacement! The current Equinox has been strapped with the ancient 3.4L OHV V6; likely limiting its success due to dismal power and fuel economy ratings. At any rate, the Equinox has been a fairly successful vehicle. The new Equinox will likely meet all of the bases. We have the welcomed addition of a four-cylinder model and an all-new V6 model. Also added: all the technology options one could want! Read below for all the specs.

Specifications

Trims: LS, LT, LTZ (for both 4-Cylinder and V6)

Engines/Transmissions:
• **NEW ENGINE** ECOTEC 2.4L VVT with direct-injection: 182 HP/174 lb.-ft. (6T45 6-speed transmission)
• **NEW ENGINE** 3.0L VVT High-Feature V6 with direct-injection: 255 HP/214 lb.ft. (6T70 6-speed transmission)

Fuel Economy:
• 2.4L FWD: 21/30 MPG, AWD: 20/27 MPG
• 3.0L FWD: 18/25 MPG, AWD: 17/24 MPG

Select Standard Equipment:
• Six airbags (front, side, curtain)
• XM Satellite Radio
• OnStar
• StabiliTrak stability control system
• 17” Wheels
• Traction Control with 4-wheel disc brakes
• MultiFlex Rear Seat—in current Equinox, allows rear seat to slide fore and aft 8”

Select Options:
• “Smart” Remote Start—activates the HVAC and heated seats automatically based on exterior temperature
• 7” touch-screen navigation system
• Bluetooth
• USB Port for audio connectivity
• DVD Entertainment System—includes LCD screen in each headrest; can watch or play games independently
• In-Dash Hard Drive Storage
• Power Rear Liftgate
• Rear-View Camera—in rearview mirror or navigation screen
• 250 Watt, 8 speaker Pioneer sound system
• 18”-19” Wheels
• All Wheel Drive

Design details

The design features Chevy’s signature global face – the two-tier grille and prominent gold Bowtie insignia. Strong fender shapes, a distinctive premium roofline, wraparound headlamps and dual round taillamps are additional elements that define Equinox as a true Chevrolet, Peper said.

“The new Equinox blends function and style into a very sporty, yet upscale compact crossover,” said Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. “Both the exterior and interior surprise and delight with careful attention to detail.”

Additional design features include:

• A multi-dimensional hood and wraparound rear side glass and a wheels-at-the-corners stance
• Improved aerodynamic performance through a number of carefully
designed exterior features, including moving the base of the windshield forward approximately three inches (75 mm) for a sleeker profile
Equinox’s rocker panels are integrated into the doors to make it easier to get in and out of the vehicle. They narrow the area over which a passenger must step, offering protection for pant legs that could brush against dirty rockers. Also, the select use of chrome trim and flush-fitting ”exposed-edge” windshield and rear glass reinforce Equinox’s build quality and reduce wind noise.

Dimensionally, the Equinox rides on the same 112.5-inch wheelbase (2,857 mm), but is about one inch (25 mm) shorter in length and an inch wider. It also has a wider front track that enhances the ride and handling.
Interior amenities, storage and flexibility

Inside, the Equinox features attention to detail – including a number of storage bins, such as an oversized glove box; a closed storage bin in the instrument panel above the center stack; and closed storage under the center armrest large enough for a laptop computer.

A “floating” center stack houses a multitude of ergonomic comfort and convenience controls. Contemporary, ice-blue ambient lighting – featured within and surrounding the center stack, encircling the center-console cupholders and within the door pull cups – accentuates the cabin. The front and rear seats, which include cloth and uplevel, perforated leather-trimmed offerings, were developed to help deliver best-in-class comfort.

The new Equinox retains its MultiFlex rear seat capability, which allows the seat to be moved fore or aft nearly eight inches (203 mm), for the best rear legroom in its class. With the 60/40-split-back rear seat moved all the way forward, the cargo area offers 31.4 cubic feet (889 liters) of storage.

The Equinox’s cabin is notable for its quietness. Noise-absorbing elements are built into the chassis, engine compartment and interior.

