2016 Chevrolet Equinox Road Test and Review

2016 Chevrolet Equinox side profile

When you're used to moving a quarter million models a year - like Chevrolet has grown accustomed to with its Equinox compact SUV - you know you've hit on a successful formula. Updating the second most popular model in its line-up (after the Silverado full-size truck) was a task that the Bowtie brand approached with kid gloves, especially since after six years of the second-generation Equinox everyone was expecting a full redesign for the 2016 model year. Instead, we got something else: a restyled version of the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox that preserves the status quo under the skin while dropping a few more standard goodies into the base model that weren't there the year before. More modern looks matched with the same day-to-day practicality that have made the Equinox a hit would seem to be a solid strategy while Chevy bides its time trying to figure out how to snag lightning in a bottle a second time with a fully-updated version of this small SUV. I recently spent a week behind the wheel of the 2016 Equinox on the sunny streets of L.A. to get better acquainted with its refreshed charms.

Don't Look for Big Changes

Blink and you'll miss the updates made to the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox's sheet metal. In fact, aside from its revised grille you're more likely to spot the classier lighting that’s been affixed to the SUV front and rear. LED daytime running lights are standard above the base L and second-in-line LS models, and you'll also find projector headlights and revised taillights across the board. The rear bumper of the Chevrolet has been lightly retouched as well, but the vehicle is still very recognizably an Equinox, which will make dealers happy when families wander into the showroom looking to re-up. At the same time, it's just enough of a difference to keep the SUV's styling current alongside other models like the Trax and even the Malibu sedan, helping to strengthen the family bond that guides the overall line-up. Inside things even less in your face, with a new storage shelf carved into the center stack just below the HVAC controls offering a drop for your phone if you don't mind the console-mounted USB plug tangling its charge cable in the shifter. Chevy didn't really need to update the Equinox's digs just for the sake of change - I would have maybe preferred a full-color driver information display between the tachometer and the speedometer instead of the corporate blue setup - but it does feel like I've been looking at the SUV's same dashboard for as many years as I can remember.

Solid Tech for an Entry-Level Hauler

It would be a mistake to think that the six-year gap between the second-generation Chevrolet Equinox's 2016 model year and its 2010 introduction has meant treading water in the technology department. Perhaps the biggest leg-up that the compact SUV has over its competitors is its standard 4G LTE Wi-Fi Internet hotspot, even on the entry-level L trim (which, strangely enough, also features Bluetooth connectivity for your phone, but not for audio streaming - a side effect of its more modest touchscreen audio system). Still, while you might not be able to play your tunes via the base infotainment interface, the new-for-2016 seven-inch display is a healthy upgrade over the previous stereo, and it's also bundled with a standard rearview camera. Should you choose to purchase an Equinox LT or higher - essentially the third of four trims for the Chevy SUV - you'll benefit from the more feature-filled MyLink infotainment system, which is notable for its eye-pleasing graphics, logical menu systems, and app availability. To be honest, I have never felt the need to migrate my apps from my phone to my car, but if you're into car-based streaming audio (made easy with the Equinox thanks to its 4G connection), then you'll be happy with what MyLink has to offer. I wasn't as impressed with the lack of navigation on the Equinox LT I was driving, however, as the OnStar-based turn-by-turn directions (subscription based, of course) aren't as intuitive, and require you get in touch with a human operator to outline your itinerary. 'Traditional' nav is, of course, available as an option, and I have to applaud GM for how effectively it's managed to develop the OnStar telematics service and use it as an inexpensive way to deliver high-end features in affordable automobiles like the Equinox.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Big, but Not the Biggest Compact SUV Interior

The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox makes a bargain with buyers: love me for my big back seat, and don't complain about the fact that there's about ten cubic feet of total cargo space missing when compared to class leaders like the Ford Escape and the Honda CR-V. It's not a bad deal, to be honest, especially when you've sampled the Equinox's slide and recline function that allows for a remarkable degree of comfort in the second row of accommodations, even for taller passengers. You still get 31.5 cubic feet of storage between the seatback and the hatch opening, which is respectable for a family hauler, and 63.7 cubes total if you fold the back seat flat.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Chevrolet Stays out of the Premium Game

