2010 Chevy Equinox

• Competes with: Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, Hyundai Santa Fe
• Looks like: Chevy beefed up the Saturn Vue
• Drivetrain: 182-hp four-cylinder or 255-hp V-6 with six-speed automatic
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2009

The Chevy Equinox hasn’t been a very competitive SUV for a number of years. Chevy hopes to change that with the all-new 2010 model debuting at the Detroit auto show next month. Most notable about the new Equinox is the fact that it incorporates the new Chevy grille with very strong fender flares and headlights that look more akin to the GMC Acadia than the Chevy Malibu or Traverse.

The profile and rear also resemble Mercedes’ SUVs, like the M- and GL-Class. It’s a handsome package, to be sure. Inside, the cabin takes a page from the new Chevy Malibu, with its twin-cockpit design scheme. What’s interesting in the new Equinox is a center stack of controls and readouts that are entirely new to the GM family. Upgrades and advancements in these areas are rare, so this should bode well for the new SUV.

There are two engine options, both new and both featuring direct fuel injection to save fuel. The base models get a 182-hp four-cylinder that's good for 21/30 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive and 20/27 mpg with all-wheel drive. The V-6 packs 255 hp and returns 18/25 mpg with front-wheel drive and 17/24 with all-wheel drive. These fuel estimates are slightly better than those of the V-6 Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Murano, which return 17/24, 18/24 and 18/23 mpg with front-wheel drive, respectively.

The four-cylinder model gets better highway mileage than the Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Jeep Patriot, all of which are smaller vehicles than the Equinox.

At 187.8 inches long, the Chevy is more than 7 inches longer than the Saturn Vue with which it shares a platform, but it's an inch shorter than the outgoing model. At 3,770 pounds, it's also 55 pounds lighter than the Vue. It packs 31.4 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the second row, and 63.7 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. Cargo room was always a drawback in the new Vue, which has 29.2/56.4 cubic feet. Considering the extra length of the Equinox, this isn’t a huge upgrade — it falls short of both the outgoing Equinox and the Ford Edge, but is very close to the Nissan Murano.

We’re sure this will be a greatly improved Equinox, especially given the Vue has proved to be a highly competitive model in the segment. With improved fuel efficiency and an attractive look inside and out, it should win over shoppers in this segment. More photos below.

GM Unveils Two New Engines

Way back in July, GM spilled the beans about some of its future product developments — pictures and all. One of those vehicles was a 2010 Chevy Equinox equipped with a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine that achieves sedan-like mileage.

Today, GM has shed more light on the four-cylinder engine that will power the base Equinox, as well as a new V-6 engine which will be on the higher level Equinox SUV.

Chevrolet's Employee Discounts Revealed

Yesterday, we hoped to figure out just how much GM’s Employee Pricing Sale could save customers, and short of invading dealerships or interrogating GM employees (“Hey, how much is your discount? Answer us!”), we’ve found the answers — on GM’s site.

Chevrolet unsurprisingly has concentrated most of its employee savings on its trucks and SUVs. At the employee-discounted price plus incentives, the Silverado is available for $19,948, which is $8,000 below MSRP. The Avalanche (almost $9,000 less than MSRP) and Suburban (more than $9,000 less than MSRP) are also available with hefty bargains.

If you’re a sports car enthusiast, you’re not left out. The Corvette is included in the sale, and we found more than $6,000 in Cash back on the standard ‘Vette. We’re devoting an entirely separate post to the ridiculous price of a 2008 Corvette Z06.

A substantial list of Chevy’s employee-priced vehicles is below, with expected cost after discounts and incentives. Check Chevrolet’s site for a full list of deals or GM’s site for differing trim levels, other models and to double-check which deals apply in your area.

GM Releases Images of Future Models

Due to the ever-expanding reach of the internet, images of future GM products shown at a closed-door speech made their way to automotive enthusiast website Jalopnik this week. GM responded by releasing official versions to other media that were miffed to have been scooped. What’s this mean to you? You can get an early glimpse of the upcoming GM products we told you about on Tuesday.

Chevy Opens Hydrogen Test-Drive Program

If you live in metropolitan Los Angeles, New York or Washington, D.C., you may be eligible to be one of roughly 500 testers for GM’s new hydrogen fuel-cell technology. The program, called Project Driveway, will take place over two years and give ordinary citizens access to GM’s fleet of 100 fuel-cell vehicles. The first two test drivers — both from the D.C. area — were announced today at the Washington Auto Show. 

