| If you don't believe in second chances, take a look at | | | | contemporary touch is ice-blue ambient lighting inside |
| the new Chevrolet Equinox. While the first one was | | | | and around the "floating" center stack and around the |
| fine, this latest version is much more so. It's also much | | | | console cup holders. |
| more challenging to the rest of the very competitive | | | | Another is the 60/40-split-back "MultiFlex" rear seat, |
| compact crossover class, including Toyota's RAV4 | | | | which adjusts fore and aft nearly eight inches. Full |
| and Honda's CR-V. | | | | forward, it opens a spacious 31.4 cu. ft. of storage |
| To begin with, it offers a choice of two new | | | | behind it; full rearward, it provides best-in-class rear |
| direct-injected, variable-valve-timing engines, a standard | | | | legroom. Somewhere in between lies the best balance |
| 2.4-liter four and an optional 3.0-liter V-6, both happily | | | | of both for a given trip. Up front, the driver is well |
| married to six-speed automatic transmissions. The | | | | accommodated thanks to 10 inches of fore-aft seat |
| latter offers 264 horses and 18 mpg city and 25 | | | | travel, standard power-adjustable seat height and a |
| highway EPA economy. The former pumps out 182 | | | | standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel. |
| ponies and trumps the class at 22 mpg city, 32 | | | | Still another great feature is the cabin quietness. It's |
| highway. According to Chevy, that translates to a | | | | exceptional for any utility vehicle, let alone a |
| potential highway driving range of as much as 600 | | | | popular-priced compact CUV. Noise-blocking and |
| miles with the four and more than 500 with the six. | | | | -absorbing elements are built into the chassis, engine |
| Four-cylinder models with available all-wheel drive are | | | | compartment and interior, and four-cylinder models |
| rated somewhat lower at 20 mpg city, 29 highway, but | | | | feature GM's first production use of Active Noise |
| there's a selectable "Eco" mode that adjusts the | | | | Cancellation (ANC) technology. ANC uses |
| transmission's shift points to optimize economy. | | | | microphones to detect booming sounds inside the |
| The new Equinox heads the way with Chevy's | | | | vehicle and sends counteracting sound waves through |
| signature global face: a two-tier grille with a visible gold | | | | the audio speakers. |
| bowtie badge. Muscular fender shapes, wraparound | | | | One other area where this new Equinox trumps the |
| headlamps and dual round tail lamps are additional | | | | old one, and most volume-priced competitors, is its |
| design-defining elements. Wraparound rear glass and | | | | impressive array of standard and available |
| an aggressive wheels-at-the-corners stance complete | | | | technologies. Among them are USB audio connectivity, |
| the look, while efficiency enhancing aerodynamics are | | | | Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, a range of |
| achieved through wind-tunnel-tested measures that | | | | premium audio systems (most with internal memory |
| include moving the base of the windshield forward | | | | hard drive for music storage), available seven-inch |
| approximately three inches (vs. the 2009) for a sleeker | | | | touch-screen navigation, a rear camera system that |
| profile. | | | | displays in the rearview mirror if the car doesn't have |
| It rides on the same 112.5-inch wheelbase as its | | | | navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system with two |
| predecessor but sits about an inch shorter and an inch | | | | independent screens (kids can watch a DVD on one |
| wider with a wider front track to improve stability and | | | | and play games on the other) and a programmable |
| handling. The rocker panels are integrated into the | | | | power lift gate. |
| doors to narrow the step-over area, reducing the | | | | But the proof, as always, is in the driving. We've driven |
| chances of brushing pant legs against dirty rockers | | | | them all in this segment, and most these days are |
| getting in and out, and the flush-fitting exposed-edge | | | | pretty good. But this one at this time may well be the |
| windshield and rear glass reduce wind noise and | | | | best. The fuel-thrifty four is peppy enough for all but |
| compliment the tight-fitting quality look. | | | | heavy loads, and the V-6 is downright powerful with |
| Inside, the Equinox offers more than ample storage, | | | | reasonable economy. The cabin is relaxed, |
| including an over sized glove box, a closed bin above | | | | commodious and quietest in class. The steering is |
| the center stack and closed storage under the center | | | | better than typical electric-boosted systems, the |
| armrest roomy enough for a laptop computer. We | | | | brakes are sure, strong and fade free, and the handling |
| found both front and rear seats—offered in | | | | is surprisingly agile—more tall sedan than |
| standard cloth or premium perforated leather—as | | | | cargo-capable utility. |
| good as any in the class. One especially nice | | | | |