THE CHEVY EQUINOX IS THE IDEAL CROSSOVER SUV WITH AN AWARD-WINNING HISTORY TO PROVE IT

These days, there isn’t a shortage of versatile, family-friendly vehicles on the market. Instead, a separate challenge presents itself: finding the perfect model that meets all your requirements, including managing the sometimes congested Staten Island streets if your work destination or weekend getaway lies just over the New Jersey border. The Chevrolet brand is known for its affordable and reliable vehicles, and Richard Lucas Chevrolet is proud to be one of the Garden State’s primary Chevy dealers, providing our community with vehicles they can trust. What we pride ourselves in more is our expansive inventory of the family-favorite Chevy crossover and our experience and knowledge in all things related to the Chevy Equinox.

As a used Chevy Equinox dealer, we can say with great confidence that the Equinox is a model you can trust and carries on Chevy’s heritage for affordability, reliability, safety, and driver satisfaction. So how will you know that the Equinox stands above the competition? A look at the Equinox’s rich history and evolution over the years further demonstrates its value in the crossover SUV market. From its introduction as Chevy’s first crossover SUV in a growing segment to becoming a multi-award-winner favored by families, commuters, and adventurers alike, the Equinox has evolved into an SUV that demands attention. Rather than taking our word for it, read on and let history speak for itself.

What Is a Crossover and How Does It Differ From a Standard SUV?

To understand why the Chevy Equinox reigns in superiority over other versatile models, you should familiarize yourself with its design. Although the crossover or CUV (crossover utility vehicle) segment has been around since the mid-1990s, with the Toyota RAV4 as its pioneer introduced in 1994, you might not be familiar with what a crossover is versus the standard SUV. In Chevy’s current lineup, the Tahoe and Suburban are your typical SUVs, sharing their rugged two-part, body-on-frame platforms with the very capable and versatile Chevy Silverado pickup. Sure, because of their design, you’ll have higher truck-like towing capacities and more robust off-road abilities with both the Tahoe and the Suburban, but similarly, you’ll find a rougher ride and less fuel efficiency than you will with a unibody crossover like the desirable Chevy Equinox.

The Trax, Trailblazer, Bolt EUV, Equinox, Blazer, and Traverse are all part of Chevy’s lineup of crossover SUVs today built on a single-unit car platform. Similar to a car, they’re designed to deliver impressive fuel economy, a smooth ride with more responsive handling, and a peppy performance overall. However, crossovers are also designed with truck-like features and abilities like roomy cabin spaces, towing capacity, and off-road abilities that are lesser than what you’ll see with a standard SUV but more than you’ll find in a car, making crossovers perfect for any driver looking for the best of both worlds.

The Introduction of Chevy’s First Crossover

2005 was a notable year for Chevy. It was when the brand initially entered the rising CUV segment with the first Equinox. For its introduction, the first-generation Chevy Equinox entered the market a few years after the rival Ford Escape. As a budget-friendly, midsize, efficient, and capable crossover SUV, it comfortably sat up to five passengers. It was also furnished with plenty of standard equipment, and with the option for more rear-seat legroom or additional cargo space behind the back seat with the seats’ sliding capability, the Equinox made a great first impression with commuters and families alike.

Engine choice was not an option for drivers initially, as it was only available with a 3.4-liter 6-cylinder under the hood capable of towing up to 3,500 lbs and estimated to reach 17 MPG in the city and 23 MPG on the highway. Drivers did, however, get to choose between the standard front-wheel drive model to get the most mileage on a full tank of gas or upgrade to the all-weather all-wheel drive Equinox for an optimal and safer drive no matter what the road conditions were.

For the 2008 and 2009 Equinox, a peppier 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine available with the sport trim delivered 264 hp and 250 lb-ft. of torque versus the standard 185 hp and 210 lb-ft. of torque. The more powerful engine was able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than seven seconds. Additionally, the premium LTZ trim became available in 2008 alongside the base LS, LT, and Sport models, with standard premium features like chrome exterior chrome accents, leather seating, heated front seats, and a 7-speaker audio system for top-of-the-line audio quality or with the in-dash 6-disc CD changer or MP3 playback.