Each test subject gets to live with a fuel-cell Chevy Equinox for two months and report back on life driving on hydrogen. If you’re interested, all you need to do is fill out a simple survey on Chevy’s website here. It takes a few minutes and asks about everything from household stuff — how many people live in your house, how much you make — to driving habits and, interestingly enough, “Are you proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English?”

We’re guessing that question is simply so researchers can make the most out of the testers’ feedback. Would you sign up for such a program? If you go to the site and take the survey, leave your reactions in the comments below.

First Drive: Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell

Even though hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may be a long way from appearing in a showroom near you, they are already starting to populate America's roads thanks to test programs from manufacturers like Honda and Chevrolet. Chevrolet's effort, called Project Driveway, aims to place about 100 Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell SUVs in the hands of ordinary drivers for extended loans. I recently had the chance to take a short drive around La Jolla, Calif., in the Equinox fuel cell, and I came away impressed.

The Equinox fuel cell offers strong, smooth acceleration, easy handling and natural brake pedal feel. After driving it for a while, it starts to feel like a hybrid that's been forced to stay in electric mode all the time, only it's more powerful. The Equinox fuel cell's electric motor drives the front wheels (there is no transmission) and it has 236 pounds-feet of torque ready whenever you touch the gas pedal.

Chevrolet has also engineered in little things that will help any driver of a conventional gas-powered car feel comfortable in the Equinox fuel cell. Lift your foot off the brake pedal and it will creep forward like a regular car with an automatic transmission. In fact, the Equinox fuel cell doesn't really ask the driver to change anything about the way they drive in order to operate it. That's sure to be a plus for the people who have been selected to test it as part of Project Driveway.

Recall Alert: Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Others

GM is recalling 69,000 vehicles for various issues. The biggest chunk of the recall involves 57,100 2007-model-year Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent SUVs. The recall is safety-related, but not a defect, per se. The company will install additional safety foam in models not equipped with side airbags or sunroofs. The change will help lessen the chance of head injuries in a crash.

GM is also recalling 20,514 2001-model-year Saturn L-Series cars over a timing chain in the engine that could separate when the engine is running.

Rounding out the recall announcement are 11,974 2001-model-year Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks equipped with 8.1-liter V-8 engines. A faulty sensor can cause the engine in these trucks to stall.

GM Recalls Pickups, SUVs (Detroit Free Press)

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2008 Chevy Equinox Sport

GM is continuing to up the performance factor across its brands. Last week we were surprised to learn that the Saab 9-7X had gotten a powerful new trim, but now Chevy says the Equinox SUV will get a performance Sport model as well. Unlike the Saab, the Chevy Equinox has sold decently since its debut, even if the SUV isn’t the best example in the segment.

The Equinox Sport comes at a time when we’d have to think the model is ripe for a redesign, especially with the successful job Saturn did with the new Vue. Until that time, the Sport and its 264-hp V-6 engine will have to satiate Chevy fans. The other three trims still have the 185-hp V-6 from past years, but get suspension upgrades and standard OnStar. 

The Equinox Sport is lowered about an inch and gets 18-inch wheels, special interior trim and more-aggressive front and rear bodywork. Price information and a sale date have not been released yet, but check out the photo gallery below.

2008 Chevy Equinox Sport Revealed

GM is introducing a Sport version of its Equinox SUV next year to enhance visibility of a model that will most likely be redesigned in 2008. The new Equinox will probably be based on the new Saturn Vue we saw at the L.A. Auto Show, but the pre-redesign 2008 Equinox Sport will also bring some unique attributes to the table.

Even without the classic SS badge we expected, the Sport features a pretty good power boost with a new 3.6-liter V-6 that produces 263 hp here, matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Sport also comes with a revised suspension, as well as standard stability control, four-wheel disc brakes, ABS, 18-inch alloy wheels and a tire pressure monitoring system.

While we think the Equinox Sport is a good idea, it could bring the already pricey SUV – the Equinox LS starts at $22,180 – into a much higher bracket than would be comfortable for shoppers. We’re also perplexed by a third-quarter 2007 release date – which would be in the fall – since the model isn’t radically revised. By that time, the new Saturn Vue will have been on sale for a few months, attracting buyers to a GM SUV that’s much improved compared to the Equinox’s current generation. It also makes us wonder when exactly that new Equinox will arrive. If it’s the 2008 calendar year it will almost certainly leave GM’s biggest brand behind the new-model curve.

More photos below.