To match those prices, you’d have to shop for a Honda CR-V (smaller) or Toyota RAV4 (much smaller) from 2005; even the 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe (first year for the current generation) is significantly pricier than an Equinox or Torrent.

If you’re willing to take a chance on a used Equinox/Torrent, you’ll get a nice-looking, roomy and comfortable crossover for a very good price. I would advise bargaining hard to get the lowest price possible, though, as deals should be easy to come by.

Pricing

Red Book Pricing (avg. retail) February 2009:

Year
Model
Price today
Price new
2008
Equinox LT FWD
$17,700
$29,620
2007
Equinox LT FWD
$14,450
$29,120
2006
Equinox LT FWD
$10,925
$27,540
2005
Equinox LT FWD
$9,025
$28,565

Online resources
  • EquinoxCentral.com is a promising site, but the Tech Tips and Tricks discussion section is only open to members. No biggie, as registration is free, but at the time of this writing, the site wouldn’t let me register. Anyways, there is a good amount of useful stuff in the General Chat section. EquinoxOwnersClub.com is another good spot, even if it’s not quite as busy as the first site mentioned. I found two Pontiac Torrent-specific sites, but one was “coming soon,” while the other one didn’t work at all. Other good bets are the Equinox discussion forums at Topix.com and Edmunds.com.

    Recalls
  • Transport Canada Recall Number: 2008077; Units affected: 78,583
    2005-2006:     On certain vehicles, the Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) resistor may crack. If water and road salt enters the crack, it could corrode the resistor. This could result in a loss of DRL illumination, and therefore, vehicles may be less visible to other motorists and pedestrians during daylight hours, possibly resulting in a crash causing personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the resistor until 7 years or 112,000 km from date vehicle was originally placed into service.

    Transport Canada Recall Number: 2007262; Units affected: 149
    2007:     On certain vehicles, the passenger sensing system may fail to detect a small adult occupying the right front seat due to an error in seat sensor calibration. In the event of a crash severe enough to activate the airbags, the front passenger airbag may not deploy. This could increase the occupant’s risk of injury. In addition, this condition can prevent the airbag from turning off when the seat is occupied by a small child. In the event of a crash, the front airbag could deploy and the child could be killed or seriously injured by the airbag. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the seat’s electronic control unit (ECU).

    Transport Canada Recall Number: 2007194; Units affected: 3,345
    2007:     Certain vehicles fail to conform to CMVSS 212 – Windshield Mounting. The windshield, liftgate glass and side stationary glass may not be properly secured to the vehicle body due to incorrect primer used during glass installation process. As a result, the windshield may not be retained during a frontal crash or rollover. Correction: Dealers will replace the windshield, liftgate glass and side stationary glass.

    Crash test results
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
  • Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

    Used vehicle prices vary depending on factors such as general condition, odometer reading, usage history and options fitted. Always have a used vehicle checked by an experienced auto technician before you buy.

    For information on recalls, see Transport Canada’s web-site, www.tc.gc.ca, or the U.S. National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA)web-site, www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

    For information on vehicle service bulletins issued by the manufacturer, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

    For information on consumer complaints about specific models, see www.lemonaidcars.com.

    • Related posts:

    1. Buyer's Guide: 2008 Pontiac Torrent
    2. First Drive: 2006 Pontiac Torrent
    3. Buyer's Guide: 2006 Pontiac Torrent
    4. Buyer's Guide: 2007 Pontiac Torrent
    5. Used Vehicle Review: Pontiac Vibe, 2003-2008
    Pages: 1 2 3 4