Cheap in price and large in space, is the Chevrolet Equinox worth buying?

Chevrolet Sail was very popular in the past few years and became the first car for many ordinary families. The main reason why consumers choose it is that it has the status of a joint venture brand, but its price is Very friendly. The later launch of the Cruze allowed us Chinese consumers to see the American muscular style. The masculine appearance fascinated many young people. Precisely because the Cruze has achieved better sales results than the Euro, more people have fallen in love with the Chevrolet brand.

In our country, SUV models are currently the most popular, especially joint-venture brand SUVs priced around 200,000 yuan, which are highly sought after by consumers. Chevrolet has such a powerful player called Explorer, which is not only cheap but also has a lot of space. In order to let everyone clearly understand whether Explorer is worth buying? Today I will talk about the attractive advantages and dissatisfaction of this SUV.

Extremely cost-effective

When it comes to joint venture brand SUVs, everyone will think that they are much more expensive than our domestic SUVs, and there is no cost-effectiveness at all. However, American brand cars all have one common feature, that is, they have strong discounts in the later period. Although the guide price of the Chevrolet Equinox is 174,900-245,900 yuan, the actual transaction price of the Equinox now has a discount of about 30,000 yuan, and the discounts for high-end models are even greater (prices vary slightly in different regions). As a result, the entry-level naked car of the Explorer only costs a little over 140,000, which is quite sincere for a medium-sized SUV from a joint venture brand.

Big vs small, size has the advantage

Like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 that we are all familiar with, these are mainstream compact SUVs and are entry-level versions. It also costs about 170,000 yuan. The Chevrolet Equinox is a mid-sized SUV, with length, width and height reaching 4652*1843*1684mm, and a wheelbase of 2725mm. Although it is only an entry-level mid-sized SUV, it is indeed a little larger than mainstream compact SUVs. No matter where it is parked, the entire vehicle has a stronger sense of presence. In addition, the Equinox and Buick Envision are built on the same GM platform, which means that the three major components are exactly the same. However, because the Buick brand has a higher positioning than Chevrolet in the Chinese market, the price is tens of thousands more expensive than the Equinox. In this comparison, the Equinox is more affordable.

Good looks, classic American style and fashionable?

Chevrolet Equinox has a classic American design style, but it is not like the original muscular man. , but keeps pace with the times and adds many fashion elements that consumers now like. Judging from the front of the car, it is relatively thick. The front face adopts a family-style shield-shaped air intake grille and is decorated with chrome plating. The gold bowtie logo on the top is very eye-catching. The Equinox's headlights are equipped with lenses inside, which look like human eyes glaring forward. It also comes standard with LED daytime running lights, which is very popular.

The side of the Explorer uses rich double waist lines to create a good light and shadow effect and enhance a certain sporty atmosphere. The side windows are also very large, ensuring good transparency inside the car. The D-pillar position of the Equinox is blackened, but the C-pillar position is not. This design technique is often seen on medium and large SUVs, such as the Ford Explorer, Land Rover Discovery, etc., and it looks relatively good. Special, with a sense of luxury. The shape of the rear of the car is mainly simple, and compared to the domineering front of the car, it is a bit too low-key. But it is equipped with black surrounds, adding some wildness to the hardcore SUV.

In order to satisfy the aesthetic tastes of different consumers, the Chevrolet manufacturer also provides a Redline version of the Explorer. Many details are different from the regular version, which further highlights its personality. For example, the gold bow tie car logo has been changed to a black tie, the chrome trim strips on the edge of the side windows have been changed to a black frame, the aluminum alloy wheels and exterior rearview mirrors have been treated in black, and an exposed bilateral two-outlet exhaust is also used. Especially the Explorer with its black body, it looks like a "Dark Warrior".

Spacious and practical

It is also a medium-sized SUV. Thanks to the good length and wheelbase, the car has a 5-seater layout, allowing Tanjie to explore the world. It has a very spacious seating space. Being 176cm tall, I sat in the back row, and my head didn't feel any pressure at all. Some models are equipped with a large panoramic sunroof that can be opened, which makes people feel suddenly brighter. There's plenty of legroom, too, and there's no bulge in the middle of the floor. In addition, all American SUVs have a characteristic, that is, the seats are very wide and thick, and the cushions are relatively long. They are also equipped with a central armrest, cup holders and rear air-conditioning outlets, ensuring good riding comfort.