Honoring the Chevy Equinox Over Generations

Before the Chevy Equinox was redesigned for its second generation for the 2010 model year, it had already reached an award-winning status. Even though first-generation models were not the best years for the Equinox, as with many new models, by 2009, it had made its way to the top of J.D. Power magazine’s list for being the best compact SUV on the market. It remained in the top ten before returning to the #1 position in 2013 through the 2016 model year, where it has since consistently made its rounds through the top three spots of J.D. Power’s list. The 2009 Chevy Equinox made its presence known on the U.S. News & World Report’s Affordable Compact SUV list, taking third place in the segment. The Equinox also took home the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award for the first time with the 2009 model and continued to be honored for its safety ratings through the generations.

Between its affordability and reliability, it was no surprise that before the end of the second generation, the Equinox made the top of the J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study for its 2013 model after receiving engine upgrades in 2010 for better fuel economy and more horsepower and torque with the addition of the optional 3.6-liter 6-cylinder in 2013. Through the second generation, the midsize crossover kept its top-safety position with the IIHS and remained at the top of the U.S. News & World Report’s Affordable Compact SUV list and J.D. Power’s compact SUV list. Once the Equinox was redesigned for its third generation, beginning with the 2018 model year, the recognitions just kept on coming.

With a little resizing, the third-generation Equinox shifted into the more desirable compact crossover segment from the midsize class it was in. It dropped its 6-cylinder gas-powered engine and introduced a diesel engine to go along with its new size and two turbocharged 4-cylinder gas-powered options. However, the diesel was dropped after 2019, and the larger 2.0-liter 4-cylinder was discontinued after the 2020 model year due to lack of demand, leaving only the 1.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder for 2021 models and newer, delivering 170 hp and 203 lb-ft. of torque that can handle towing up to 1,500 lbs.

Today, the all-new Chevy Equinox is more efficient than ever, with better fuel economy and a better all-wheel drive system that you can disengage for less friction when it’s not needed. Plus, with the addition of new safety features like a surround-view camera for a birds-eye-view outside of the vehicle, low-speed automatic braking, and a safety alert seat that vibrates to alert you when the system detects an inevitable collision, it’s no wonder the Equinox received a 5-star overall vehicle safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) beginning in 2018 which has carried on through to the latest rating for the 2022 Chevy Equinox. In 2020, the Equinox even made the IIHS Safe Vehicles for Teens list with the help of its impeccable safety ratings and Teen Driver Technology that monitors and assists your new driver’s performance on the road when you aren’t able to be in the vehicle. More notably, for 2022, the Chevy Equinox was bestowed J.D. Power’s Highest Ranked Compact SUV in New Quality, if that tells you anything.

It’s Time to Experience the Award-Winning Chevy Equinox for Yourself

The small SUV segment is crowded with highly competitive models suitable for many purposes: commuting, transporting passengers, hauling cargo, and even light towing. But when looking for a model that’s the best option for you and your family, a compact crossover like the Chevy Equinox might just surprise you. With an affordable price tag, car-like features, and truck-like capabilities, we guarantee you’ll get the most bang for your buck.

Besides its heritage of reliability, budget-friendly pricing, an array of trims to choose from, and capable powertrains, your family will love the spacious and accommodating interior. No matter what kind of driving your family does in and around New Jersey, the Chevy Equinox is a model that can handle it all, even in the worst weather, and it’s got a history of awards and recognitions to prove it. If you’re ready to check one out in person, Richard Lucas Chevrolet is your premier used Chevy Equinox dealer, and our extensive inventory is stocked with pre-owned and brand-new multi-award-winning, family-approved Equinox models. Just call, chat with us online, or come into our dealership to start the search for your very own Chevy Equinox.