Cadillac XT5
Cadillac's XT5 luxury SUV
is neither as sporty to drive
as its German competitors
nor as pampering as a
Lexus RX. It's powered by
a 3.6-liter V6 engine or a new 2.0-liter
turbo-four. Both are linked to a nine-
speed automatic. With the V6, the XT5
seems lethargic in everyday driving,
despite posting decent outright
acceleration in our tests. The XT5 handles soundly, though the ride is too stiff for
a luxury SUV. The active damping suspension that comes on top-trim versions
improves matters a bit. Comfortable front seats, good fit and finish, and a quiet
cabin lend the XT5 a luxurious aura. Starting with the 2020 model year, forward
collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection,
lane departure warning and lane keeping assistance are standard. Blind spot
warning and rear cross traffic warning are standard on all but the base model.
OVERALL
SCORE
64
$44,095-$55,095
RELIABILITY
2
SATISFACTION
3
ROAD-TEST SCORE 76 MPG 20
Cadillac XT6
Cadillac's belated three-
row luxury midsized SUV
is powered by a robust
3.6-liter V6 mated to
a smooth nine-speed
automatic transmission. Front-wheel
drive comes standard; all-wheel drive
is optional. Handling is responsive
for a three-row SUV, and the ride is
comfortable. The cabin is quiet and
nicely finished, and the seats are comfortable. But the XT6 lacks some luxury
features, such as a four-way lumbar support adjustment for the driver's seat
and auto-up rear windows. The infotainment system is relatively easy to use.
Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian
detection, and blind spot warning are all standard. Optional features include
rear pedestrian detection, reverse automatic emergency braking, and
a rearview mirror that can also display a feed from the rearview camera.
OVERALL
SCORE
56
$52,695-$57,095
RELIABILITY
1
SATISFACTION
3
ROAD-TEST SCORE 82 MPG 18
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet's midsized SUV
seats five passengers but
is focused more on styling
and luxury and less on
utility. The base 193-hp
four-cylinder engine comes only
on front-wheel-drive versions. The
all-wheel-drive ones get a 305-hp
V6. The Blazer rides and handles
well, it's quiet, and the V6's power
delivery is smooth. Controls are easy to use, but the low dash vents direct air
to front occupants' elbows. For advanced safety features beyond blind spot
warning and rear cross traffic warning, buyers have to pick an expensive option
package that's available only on the high-end versions. Getting automatic
emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and
lane keeping assistance bumps the price up considerably. For 2020, a new
turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is available.
OVERALL
SCORE
68
$28,800-$45,600
RELIABILITY
2
SATISFACTION
5
ROAD-TEST SCORE 83 MPG 19
Chevrolet Bolt
!
The Bolt is the first
relatively affordable EV
to have a robust driving
range. This small hatch-
back is built around a
large 66-kilowatt-hour battery pack
that sits under the car's floor and
contributes to the car's planted
feel despite its tall stance. With
200 electrified horses on tap, the Bolt
accelerates with gusto. A full charge takes 10 hours on a 240-volt connector,
but with a rated 259-mile range, owners should rarely have to fully charge
the Bolt. The Bolt is very quiet, but the ride is choppy. Controls, including the
unintuitive gear selector, take some getting used to. The driver's seat is short on
lower back support, and interior quality is on the cheap side. Forward collision
warning, city-speed automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection,
blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic warning are all optional.
OVERALL
SCORE
70
$36,620-$41,020
RELIABILITY
3
SATISFACTION
4
ROAD-TEST SCORE 76 MPGe 119
Chevrolet Camaro
The Camaro possesses
impressive handling
agility and sharp steering.
The optional magnetic
ride suspension does an
impressive job of keeping the Camaro
composed over some of the roughest
surfaces. The manual shifter has
light, precise throws. Base models use
a 275-hp turbo four-cylinder engine,
and the 3.6-liter V6 makes 335 hp. For the SS, Chevrolet transplanted the
ferocious 6.2-liter V8 from the previous-generation Corvette. Transmission
choices are a six-speed manual, and eight-speed and 10-speed automatics.
Outward visibility is downright atrocious, and rear-seat room is extremely
tight. Also available is a performance ZL1 version powered by a 650-hp,
6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine mated to the six-speed manual or optional
10-speed automatic.
OVERALL
SCORE
53
$25,000-$68,000
RELIABILITY
1
SATISFACTION
5
ROAD-TEST SCORE 85 MPG 20
Chevrolet Colorado
GM's small pickups, the
Colorado and its GMC
Canyon twin, are more
maneuverable than
full-sized trucks and are
better equipped than their Nissan and
Toyota competitors. We tested the V6
engine, which returned 18 mpg overall,
and the four-cylinder diesel, which
got 24 mpg overall. The ride is rather
choppy, as expected of a pickup, but handling is responsive. Rear- and four-
wheel-drive versions are available, as are extended-cab and crew-cab body
styles. Inside are the latest electronics, including the easy-to-use infotainment
system. Updates for the 2020 model year include a new infotainment system
and an available locking tailgate. Forward collision warning is optional, but
automatic emergency braking is not offered.
OVERALL
SCORE
$21,300-$43,000
RELIABILITY
1
SATISFACTION
2
ROAD-TEST SCORE 60-61 MPG 18-24
Chevrolet Corvette
The all-new Corvette
Stingray underwent a
radical shift for 2020: The
iconic sports car shifts to
a midengine design like
exotic supercars from Ferrari and
Lamborghini. Under the rear glass
hatch is a 6.2-liter V8 producing
495 hp. No turbo or electric assist
here. The engine is matched with an
eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. There is no manual transmission. Chevrolet
claims this combination, along with the Z51 performance package, enables the
car to race to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. We drove an early version of the
new Corvette and found it to be extremely agile, with an invigorating sound,
and yet the ride is docile. Rear and side visibility are severely hampered. There
is cargo space up front and under the hatchback. Blind spot warning and rear
cross traffic warning are available on all but base trim.
OVERALL
SCORE
NA
$59,995-$78,945
RELIABILITY
2
SATISFACTION
5
ROAD-TEST SCORE NA MPG NA
Chevrolet Equinox
!
The Equinox is one of the
roomiest compact SUVs
available, and offers the
latest infotainment and
safety technology. Most
versions use a lackluster 1.5-liter turbo
four-cylinder with a six-speed auto-
matic. The uplevel engine is a more
muscular 252-hp turbo four-cylinder
mated to a nine-speed automatic.
We found that the ride absorbed bumps and pavement imperfections quite
well. Handling is responsive and secure. The cabin is quiet, and the controls are
straightforward to use, including the MyLink infotainment system. Even though
the interior has some cheap touches, the seats are quite comfortable. Forward
collision warning and city-speed automatic braking are standard for 2020. The
diesel engine is no longer offered.
OVERALL
SCORE
76
$23,800-$35,700
RELIABILITY
4
SATISFACTION
3
ROAD-TEST SCORE 78 MPG 25
APRIL 2020 CR.ORG 55
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