For consumers who like to travel by car, the trunk of the Equinox is very satisfactory. It is no problem to pull some luggage, tents, etc. In addition, at night, the rear seats can be After being folded down, it turns directly into a double bed, which is very flat and very practical and convenient.

Rich configurations

For some joint venture brand SUVs, in order to lower the overall selling price, the entry-level models are not available at all, and the configurations will be very shabby. To put it bluntly, the manufacturer did not intend to sell the lowest configuration, but Chevrolet did not do this. Even the entry-level version of the Equinox has reversing sensors, hill-start assist, electric sunroof, keyless entry and start, remote start, multi-function steering wheel, leather/textile mixed seats, 7-inch central control screen, and also supports CarPlay and CarLife, a voice recognition control system.

In addition, the passive safety configuration is also very reassuring. It comes standard with main and passenger airbags, front side airbags, front and rear head curtain airbags, tire pressure display, ESP body stabilization system, etc. The mid-to-high-end models are richer.

Plenty of power

Everyone knows that GM is now popularizing three-cylinder engines for new cars under Buick and Chevrolet. However, in my opinion, although the performance of the three-cylinder engine is good, consumer acceptance is not very high. Since the Explorer has been on the market for several years, it is still equipped with four-cylinder 1.5T and 2.0T turbocharged engines. I hope there will be no adjustments in the later model changes, because these two engines are good enough. The maximum power reaches 169 horsepower and 260 horsepower respectively. The 1.5T is matched with a 6-speed manual gearbox, and the 2.0T is matched with a 9-speed manual gearbox.

The turbine of the 1.5T model is introduced relatively early, and the explosive power in the middle and rear sections is very strong. In terms of power reserve alone, this 1.5T engine is top-notch. The 2.0T model is more powerful. As long as you step on the accelerator, the power output is continuous and continuous. It is full of confidence and can accelerate to 100 kilometers in 7.8 seconds. In addition, let’s talk about the 9AT gearbox, which is GM’s latest technology. In addition to the Equinox, it is also used in many Buick and Cadillac models. It is much smoother than GM's original transmission, and it understands the driver's intentions more intelligently, without feeling any lag.

The chassis has quality

The Equinox adopts a front MacPherson and rear multi-link independent suspension structure, and the overall adjustment has a certain foundation. It maintains the sense of security that American SUVs always have. When running on the highway, even if a large truck passes by, the body is still very stable, giving the driver sufficient confidence. When cruising at low speeds in urban areas, it can also filter the fine vibrations on the road more thoroughly. In addition, the Explorer has a certain amount of driving pleasure to drive. The suspension is tough and the support for the body is in place. Rolling during fast cornering is suppressed to a very small extent, especially the 2.0T model. Strong power and good chassis = smooth and enjoyable rides. driving experience.

The interior is old-fashioned and the materials are ordinary

From the above introduction, it can be seen that the Explorer does have many advantages, but it is not perfect. What everyone complains about most is the interior. It adopts a family-style cabin, and the ergonomics are in place, but the atmosphere inside the cabin is old-fashioned and too conventional, which is not in line with the aesthetics of young people, and some storage slots are not very practical.

The middle part of the Explorer's center console is covered with leather and stitched. It looks pretty good and gives people a good impression.

However, the bottom of the center console and the position of the door handles are still made of hard plastic material, which lowers the sense of quality. In addition, the workmanship of some details is still slightly rough compared with competitors of the same level.

All Equinox series are equipped with an automatic engine start-stop function as standard. The manufacturer’s intention is to save fuel, but this function is disgusting to many car owners. It will work at every traffic light, and this start-stop function cannot be turned off. I feel that some car owners don't care too much about fuel consumption. Chevrolet manufacturers might as well just remove this feature and reduce the cost of building cars.

The manual transmission mode of the Equinox is quite interesting. It is designed above the gear handle. Some car owners complain that they are not used to it. In fact, it is quite unique, and it is very similar to the button of a transmitter. In addition, the Explorer also has some problems such as higher fuel consumption, louder tire noise, thinner paint, etc., but they are all within the acceptable range.

Summary: Judging from the overall performance of the Chevrolet Equinox, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. It is an SUV worth buying.

If young consumers have a need for power, The 2.0T Redline version is very suitable. I recommend buying the sub-top version of the extended version RS. The power is absolutely satisfactory and the appearance is very cool. It is also equipped with a timely four-wheel drive system and has certain off-road capabilities. But if it is just for general household use, it is recommended to buy the 1.5T Yujie version, which is moderately priced, reasonably configured, and fully powered.

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.