It's fashionable for smaller vehicles - hatchbacks, crossovers, SUVs - to dip deeper into the pockets of buyers in return for providing at least a modicum of 'premium' feel. The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox offers a strong list of available features, to be sure, but there's really nothing aside from the presence of heated leather seats inside the vehicle that suggests it’s a luxury ride of any kind. There's a good reason for this - General Motors relies on the Denali edition of the GMC Terrain (the Equinox's platform twin) to draw in well-heeled families - but it's a wise move even if Chevrolet didn't have an in-house segment-mate to protect. I've always felt it's better to underpromise and overdeliver when it comes to high-end aspirations at low-end prices, and by refusing to make claims about the Equinox's place in the pecking order that would be difficult to defend in the face of the competition, Chevrolet can approach compact sport-utility shoppers with a more honest value proposal.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Four-Cylinder Engine Puts in a Respectable Performance

You won't find any fancy turbos or high compression setups under the hood of the entry-level 2016 Chevrolet Equinox, just a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder mill putting in a plucky, if not particularly inspired performance during your daily commute. With 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque on tap, the four-cylinder engine has enough grunt to motivate the SUV's mass, but you'll quickly become aware of its straight-line limitations with the pedal to the floor. I never felt handicapped by the 2.4-liter, nor by its six-speed automatic transmission, and the pleasant side-effect of its modest output was 23.5 miles per gallon in mixed driving (versus an official rating of 22-mpg city and 32-mpg highway). If you want more power, it's available in the form of a direct-injected 3.6-liter V-6 that pushes out 301 horses and 272 lb-ft of torque. Like the four-cylinder, the V-6 is matched with a six-speed autobox and offers the availability of all-wheel drive. Don't look for thunderous acceleration from the six-cylinder, but you'll have a little more confidence when passing at cruising speeds with this unit thanks to its significant torque bonus (which of course comes with a fuel mileage penalty of 17-mpg around town and 24-mpg on the highway).

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Towing Is There, If You Want It

You'd be surprised how many trucklets give up the ghost when it comes to towing these days, with ratings of 500 lbs to 1,000 lbs - or no officially sanctioned towing capacity at all - not at all uncommon amongst compact and subcompact SUVs. The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox bucks this trend by offering a maximum of 3,500 lbs of trailering capacity in V-6 trim, a number that happens to coincide with the with average load weight pulled by American towing fans. Suffice it to say that the V-6 Equinox is more than enough vehicle to handle the majority of your towing needs, and even the four-cylinder model that I drove steps up with a rating of 1,500 lbs. This should be enough to handle the occasional tag-along U-Haul or utility trailer without issue.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Handling and Ride Are Comfort-First, Excitement a Distant Third

As I explained earlier, the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox doesn't set its sights on premium accolades, but that doesn't mean that it'll shake your bones when the going gets rough. The Equinox delivers a quiet and composed driving experience that combines with a quiet cabin to help preserve your sanity when commuting to and from work. Even my front-wheel drive tester offered a level of cornering competence that had me completely confident in the SUV's ability to deal with more extreme on-road situations. I'm not all that interested in sport-utility vehicles that pride themselves on athleticism over smooth character, because if I want to have fun behind the wheel I'll swap out into the left seat of a true sports car. For its intended purpose - hauling family, friends, and the occasional load of booty back from Home Depot - the Chevrolet Equinox's staid character is welcome.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Safety Front and Center

Moving beyond 2016 Chevrolet Equinox's MyLink infotainment system and on-board Internet, there's also its formidable array of advanced safety equipment to consider. Over the years, the Equinox has been kept up-to-date with some of the latest active safety technologies, which means you'll benefit from gear like a forward collision warning system, a lane departure warning system, a blind-spot monitor, and parking assistance. This is over and above the OnStar suite of features such as the ability to track a stolen vehicle as well as automatic notification of first responders in the event of a serious accident. OnStar is standard, while most of the rest of that gear is available from various options packages across the Equinox line-up.

Photo by Benjamin Hunting

Pros / Cons

Pros: •    Affordable pricing •    Spacious interior for passengers •    Decent four-cylinder fuel mileage •    Available four-wheel drive •    Strong tech quotient for a compact SUV Cons: •    An iterative step for an SUV that's been on the market a long time •    Straight-line speed from four-cylinder is modest at best •    V-6 isn't much quicker, but definitely thirstier •    Smaller cargo compartment when compared to class leaders

Photo by Benjamin Hunting