Leaner, stronger body is foundation for a nimbler, safer driving experience
DETROIT — Crossovers become more agile when they drop some weight. For the redesigned 2018 Equinox, shedding nearly 400 pounds —approximately 10 percent of its mass — pays dividends in a nimbler, more responsive and more refined driving experience. Combined with this weight loss, the all-new body was designed and optimized for top safety ratings.
“Think of it as core strength training,” said Jill Dennis, lead development engineer. “The new Equinox’s structure is leaner yet stronger, resulting in efficient performance that inspires confidence while also creating a more fun, safe and comfortable driving experience.”
An all-new, mass-efficient body structure is at the center of the Equinox’s trimmer curb weight and helps make the most of the available turbo engine options. The 1.5L turbo engine offers a great balance of fuel efficiency and performance. For those looking for more power, the 2.0L turbo engine offers 252 horsepower (188 kW) and can click off 0-to-60-mph sprints in an estimated 7.2 seconds. That’s the quickest among Equinox’s three engine choices. The 1.5L turbo engine option is available in dealers now, while the 2.0L turbo engine option hits dealer lots later this month.
“From accelerating to turning corners, the 2018 Equinox drives ‘lighter,’ which correlates with a greater feeling of precision,” said Dennis. “It’s a dynamic, agile driving experience rooted in the solidity of the all-new body structure.”
Doing more with less
The lighter, stiffer and stronger structure pays off for customers in several areas:
- Safety — The strategic placement of high-strength and ultra-high strength steel in the body structure is the foundation of a robust “safety cage” surrounding passengers. It is complemented with the Equinox’s restraint systems and other standard and available safety features to manage energy in the event of a crash and help protect occupants.
- Ride and handling — Greatly reducing the need to account for chassis flex in the suspension system’s tuning, the stiffer body structure allowed engineers to focus more on ride comfort and fine-tune ride and handling attributes with greater precision. It also supports hard-mounting the front and rear suspension cradles at six points apiece on the body, further enhancing nimbleness and responsiveness.
- Quietness and refinement — A stiffer body structure is better at preventing noise and vibrations, for a quieter and smoother ride. By helping to block noise and vibration paths, fewer sound-absorbing and other dissipative materials are required, contributing to the Equinox’s overall weight loss.
- Fuel economy — Lower weight makes a difference in fuel economy, and the 2018 Equinox delivers EPA ratings of 32 mpg and 29 mpg highway, respectively, for the standard 1.5L turbo and 2.0L turbo gas engines (FWD models). The Equinox’s new 1.6L diesel model offers a GM-estimated 40 mpg highway fuel efficiency.
The 2018 Equinox’s body structure design was optimized with a mixed-material strategy for strength and low weight. More than 80 percent of the Equinox’s body structure is composed of high-grade steel materials, with high-strength steel comprising nearly 20 percent.
The mixed-material design strategy employed to make the 2018 Equinox more responsive, refined and efficient is used on all recently introduced Chevrolet cars and crossovers, from the Malibu and Bolt EV to the 2018 Traverse.
About the 2018 Equinox
The all-new 2018 Equinox is a fresh and modern compact SUV featuring an expressive design, ample cargo space, Chevrolet’s latest connectivity, an expanded roster of available safety features and an all-new range of turbocharged engines — including the highly anticipated turbo-diesel.
The spacious cargo area features new storage options such as a large, hidden underfloor storage space and a flat cargo floor that helps make loading and unloading easier.
Purposeful technologies are designed to help passengers be safe, comfortable and connected. Teen Driver is offered, along with safety features such as Safety Alert Seat, Surround Vision, Forward Collison Alert with Following Distance Indicator and more.
The 2018 Equinox is on sale now, starting at $24,525 (including destination charge). Tax, title, license, and dealer fees extra.
Crossover offers customers the perfect blend of design, technology and value
DETROIT — Chevrolet announced today that pricing for the next-generation 2018 Equinox will start at $24,475 when it goes on sale this spring. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price includes the destination charge but excludes tax, title and additional dealer fees.
Equinox offers a fresh, new design and technologies to help keep passengers comfortable and connected on the road.
“In a word, crossover customers want one thing: everything. From comfort and connectivity to efficient performance and safety, the all-new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox delivers on all counts,” said Steve Majoros, director of marketing, Chevrolet Cars and Crossovers.
The 2018 Equinox will offer three turbocharged engines — including the segment’s first turbo-diesel — providing customers more choices when it comes to performance, efficiency and capability.
