Introduction
On sale since 2004, the Chevrolet Equinox wears a compact-SUV price but offers more interior space and is a bit larger on the outside than other vehicles at a similar price point. As such, the Equinox seemingly straddles the compact-SUV segment and the mid-size-crossover segment. Built on the Theta crossover platform that also underpins the Saturn Vue and the Pontiac Torrent, the Equinox is relatively agile and carlike compared with SUVs with body-on-frame construction. However, road noise, suspension noise, and less-than-impressive interior materials make the Equinox feel less refined than its competitors. The Equinox is mechanically twinned with the Pontiac Torrent and Suzuki XL-7, and all three are built in the same plant.
Until this year, the Equinox came exclusively with a thrashy-sounding 185-hp, 3.4-liter pushrod V-6 mated to a surprisingly responsive five-speed automatic transmission. Newly available for 2008 in the Equinox Sport is a 3.6-liter DOHC engine with 264 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. Although the 3.4-liter V-6 offers an acceptable amount of power, the more-powerful V-6 offers more performance and refinement without much of a fuel-economy penalty. Both engines achieve 24 mpg on the EPA highway cycle, and the 3.6-liter V-6 gets 16 mpg in the city, just 1 mpg less than the standard 3.4-liter. For those who seek superior economy, most Equinox competitors offer a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
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