![]() ![]() But like other reviewers, my real-world use saw mileage numbers fall below what the company promises.The upgraded 2.0-liter engine comes with the 9T50 nine-speed automatic the company co-developed with Ford, which seems as though it should help the Equinox meet its stated 24 mpg city/30 highway/26 combined fuel economy figures. The old unit is maddeningly slow to downshift when you step on it at higher speeds, and just as unhappy to hold onto gears as long as you want it to in any given situation. The aging six-speed transmission was the weak point in the Chevy Suburban I reviewed last year, and the problem rears its head again in the Burb's baby brother.Equip it right and the Chevrolet Equinox can be something of a bargain for someone cross-shopping it with its better-selling rivals. Everything from heated leather front chairs to a hands-free power liftgate to rear parking and cross-traffic alert is standard, and the $1,895 Confidence & Convenience II Package adds more goodies like rear heated seats and a 360-degree surround view camera. The Premier trim, starting at just $31,795 in front-wheel-drive flavor, comes with a bunch of options, features, and driver safety aides at a cheaper price point compared with similar CUVs.Storage spaces and charging ports abound, and a full-length panoramic sunroof is available as part of a $3,320 Sun, Sound, and Navigation Package. And even though black-on-black never brings out the best in an interior, the Equinox has a comfortable, functional, and recognizable layout. Its sleek, crisp lines are a welcome departure from the second-gen model, which looked every bit like a seven-year-old car despite benefiting from a facelift in 2015. Inside and out, the company's updated design language translates well on the new CUV.(Which turned out to be plenty of room for two intrepid video producers filming the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk rip around Monticello Motor Club, but that's neither here nor there.) That means nearly 40 inches of legroom for rear passengers, 30 cubic feet for groceries with the back seat up, and 63.5 cubes with the seat down. Chevrolet also managed the neat trick of shrinking nearly every exterior dimension on the Equinox while maintaining almost the same amount of interior space for passengers and cargo.Those numbers fall short of much of the competition-but it pulls strong, turbo lag is minimal, and a 252 horsepower, 2.0-liter option is available. ![]() Buyers can pick from a range of punchy, turbocharged inline-four engines my front-wheel-drive tester was equipped with the standard 1.5 liter unit putting out 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Losing almost 400 pounds, 4.7 inches of length, and 5.2 inches between the axles compared with the old model definitely sharpens things up, as does the new D2XX global platform shared with the Chevrolet Cruze. It's not a high bar, but the Equinox is a nimble handler that offers a more engaging driving experience than most in its class. ![]()
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