Topic: 2010 Chevrolet Equinox; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

James hops into a Chevrolet Equinox this week, a compact crossover that is a near twin to the GMC Terrain he drove a few weeks ago. This one is decidely more basic, though, and is front-wheel drive where the GMC was an all-wheeler.
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[markrover]

What's the point of driving the same vehicle twice - the Chevy Equinox and the GMC Terrain are identical.

It seems to me that GM supplied that vehicle to get double-coverage and double the advertising, and the tester should not have accepted.

This is evidence to me that GM is the same old company with the same thinking that is doomed to become defunct sooner or later - sell identical badge-engineered vehicles.

[Ice]

My dad and I sat in one of these at the autoshow and I'm wondering if anyone who drives one or the tester can comment.

We both found the A pillars to stick out quite a bit towards us and that it felt a little odd.  Even claustrophobic although neither of us tend to have difficulty in tight spaces. It just felt a bit weird to us. Anyone else or was that just shared family weirdness?

[sailor723]

What's the point of driving the same vehicle twice - the Chevy Equinox and the GMC Terrain are identical.

It seems to me that GM supplied that vehicle to get double-coverage and double the advertising, and the tester should not have accepted.

to me thThis is evidence at GM is the same old company with the same thinking that is doomed to become defunct sooner or later - sell identical badge-engineered vehicles.

+1

[jitsu303]

This artical should have been proofed.
ie "All this adds $1,800 to the base price of $25,995 and all models are available with for $1610."
and cruise control, power windows/mirros and doors, remote keyless entry,

James, what are power doors?

[wing]

Locks of course,   Iceandfire yes it does seem "enclosed"  I will note that in the article for sure.

[sailor723]

My dad and I sat in one of these at the autoshow and I'm wondering if anyone who drives one or the tester can comment.

We both found the A pillars to stick out quite a bit towards us and that it felt a little odd.  Even claustrophobic although neither of us tend to have difficulty in tight spaces. It just felt a bit weird to us. Anyone else or was that just shared family weirdness?

Thicker for better rollover crush resistance maybe? My SRX has airbags and stereo tweeters in the A pillar. Does the Chev ?

[Danno001]

A request here to test engine responsiveness city/hwy with a 4 person load and luggage. As well what impact that has on fuel economy vs. driver only.

[carsncars]

IMO, the Equinox looks far, far better than its GMC-branded brethren--the only reason I can come up with for the existence of the Terrain is that some insecure souls need to be reassured by having their CUV dressed up like a rough 'n tough SUV.

...there just may be enough of these people that badge-engineering the Terrain can be justified.

[Canada Stig]

IMO, the Equinox looks far, far better than its GMC-branded brethren--the only reason I can come up with for the existence of the Terrain is that some insecure souls need to be reassured by having their CUV dressed up like a rough 'n tough SUV.

...there just may be enough of these people that badge-engineering the Terrain can be justified.

Second that.  The Equinox looks pretty good, the Terrain just ghastly.  Hard to believe they are the same car.

I am really curious if the 4cyl really gets the Highway MPGs GM claim - they are making serious claims in the mid-40s MPG range that even their own Cobalt would have trouble hitting.

[Dante]

Wing, can you do a proper/accurate (as much as possible) fuel economy test to satisfy our curiousity about the claimed numbers?

[quadzilla]

....a proper/accurate (as much as possible) fuel economy test.....

I'm curious as to what this would be?

[Dante]

....a proper/accurate (as much as possible) fuel economy test.....

I'm curious as to what this would be?

I'm thinking something like this:

Pre-conditions
1. Tire pressure set cold to the manufacturer spec (use a digital instrument to measure)
2. Car free of any cargo and passengers
3. The highway testing route (loop) is as flat as possible.
4. The testing loop has a Service Station in between the end points.
5. The total loop is at least 100 km.
6. Perform the test during off-peek hours, calm day (no strong winds), with temp between 10-15 Celsius (?)

Test
1. Drive to the Service Station
2. Fill up the tank to the very top. Take a note of the pump you used.
3. Reset the trip odo.
4. Drive away and get on the highway.
5. Slowly accelerate to 100 km/hr.
6. Set the cruise control to 100 km/hr
7. Drive the test loop.
8. Arrive back at the Service Station
9. Fill up the tank from the same gas pump to the very top.
10. Record how many liters you put in the tank.
11. Record the trip odo.
12. Calculate the fuel consumption.


Post the result here.

[2JDM]

Yes, please test the fuel economy results. My friend who knows NOTHING about cars, believes the claims that GM makes, and thinks the Equinox gets better mileage than his Matrix.  No way.

[PJungnitsch]

That would just give you 'grandpa' mileage, what is getting GM into trouble in the first place. No good if the drivetrain is tuned for how nobody but the EPA cycle drives.

The driving loop, speed, accelleration, etc should be realistic.

[Dante]

That would just give you 'grandpa' mileage, what is getting GM into trouble in the first place. No good if the drivetrain is tuned for how nobody but the EPA cycle drives.

The driving loop, speed, accelleration, etc should be realistic.

I'd be interested if the claimed FE can be even achieved in the most conservative conditions.

[safristi]

..SO.....are their ADS RIGHT???

[JPAD]

I'm pretty sure that all manufacturers post mileage numbers that are calculated using the exact same critera. All vehicles are tested the exact same way, and thus allows even comparisons across the board. A vehicle may not get the "advertised" mileage (for better or worse), due to the various outisde influences. However in the end, every vehicle is tested the same way -- from a Prius to Hummer, and everything in between.

I have a Equinox exactly like the one tested here. While driving at a steady 85-90 km/h (side highways), I'll get anywhere from 6.0-7.0 L/100km. Taking the 401/400, with the cruse set to 105-110km/h, it increases to 8.0-8.5L/100km. I don't do alot of city driving, so I can't comment on what those numbers would really be.

[heckler]

This artical should have been proofed.
ie "All this adds $1,800 to the base price of $25,995 and all models are available with for $1610."
and cruise control, power windows/mirros and doors, remote keyless entry,

James, what are power doors?

Agreed about the proofing it gets  no better day 2  "To say the interior is similar to that of the GMC Equinox would be stating the obvious,"

GMC Equinox, last I checked James is road testing the Chevrolet Equinox. The GMC is called the Terrain!

[Mitlov]

What's the point of driving the same vehicle twice - the Chevy Equinox and the GMC Terrain are identical.

It seems to me that GM supplied that vehicle to get double-coverage and double the advertising, and the tester should not have accepted.

One is a loaded AWD model; one is a stripped FWD model.  I wouldn't see any problem with CanadianDriver reviewing a loaded 328xi one week and reviewing a stripped 328i the next week.  This is no different.