[AutoGuide.com]

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At new-vehicle launches it’s always a bit suspicious when an automaker spends more time hyping the drive route or how scenic the lunch stop is than they do about the product they’re introducing. Are they trying to draw attention away from a substandard product?

Indeed, Chevrolet seemed proud of both the area roads and local cuisine we would experience in the Carolinas (yes, both of ‘em) when they invited AutoGuide.com down to Dixie for a taste of their completely overhauled 2018 Equinox.

Strangely, there was no technical lecture or in-depth walkaround of this new compact crossover; the only formal presentation we got was a marketing spiel that was relegated to the second day. Initially it seemed like Chevy was being a bit evasive about their latest crossover model.

But intended or not, this apparent caginess was completely unnecessary. The new Equinox is a solid product and something they have every right to be proud of.

Read more about the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Review at AutoGuide.com.

 

[Raymondjram]

The reviewer dared to compare it with the Toyota RAV4, which is now heavier than the Equinox. The only good thing that the RAV4 has is a hybrid version.

GM, wake up! Make a hybrid/EREV Equinox and kill all those Toyotas! I have a 2009 Equinox and I will never swap it for a Toyota. So make me a hybrid/EREV Equinox!!

 

[mikenky]

Thats why i bought a kia niro, until there is bigger charging network ! 47 mpg to work and back. 60 miles. plug in version later this year.

 

[TheBlueFlash]

If GM made a Voltec Equinox with the gen 1 Volt specs (38mpg/38ev) it would sell like crazy.

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

If GM made a Voltec Equinox with the gen 1 Volt specs (38mpg/38ev) it would sell like crazy.

Would it? How many people have FWD Equinoxes?

 

[Shivetya]

Would it? How many people have FWD Equinoxes?

Most of them? If you are not in the winter states why would you not?

 

[bro1999]

Would it? How many people have FWD Equinoxes?

On cars.com, FWDs outnumber AWDs by about 2:1.

 

[bjrosen]

I don't see how the Equinox is relevant to this group, it's just an ICE car and therefore of no interest. Bolts yes, other EVs like Teslas, Leafs, i3s, comparisons with the Volt are welcome, but not an ordinary ICE SUV.

 

[Fyodor]

I don't see how the Equinox is relevant to this group, it's just an ICE car and therefore of no interest. Bolts yes, other EVs like Teslas, Leafs, i3s, comparisons with the Volt are welcome, but not an ordinary ICE SUV.

I'm with you on this, but it's closer to relevance than many other threads. Drug addiction is one that comes to mind.

 

[JoeReal]

If GM made a Voltec Equinox with the gen 1 Volt specs (38mpg/38ev) it would sell like crazy.

My wife is eagerly waiting for Voltec on Crossovers and SUV's. She doesn't like BEV's such as the Chevy Bolt or Teslas even if they've become cheaper. She likes my Volt but she doesn't like to drive it because the seat is too low. She loves driving our minivan so she can't get used to cars and don't want to plan her driving trip around charging stations. She just wants to charge at home and then be unconstrained with the range.

 

[hellsop]

I don't see how the Equinox is relevant to this group, it's just an ICE car and therefore of no interest. Bolts yes, other EVs like Teslas, Leafs, i3s, comparisons with the Volt are welcome, but not an ordinary ICE SUV.

"Sponsored post". It pays the bills.

 

[bjrosen]

"Sponsored post". It pays the bills.

I didn't catch that. Some advertising is fine as long as it doesn't become too intrusive.

 

[JeremyK]

I don't see how the Equinox is relevant to this group, it's just an ICE car and therefore of no interest. Bolts yes, other EVs like Teslas, Leafs, i3s, comparisons with the Volt are welcome, but not an ordinary ICE SUV.

I disagree. There is a ton of interest in a PHEV Equinox. The 2018 Equinox (now) shares a platform with the Malibu, which means a 2WD hybrid version could easily be engineered. Doing a PHEV would be a quite a bit more complicated due to the need for a larger battery (space that is not engineered into the Malibu), and an AWD PHEV even more complicated yet.

Best chance for a PHEV CUV would be one based off of the Cadillac CT6 (Omega) platform.

An AWD PHEV might be a ground up design, which is why it's taking so long. Possible the numbers just don't work out. Large battery, AWD, mid-sized CUV could end up running north of $50K which is very expensive for a mid-sized "Chevy".

Hopefully battery prices continue their decline and more variants are generated within GM's lineup. I've got a small CUV that I needs to replaced in a couple years and it WILL have a plug....even if I have to buy a Kia Niro.

 

[Murrcar]

Th Equinox is a Delta 2 platform. The Malibu is the Epsilon 2 platform. They may share the engines but not the same platform. The Volt is a variation of the Delta platform. But its a big stretch from the Volt to the Equinox.