The standard 1.5L engine will be available at launch, with the 2.0L Turbo and diesel options available in the second quarter of 2017. The 2.0L engine will be coupled to GM’s new nine-speed automatic transmission, offering an exciting driving experience with more horsepower and torque.
The 2018 Equinox will be available in L, LS, LT and Premier trim levels, in FWD or AWD combinations.
Chevrolet’s connectivity technologies include a standard 7- and an available 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen with MyLink infotainment designed to support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as an available OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.*
The new Equinox offers an expanded range of active safety features:
- New Safety Alert Seat
- New Surround Vision
- New Forward Collision Alert with Following Distance Indicator
- New Low-Speed Forward Automatic Braking
- New Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Rear Seat Reminder and Teen Driver are also offered. Rear Seat Reminder can provide an alert when the rear doors are used during or just before a trip, prompting you to double-check for valuables left in the back seat when you exit the vehicle. Teen Driver allows parents to monitor driving habits and facilitates discussions to help encourage better driving habits, even when parents are not in the vehicle.
*Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are products of Apple and Google and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires a compatible mobile device, active OnStar service and data plan. 4G LTE service available in select markets. Visit onstar.com for coverage map, details and system limitations. Data plans provided by AT&T.
2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS (NORTH AMERICA)
Overview
| Models: | 2018 Chevrolet Equinox |
| Body style / driveline: | five-passenger, four-door SUV, front-engine, front- or all-wheel drive |
| EPA vehicle class: | compact SUV |
Powertrains
| Engine / Type: | 1.5L turbo DOHC DI | 2.0L turbo DOHC DI | 1.6L turbo-diesel |
| Block material: | cast aluminum | cast aluminum | cast aluminum |
| Cylinder head material: | cast aluminum | cast aluminum | cast aluminum |
| Fuel delivery: | direct injection | direct injection | direct injection |
| Horsepower (hp / kW): | 170 / 127 (SAE-certified) | 252 / 188 (SAE-certified) | 137 / 102 (SAE-certified) |
| Torque (lb.-ft. / Nm): | 203 / 275 (SAE-certified) | 260 / 353 (SAE-certified) | 240 / 325 (SAE-certified) |
| GM-est. fuel economy: | 26 city / 32 hwy (EPA-est.)
24 city / 30 hwy (EPA-est.) |
22 city / 29 hwy (EPA-est.)
22 city / 28 hwy (EPA-est.) |
40 hwy |
| Transmission: | Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic | Hydra-Matic 9T50 nine-speed automatic | Hydra-Matic 6T45 six-speed automatic |
Chassis / Suspension
| Suspension (front): | MacPherson strut with side-loaded modules, specifically tuned coil springs, direct-acting stabilizer bar |
| Suspension (rear): | 4 Link Independent Rear Suspension |
| Steering type: | Dual Rack and Pinion Electric Power Steering |
| Turning circle (ft / m): | 37.4 / 11.4 (17-inch wheels) |
Brakes & Wheels
| Brake type: | four-wheel disc with ABS and ESC; Duralife rotors and low-drag calipers (US) |
| Wheel size and type: | 17-, 18- and 19-inch aluminum |
Exterior Dimensions
| Wheelbase (in / mm): | 107.3 / 2725 |
| Overall length (in / mm): | 183.1 / 4652 |
| Overall width (in / mm): | 72.6 / 1843 |
| Overall height (in / mm): | 65.4 / 1661 |
| Track (in / mm): | front: 62.2 / 1580 rear: 62.2 / 1581 |
Interior Dimensions
| Seating capacity: | 2 / 3 |
| Headroom (in / mm): | Front – 40.0/1015 (w/o SR), 38.2/970 (w/ Sunroof) Rear – 38.5/977 (w/o SR), 36.9/936 (w/ Sunroof) |
| Legroom (in / mm): | 40.9 / 1040 (front) 39.7 / 1008 (rear) |
| Shoulder room (in / mm): | 57.2 / 1452 (front) 55.5 / 1410 (rear) |
| Hip room (in / mm): | 54.2 / 1377 (front) 51.7 / 1314 (rear) |
Weights & Capacities
| Base curb weight (lb / kg): | 3327 / 1509 (1.5L w/ FWD) |
| EPA passenger volume (cu ft / L): | 103.2 / 2897 |
| Fuel capacity (gal / L): | 14.7 / 55 (FWD) TBD (AWD) 15.5 / 58 (1.6L diesel) |
| Max cargo room (cu ft / L): | 29.9 / 846 (behind rear seat) 63.5 / 1798 (rear seat folded) |
| Max trailering (lb / kg): | 3500 / 1585 (2.0L turbo) |
Note: Information shown is current at time of publication.