![]() ![]() Wearing a base price of $33,385, our 3LT AWD model included remote start, cloth seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and aluminum wheels. Chevy does a nice job of minimizing the guesswork by limiting the diesel model to the top two trims. Upgrading to 19-inch wheels and tires on the diesel will cost you $1995, although we’d think twice before doing so as we definitely preferred the diesel’s much more forgiving ride quality on the 17s.Īs is the case for most non-pickup-truck buyers, the decision of whether to go diesel ultimately comes down to dollars and cents. Our diesel Equinox wore 225/65R-17 Bridgestone Dueler H/L 422 all-seasons, while the 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter models were shod with 235/50R-19 Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 all-season rubber. ![]() In cases like this, where similar vehicles post disparate braking and grip numbers, tire selection usually is the culprit. LOWS: Noisy at startup, not going to win any drag races, significant price premium. Repeated stops revealed a firm, fade-free pedal at least, and the newly refined suspension keeps the 3769-pound car from nosediving or heading for the ditch. With a 182-foot stop from 70 mph, the diesel Equinox takes a full 15 feet longer than the 2.0-liter Equinox’s 167 feet and 21 feet more than the pretty impressive 161-foot braking distance posted by the 1.5-liter Equinox. That the Equinox’s diesel four-cylinder takes these frequent full-throttle assaults so eagerly and stoically is its saving grace.īraking numbers are similarly underwhelming. The difference with the diesel is that you are using all of the accelerator travel most of the time, whereas the gasoline engine can be operated with a bit more finesse. Meanwhile, the Honda CR-V, one of our top picks in the segment, posted 7.6- and 16.0-second times. On the other hand, the turbocharged 1.5-liter with AWD barely ekes out a win over the diesel, posting times of 8.9 and 16.9 seconds at 83 mph, which fall within half a second of the diesel. While we doubt acceleration test numbers play into the decision-making process of most prospective Equinox diesel buyers, it is worth noting that the Equinox with the turbocharged 2.0-liter and all-wheel drive knocked off the zero-to-60-mph measure in 6.6 seconds and completed the quarter in 15.1 seconds at 94 mph that’s 2.8 and 2.1 seconds quicker, a vast gulf of a performance difference. Interior noise at a steady 70 mph is a hushed 68 decibels, two quieter than the 1.5T and not too shabby for a vehicle with a compression-ignition engine. Set the cruise at 70, 80, or even 90 mph if you wish, and the Equinox is a willing accessory in your challenge to test the skills of the local constabulary. Once the size of the approaching vehicles in your rearview mirror begins to stabilize, however, maintaining the pace is easy. In real-world scenarios such as entering an interstate, that means keeping your foot to the floor for at least 10 seconds-or longer in states such as Michigan where posted speed limits vary from 70 to 75 mph and the flow of traffic generally exceeds them by a value of 10 to 20 percent or more. Given the Chevy’s entertaining performance when booted around town, we were surprised by the less than impressive hard numbers: 9.4 seconds from zero to 60 mph and a quarter-mile time of 17.2 seconds with a trap speed of 80 mph. Additionally, the diesel utilizes a taller 2.89:1 final-drive ratio whereas the nine-speed cars use either a 3.17, 3.50, or 3.87 final drive, depending on engine, transmission, and driveline combination. Whereas the Cruze diesel gets a nine-speed automatic, GM claims that transmission offered no fuel-economy benefits in the Equinox so it gets the carryover six-speed gearbox. The six-speed automatic transmission is astutely tuned for the 1.6’s unique properties and makes no qualms about downshifting at the slightest provocation of the throttle to make the most of it. All 240 lb-ft of torque are on board at a low 2000 rpm, and peak horsepower arrives at 3750 rpm combined, they make the zone between 18 rpm fertile ground for harvesting acceleration. That includes chirping the tires, albeit in its own special way: Putting your foot to the floor results in a lackadaisical step-off followed by a swell of torque that comes on and breaks the tires free while rolling at about 5 mph. While a 137-hp turbo-diesel engine may not immediately conjure the promise of performance, it does provide enough motivation for just about any type of situation you’re likely to encounter while behind the wheel of a compact SUV. HIGHS: Remarkable highway fuel economy (43 mpg!) and range (670 miles!), diesel torque, B20 compatible. ![]()
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