2009 CHEVROLET Equinox 2.4L FWD 6AT (185 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Chevrolet introduced the second generation of the Equinox high-rider at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. Still, it wasn’t an entirely new car.

GM was still in trouble due to the world financial crisis. Yet, it had to move on with what it had in its stores and parts bin. So, its engineers used the same Theta platform of the previous Equinox generation, strengthened it, and the design team created a new bodywork. Moreover, GM used some of its already developed and under-production engines and gearboxes to power it.

The design team had the most challenging task of creating a new bodywork for the Equinox while still relying on the same platform. Thus, it made a new front fascia that adopted a similar design language to the European Chevrolet Antara/Opel Captiva. The new design language also included the one-slat grille that sported the golden bow-tie badge in the middle and a few chromed trims on the lower bumper and the foglights’ clusters. The raked-forward C-pillar was still present, like on its predecessor.

Inside, the Equinox featured a new dashboard with a binocular instrument cluster that combined curved lines and sharp angles in a new-edge-design styling. The same idea was applied to the vents. The front bucket seats were separated by a tall center console that hosted an armrest with a storage compartment and a couple of cup holders.

Under the hood, the base engine was the same 2.4-liter powerplant used on other GM products and, as an option, a 3.0-liter V6. Power went in all corners via a six-speed automatic transmission fitted as standard.