• The Chevrolet Equinox is a competitively priced mid-sized SUV that offers exceptional versatility, distinctive design and high efficiency
• The Equinox is available in four trim levels, LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ, and can be had in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The standard drivetrain is a 2.4-liter direct injection four-cylinder and six-speed automatic transmission. A 3.0-liter direct injection V6 is optional on the LT and LTZ trims. Standard safety features include: four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability system, six airbags, tire pressure monitor, OnStar, security system and daytime running lights. Available high-tech features include Bluetooth, a USB audio port, twin-screen rear entertainment system, rearview camera and a power liftgate.
• For 2010, the Equinox has been completely redesigned inside and out, with new more efficient engines and new technologies.

The redesigned Equinox is about the same size as the outgoing model. But it has different styling inside and out and two new engine choices. The base engine is an upgraded version of the 2.4-liter four-cylinder that powered the last model. Thanks to direct injection, it now has more power and gets class-leading fuel economy of 32 mpg on the highway. Lots of sound insulation makes it quieter than most four-cylinders, too.

Equinox is also offered with a 3.0-liter V6 that replaces a 3.6-liter V6. It has similar power numbers at 264 horsepower, but it feels much less powerful than the larger V6 it replaces. In fact, we don't think it feels much more powerful than the capable four-cylinder, so we think the base engine is the best choice.

The new Equinox handles better than its predecessor. It is more carlike than the pre-2010 models, with less lean in turns. It's not sporty, but it's on par with its main competitors, including the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ride is also quite good. We found that with either the standard 17- or available 18-inch wheels, the Equinox absorbs even sharp bumps without disrupting passenger comfort.

Inside, the Equinox has an attractively designed interior. There are some nice amenities, including ice blue ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, a hard-drive audio system, a dual-screen rear DVD entertainment system, and a power rear liftgate. The interior materials look and feel like hard plastic, though.

The Equinox offers plenty of space for passengers and cargo. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and they have 10 inches of travel, so drivers of all sizes with fit. The useful MultiFlex rear seat carries over. It offers eight inches of travel, so tall passengers can ride in back or the driver can push the rear seat forward to carry more cargo.

Its roomy cabin and reasonable pricing make the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox attractive, and buyers can get some nice amenities they wouldn't expect in this price range. While the last model's handling was too sloppy for many, that problem has been remedied, making the Equinox a player in the entry crossover SUV market.

The 2010 Chevy Equinox is offered in LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ trim levels, each with front-wheel drive (2WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). All models come standard with GM's Ecotec four-cylinder engine, now with direct injection technology that improves horsepower from 164 to 182 and torque from 160 to 172 pound-feet. Fuel economy is also improved, as GM says the 2.4-liter four cylinder with achieve 22/32 mpg (city/hwy) with 2WD and 20/29 with AWD. The transmission is a six-speed automatic with an Eco feature that alters the shift points to increase fuel economy by about 1 mpg.

Also offered is a 3.0-liter V6. A derivative of GM's 3.6-liter V6, this engine delivers 264 horsepower and 222 pound-feet of torque. GM quotes fuel economy estimates of 18/25 mpg with front-wheel drive and 17/24 mpg with all-wheel drive. The V6 also comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, but it adds a manual shiftgate.

Up front, the Equinox features Chevrolet's now-signature two-tier grille with gold bowtie insignia. The headlights wrap around the front fenders. Air ducts sit below the headlights and, in models so equipped, they house fog lights in chromed bezels that bisect the openings. The lower front fascia is charcoal-colored plastic and it has an air damn in the center. The LTZ model and the 2LT with the Chrome Appearance Package add metallic trim pieces to the lower portion of the air damn opening. The hood has three character lines and is shorter than the last one because Chevrolet moved the base of the windshield forward three inches, creating a more slippery shape. The new Equinox has a 0.36 coefficient of drag versus the 0.42 CD of the outgoing model.

