Oman Economic Review – August 2018

T

he redesigned and all new 2018

Chevrolet Equinox offers a whole

new level of performance, comfort

and value. The new Equinox

is smaller and lighter than its

predecessor and it’s powered exclusively

by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine

with standard stop-start technology. The

Chevrolet Equinox also offers a new exterior

design and the car receives a new engine

lineup. Overall the Equinox offers excellent

handling, roomy accommodations,

comprehensive safety and convenience.

Comfort and safety

The downsizing has barely impacted the

Equinox’s spacious interior. There’s plenty of

legroom for tall passengers in all outboard

seats. The 2.0L turbo Premier offers a

power adjustable panoramic sunroof and the

back seats fold flat at the pull of a lever to

increase the size of the cargo area. Cargo

space in the 2018 Equinox is slightly less

than in the car it replaces at 29.9 cubic feet

with the split-folding second row in place

and 63.5 cubic feet with them down (versus

31.5 and 63.7 cubic feet), pretty remarkable

for a vehicle that is 4.7 inches shorter than

the vehicle it replaces.

The Premier version also includes a six-

speed automatic transmission, LED head-

and taillamps, leather trim, driver and front

passenger seats with both heating and

ventilation, dual-zone automatic climate

control, proximity entry and remote starting.

The OnStar communication system includes a

4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, while the Chevy MyLink

setup is commanded through an 8.0-inch

touchscreen and offers Bluetooth, Apple

CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity.

Safe drive

The Equinox features plenty of advanced

safety equipment, from standard items such

as a rearview camera, front and rear parking

assist sensors, hill descent control, Stabilitrak

system with traction control, theft deterrent

system, and tire pressure indicator. The

Premier version offers a top-down parking

camera system and lane departure warning

and intervention, forward collision alert and

following distance indicator.

Two new turbocharged four-cylinder

gas engines are available including a

1.5-litre unit estimated to have 170 hp

and torque of 275NM@2500-4500

and a 2.0-liter with around 252 hp and

torque of 353NM@2500-4500. The car

offers exemplary braking and in abruptly

grinding traffic, this can be the difference

between a near miss and a heavy crash. In

addition, the crossover’s brake pedal is firm

underfoot and easy to modulate when one

intends on slowing aggressively without

triggering the ABS.

Talking about cornering, the Equinox offers

a ride supple enough to take the sting out of

an uneven pavement with no reverberations

resonating through the significantly stiffer

body structure. There’s enough roll stiffness to

keep the cabin right. Tapping the AWD button

reduces the likelihood of wheelspin during

hard acceleration, but engaging drive to the

rear axle had no noticeable effect on cornering

dynamics. The electrically assisted steering

is nicely calibrated with quick response and a

linear rise in off-center effort.

Overall, the Equinox is one of the best

all-rounders in it’s class, as it offers a

comfortable ride, roomy cabin and one

of the best touchscreen systems in the

business. If you are looking for good family

car, then probably the Equinox is one which

ticks all the boxes.

Specifications

Equinox 1.5 Litre Turbo

2ltr AWD 2018

Engine

1.5ltr, 4 Cylinder Turbo,

VVT

Horsepower

170hp@5600rpm

Torque

275nm@2500-4500

Transmission

6 Speed Automatic

Drive

All Wheel Drive