Test Drive: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ FWD

The Equinox is a nice driver: the four-cylinder uses electric power steering to the V6 model’s hydraulic unit, but it’s well-tuned for a more organic feel. The six-speed also shifts smoothly and keeps the engine in its sweet spot, but its manual shift mode is operated by a button on the side of the shift lever, which can be awkward to use. Naturally there are limits to how hard you can take a corner, but body lean is minimal, and it feels tight and well-controlled, and only the very nastiest potholes make their way through the suspension and up into the passenger compartment. The brakes require more effort than expected, though, and the pedal feels dull and lifeless.

2010 Chevrolet Equinox LTZ FWD. Click image to enlarge

The seating position has the high hip point expected of an SUV, and seeing out the front is fine, but the thick rear C-pillar cuts down on visibility when making shoulder checks.

The LTZ buffs up the interior with two-tone perforated leather seats. Having also driven a lower trim line, I thought the cloth seats were a bit softer and more comfortable, although that could also have been my prejudice against leather seats, which I always find are too hot, too cold or too slippery in comparison to fabric. In any case, the Equinox benefits from GM’s newfound interest in cabin quality, with panels that fit together accurately and a handsome, cohesive design. There’s still a lot of smooth, hard plastic, but you’ll pretty much have to move up to a premium brand to top the Equinox.

There’s plenty of room for small objects, although the door’s map pocket isn’t actually big enough to hold a map; on the other hand, you can tuck a laptop into the cavern hidden below the armrest in the centre console. GM is starting to get into fiddly-button territory, and I’d like to see the centre stack made easier to operate when you’re driving, since the small black icons on the silver slab-style buttons can be hard to pick out at a quick glance. All but the base LS model have automatic climate control, so you can set-it-and-forget-it, but it still should be viable to switch modes safely at speed.

There are only two rows of seats; you need to move up to the Chevrolet Traverse to get three rows. The second row, called a Multi-Flex seat, can be slid up to 203 mm (8 inches) back or forward, depending on whether you want more legroom or cargo space. The seats fold, although not entirely flat, giving a floor length of between 80 cm with them up, and 160 cm with them down. A power liftgate is standard on the LTZ, and it can be programmed to open to one of two heights, which helps to better accommodate shorter operators or lower garage ceilings.

All Equinox models come with the usual palette of features: a/c, stability and traction control, keyless entry, power windows, cruise control, CD player with auxiliary input, and power mirrors. Moving up the trim lines, the LT1 model adds heated mirrors, roof rails, automatic climate control and a vehicle information centre, while the LT2 (who thinks up these exotic names?) includes remote starter, a backup camera that displays in the rearview mirror, tire pressure monitoring system, power driver’s seat, Bluetooth, XM satellite radio and a USB port. My LTZ tester stepped that up with the power liftgate, projector-style halogen headlights, chrome exterior accents, rear parking assist, and the leather seats with memory.

Overall, between its quiet composure, its smooth ride and its interior, you could easily put a Buick badge on this and no one would be the wiser. Cleanly styled, intelligently priced and nice to drive, the Equinox takes GM to a new level. If it can sustain this momentum, it’s got a serious chance at regaining the market share it’s lost to its Asian competitors over the years.