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Equinox is in a Class All Its Own

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox is quality, comfort and convenience all wrapped into one package which is neither SUV nor CUV (in my opinion). Other automotive journalists refer to the Equinox as both a CUV and SUV at times because they either check Chevy’s specifications classification of the vehicle or have simply guessed (rightly or wrongly). Sometimes all you can do is guess as to a vehicles class because the waters concerning crossovers and traditional SUVs have become so murky. Consumers want facts mixed with automotive insight and education on aspects of the vehicle being reviewed. They want to know what they are spending their hard earned money on and how the vehicle can best answer their needs.

That is why (to me) this CUV is NOT a Crossover, nor is it an SUV. My classification is one that is not an official class at all – but maybe it should be.

So let’s start by calling the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox a Large Crossover, LCUV (which is now my copyrighted classification, just in case it sticks). Connotations of SUVs usually bring up thoughts of Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada and Chevy Tahoe while CUVs are the size of the Ford Edge, Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRVs. In traditional parlance, just to be clear, an SUV – Sport Utility Vehicle – is built on a truck platform while a CUV – Crossover Utility Vehicle – is built on a car platform. CUVs will normally have more of a car-like ride, while SUVs will have more of a truck-like ride.

First idea is that brands such as Chevy and Ford have rarely been known to produce small utility vehicles because of the die-hard American spirit and loyalty in buying American made vehicles which have a lot of steel and thick metal bodies. With that said, it is expected that these brands will create solid and sturdy looking and feeling vehicles which usually run pretty large for their designated size and class.

Further delving into Chevrolet, we all know their Tahoe to be an SUV with large proportions, seating, cargo and hauling capabilities. Next down the line (in terms of size) is the Traverse which Chevy classifies as a CUV but in terms of its 205” Length, three rows, and 116.4” in cargo volume, I think the Traverse should be in a class of its own – the Midsized Utility Vehicle or MUV because it is the largest in its CUV class, (especially when compared with a Ford Escape and Edge). The Traverse is also right on the cusp of being within the SUV category.

Back to the LCUV spectrum, where the Equinox beats its competitors (within the CUV arena) by being longer, wider and by providing massive amounts of leg room and in some cases double the towing capacity (Equinox tows 3,500 lbs. while the CRV and RAV4 tow only 1,500 lbs).

The Equinox is equipped with two rows and seats five, (extremely comfortably) and its capabilities and performance are what has rightfully earned this vehicle (in my humble opinion) a classification all its own. The design, performance, ease of accessory use, and safety aspects of the vehicle earned high marks especially since it held the road very well, was extremely responsive and successful during serpentines and (although almost as large as an SUV) did not drive anything like a truck.

The body weight, sculpture, and design featured low wind resistance without any drag or concern for top heaviness.

With its many safety features such as Stabilitrak®, multiple airbags and LATCH system the 2011 Equinox has earned a top safety pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, IIHS.

In short the Equinox not only highly exceeded my expectations, the thoughtful design and capabilities were blaringly obvious (such as the self-opening and closing lift gate) and with an under 30,000 dollar price tag for this V6 I was left feeling very delighted especially with the Equinox’s value.

This vehicle is a prime example of the way the economy has impacted the car industry. It has also caused them to be more innovative, especially during hard times like these. For example, in most recent years auto manufacturers have been giving customers ‘more for their money’. They have kept their vehicle pricing virtually the same but have included more standard features to entice more financially cautious buyers.

Diana Claussen

Diana Merrill Claussen has been involved in the journalism and photography industry since 2000 and moved to Texas from Florida in July 2004. Diana inherited her love of cars from her father and the love of speed from the racers and aviators in her family. Her professional career is also in the public relations industry while her personal interests include; outdoor activites, reading, family time, volunteering and animal care.

  

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 8th, 2012 at 11:46 am and is filed under Chevy & GMC Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

One Response to “Equinox is in a Class All Its Own”

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