My point is that GM, like most manufacturers including Toyota, has few engines they use across their line-up.
Why start a reply hurling insults right off the bat. ![Smiley :)](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/smiley.gif)
You cannot possibly take my statement that puts GM and Toyota (along with the rest of manufacturers) on the same level from this stand point as an insult, do you?!
![Wink ;)](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/wink.gif)
Toyota decided to put I4s in their larger SUV/CUVs (Venza, Highlander, 4Runner) therefore they had to up the displacement
Corrected for Accuracy:
Toyota decided to put a LARGE displacement I4 into the Venza, Highlander, 4 Runner, Sienna, Tacoma (depending on model and trim) instead of their Camry motor; the 2.5, because that is what is required to move these heavier vehicles in an efficent manner.
GM, never bothering with the finer details of powertrain engineering, reach into the Malibu parts bin and pull out their 2.4. Great motor for a Malibu, horribly mismatched for the Equo/Terrain.
So ppl buy these, get them home, fill the tank full, load in the kids and stuff, and then discover that the gas mileage sucks, the power sucks. HELLO, it's still GM, what were you expecting ![Huh ???](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/huh.gif)
I believe, as I said before, that Toyota decided FIRST to put an I4 in those large SUV/CUV and THEN decided that the 2.4L I4 will not do it therefore they came up with a larger displacement I4 engine. As far as I know, GM does not use I4 engines in their large vehicles. Although the Equinox/Terrain are more of mid-size SUV than compact, GM I think still markets them as compact.
I agree that the 2.4L I4 is a wrong engine for the Equinox/Terrain, just the same as it is for the Santa Fe, Sorento and even CX-7 (2.5L I4). In order to move those rather heavy vehicles with any sort of authority and not work out the I4 engine to the point where it is as efficient as a V6 you need a decently powered V6.
However, you chose to ignore that Toyota does the same thing with the 4Runner for example.
I checked out the EPA numbers and they confirm my point.
2010 4Runner 2.7L I4 2WD 4A/T: 18/23/20 (city/hwy/combined)
2010 4Runner 4.0L V6 4WD 5 A/T: 17/22/19 (city/hwy/combined)
Source: toyota.com
More so, the reviews I read about these Toyota SUVs with the "large" I4 engine note that they are slow as anyone would guess.
On the side note, what's up with the 4A/T in a brand new 2010 model from Toyota?
Speak about ancient technology....