The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox is the American marquee’s chief offering in the compact crossover SUV segment, and is currently in its third generation. The Equinox made its initial debut in 2004 and used a similar platform to that found in the Chevrolet Captiva back then. With the launch of the second-gen model, Chevrolet updated the Equinox’s platform and it uses the same underpinnings as that of the latest GMC Terrain, something that these two share in common to this day. The newer platform also helps the Equinox to lose up to 180 kg over its predecessor.
The 2019 Chevrolet Equinox is a strict 5-seater and with its most recent facelift being just a year ago, the new Equinox is now one of the most convincing offerings in its class. Its main rivals in the UAE include the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, and GMC Terrain.
Exterior
The wide, confident stance of the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox is topped off by a crisp, urbane, and modern front end styling. The sculpted hood, chrome garnished grille, svelte projector headlights, and a muscular front bumper with deep-set foglights and turn indicators all look pretty good. The Equinox’s side profile features mildly flared fenders, bold 19-inch alloys, sleek wing mirrors, prominent rooftop rails, black lower-body cladding, and extended overhangs.
The wrap-around window design and the gently sloping roof at the rear look neat, though the curvy tailgate, generic-looking taillights, and a chunky bumper with chrome aren’t too exciting. As for its dimensions, the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox measures 4.650 meters in length, 1.844 meters in width, 1.661 meters in height, and has a wheelbase stretching 2.725 meters. With only two rows of seats, the total boot capacity of the Equinox is an astonishing 846 liters.
Interior
The interior styling of the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox feels contemporary and well thought out. The design is not awe-inspiringly gorgeous, but it fits the overall design theme of this car well. Chevrolet has made notable improvements in the quality of the materials used and their finish. This cabin offers enough soft touch-points and posh-looking metal accents to make you look over many of the hard, tacky plastics strewn around the place. The space available is more than sufficient for 5 adults and their luggage, while the second row is one of the best-in-class with loads of legroom and shoulder room for three passengers.
What is even better than before is the long list of features/conveniences such as automatic adaptive LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, electric tailgate, remote engine starter, automatic dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, powered and ventilated front seats, cruise control, active noise cancellation, a Bose 10-speaker audio system, and a touch-infotainment display with navigation. Available safety nets include 6 airbags, anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, forward collision warning, blind-spot and lane keeping assist, pedestrian detection, and parking sensors with reversing camera.
Engine and performance
The base and mid trim variants of the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox are available with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed automatic, while the top variant gets a 2.0-liter turbo unit along with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 1.5-liter engine produces 170 HP with 275 Nm of torque, and can be equipped with FWD or AWD. The gutsier 2.0-liter mill generates 252 HP and 352 Nm of torque, and power is sent to all four corners. The 2019 Equinox can hit 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds, a top speed of 200 km/h, and return 7.4L/100 km.
Verdict
Prices for the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox range between AED 80,000 to AED 121,000, and insurance rates vary between AED 1,800 to AED 2,723, depending on the trim level.