Chassis and Suspension

The 2010 Equinox is built on a body-integral structure with single-piece body side stampings and targeted applications of high-strength steel. Those elements form the foundation of a solid, quiet driving experience, according to Peper. The strong structure enabled engineers to tune the four-wheel-independent suspension system for greater control and driver feedback.
Standard and available features include:

• Available all wheel drive
• Family of 17-, 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels
• Fuel-saving electric power steering system

The rack-mounted electric power steering system provides greater fuel efficiency of on 2.4L-equipped models that saves nearly 11 miles per tank of gas, or about 572 miles per year (assuming one fill-up per week). With the Equinox’s estimated 30 mpg on the highway, the electric power steering system saves the equivalent of approximately one tank of gas each year.

“With the outstanding interior execution and comfort, the stunning exterior design, numerous chassis improvements, and the connectivity to the outside world, the new Equinox is the favorite ride among our engineers,” said Tim Herrick, chief engineer. “I have to pull the keys out of their hands in order to take it for a spin myself.”

Photography
High-Resolution Images

Transmission for 4-cylinder models.

Transmission for V6 models.

GMI NAIAS 2009 InfoNet:
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2010 3.0L SIDI High-Feature V6
2010 ECOTEC 2.4L SIDI

[ausrutherford]

Like the front, dont like the back...and i like the interior overall but i dont like where they put the cd input, its to low.

[FenwickHockey65]

Oh dear God...

That interior is stunning.

[jmlee0695]

looks great! I love the interior! thats a nice color!

[ausrutherford]

Is it just me or did they borrow the design of the Aura’s headlights for the Equinox? The turning signal at least has a striking resemblance to the Aura’s. The rest seems to have been borrowed from the concept with the bottom having a wave design( probably just the Aura’s headlights and the bumper adds the wavyness to it).

Its not just you, kinda looks by this that the Vue will become a Chevy.

[Mr. Burns]

wow is that an awesome interior or what? Great looking overall, nice and masculine from the sides, a bit feminine at the front and bland at the rear. But well done overall.

[ausrutherford]

Also they better hurry up with that Hybrid yall are talking about because Ford has the Edge Hybrid coming.

[mgescuro]

This is impressive. About time GM got lighted cup holders.
Now... a word about the vent orientation...and the Wall-E instrument panel.... and the strange cutout of the rear door into the C-pillar...

This might actually turn some heads in California, assuming it comes with a 2-Mode Hybrid and have superior mileage... and comes with good marketing.

An excellent start for GM.

[Z0mg Seth]

It's....interesting. The interior is modern and fresh, which I really like.

[goblue]

2 DI engines, class leading interior (at least in design) this could be an Acura and no one would know.

[CamaroCrazy]

Looks like a mini-Traverse, but at the same time sort of still looks like an Equinox...some inherent similarities to the current generation.

Gotta love the 7" touch screen nav option. That Smart Remote Start feature sounds cool, gotta see how that works.

They need to market the hell out of the direct injection and 30mpg highway figure. GM needs to show the car buying public that GM is a technology leader, not a follower. The 4cyl fuel economy numbers beat or match the RAV4, CR-V, and non-hybrid Escape. Excellent.

Can't wait until I can see one in person.

[2005 Equinox LS]

Looks good to me. While my 2005 wasnt really noisy I hope they at least got the noise level to where it is in my Impala. I really liked my 2005 in the time I had it except it did not meet fuel economy specs. Hopefully this new one will. They are using world class engines this time around which is cool. Though I never had complaints about the performance of the 3.4 in my 2005.

[Carguy]

I like the looks and the new 3.0L DI V6. The interior looks great also. Now they need to do a 320+HP 3.8L version of the DI V6 for Cadillac while the 3.6L version is used by Buick/Pontiac Chevy Camaro and the LAMBDA crossovers. Let Chevy with lesser Buick's and European Cadillacs use the 3.0L version. With less brands in the future GM needs to differentiate them more with ((unique power))/options/styling ect.

[rsbaker]

This looks amazing!!! I was concerned it would look too much like the Vue especially when a recent spy photo showed that it was using the same headlight unit, but this looks great and very different from the Vue. The interior is doing and excellent job of following up on the well received Malibu and Aura interiors. I'm also very impressed with the gas mileage of the 4 cylinder versions. 30 mpg Highway. This is yet another model that GM can ad to the growing list of 30+ MPG Models that out number Toyohondassandai. My only gripe is that there is no 5 or 6 speed Manual option.

Now if people can actually get loans to buy it, it will sell well.

[rory]

the interior looks like its made to change to rhd easily hint hint