CHEVROLETEquinox 2004 - 2009

　　Chevrolet introduced the Equinox range in 2004 as a 2005 model-year and built it on the same platform with the Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Captiva/Vauxhall Antara.

　　While the MPVs and station wagons started to disappear from the carmakers' showrooms, new SUVs appeared on their price-lists. Despite their off-road look and AWD systems, these were more of a mall-roaders than true offroad vehicles. They worked best as family cars, from school-runs to grocery-getters.

　　With its Trailblazer look, the Equinox might have been mistaken with its bigger brothers, but from its profile it showed better its true intentions. Its front fascia sported a chromed horizontal slat spread from one headlight to another, across the black grille. From its sides, the ascending arched beltline induced a dynamic stance for the light-weight SUV. In the back, the raked-forward tailgate sported a roof-spoiler at the top. Its taillights, though, with their clear-lens design, looked more aftermarket than an original set.

　　Inside, Chevrolet didn't want to offer the SUV with a seven-seat layout, and that was a wise move since the last row would just eat some storage area without providing any usable seating place. Its rear bench was sliding back and forth to provide more legroom or a bigger trunk. The carmaker used the same dashboard as in the Captiva/Antara range at the front, but with a different design for the instrument panel.

　　Chevrolet offered the Equinox with two- or all-wheel-drive systems and a choice of two V-6 engines. Strangely though, it showed similar fuel consumption for both front- or all-wheel-drive versions.