Around the sides, the Equinox has pronounced fender flares and a wheels-at-the-corners stance, especially up front. The roof features wraparound side glass at the rear and tinted rear and rear side windows. All but the LS model has luggage side rails; they're charcoal on LT models and they add chrome inserts on the LTZ and the 2LT with the Chrome Appearance Package. That package also adds chrome door handles and side mirrors. Seventeen-inch aluminum wheels are standard and 18- and 19-inch wheels are available.

At the rear, the Equinox has dual round taillights, a takeoff of the Malibu design, and a roof spoiler. The tailgate opens upward, and a class-exclusive power, programmable tailgate is offered. Owners can program the tailgate to open to different heights so shorter drivers can reach it. Overall, the look is attractive. The LTZ's additional chrome trim adds a touch of class, especially with the chromed 19-inch wheels. The lower front fascia is charcoal-colored plastic and it has an air dam in the center. The LTZ model and the 2LT with the Chrome Appearance Package add metallic trim pieces to the lower portion of the air dam opening.

It rides well, too. With the standard 17-inch wheels, the Equinox absorbs even sharp bumps without disrupting passenger comfort. The available 18-inch wheels also provided a comfortable ride on rough Southeast Michigan streets. My only complaint is a bit of body drumming over washboard surfaces.

The standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine is upgraded this year with the addition of direct fuel injection, which improves both power and fuel economy. It provides usable power from a stop and on the highway, and it even offers decent passing punch. Chevrolet quotes a 0-60 mph time of 8.6 seconds for a front-wheel drive model, which is pretty quick for a four-cylinder-powered vehicle of this size.

Fuel economy for the 2.4-liter four-cylinder is an EPA-rated 22/32 mpg City/Highway on an Equinox with front-wheel drive. That's class-leading fuel economy. Not even the smaller RAV4 or CR-V can match the Equinox's 32 mpg Highway figure. And thanks to plenty of sound-deadening material and acoustic glass in the windshield and front windows, the 2.4-liter is smoother and quieter than most four-cylinder engines.

For 2010, Chevrolet switched from a 3.6-liter V6 to a 3.0-liter V6 as the top engine in the Equinox. While the horsepower rating is the same at 264 horses, the 3.0 has 28 less pound-feet of torque and, on the road, it feels considerably less powerful. (We didn't have EPA fuel economy ratings for the new 3.0-liter V6 at press time; the previous 3.6-liter V6 engine was rated 16/24 mpg, while the previous 3.4-liter V6 was rated 17/24 mpg.) We found the new 3.0-liter V6 doesn't feel that much stronger than the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Chevy says a front-drive Equinox with the V6 can accelerate to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds. That's less than a second faster than the four-cylinder, and the V6 costs more while getting worse fuel economy.

In short, we recommend the four-cylinder models as being a better value.

There are, however, some nice touches. The available ice blue ambient lighting is a delightful feature. It's standard on all models, but you get more as you go up the range. LS models have it on the center stack surround and in the center console cupholders. LTs add it on the instrument panel and center console, and the LTZ also gets it in the door handle recesses, in the footwells and in the doors' map pockets. The Equinox also offers some other amenities not expected in the class, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a hard-drive audio system and a dual-screen rear DVD entertainment system.

The instrument panel is attractive. The speedometer and tachometer feature white numbers and black backgrounds. They are set in large pods and in between are water temperature and fuel gauges, as well as a digital trip computer readout. The base interior has a storage cubby at the top of the center stack. When the navigation system is ordered, it sits in this spot. The controls on the center stack are grouped in a tight bunch, with the radio buttons up top and the climate controls at the bottom. With the navigation system, there are 43 buttons, dials and knobs. It's a bit less confusing without the navigation system, but it's going to take some getting used to. All of the controls are easy to reach, and the area is trimmed in a good-looking clear-coated silver-painted plastic.

Space is not a problem in the Equinox. Cloth or leather, the front seats are comfortable and supportive. GM obviously spent some money here. They are especially attractive in leather, with their two-tone coloring and contrast stitching. The front seats have 10 inches of travel and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes, so everyone from the very short to the very tall will be comfortable. The rear seat continues with the useful MultiFlex system, which includes a reclining feature and eight inches of travel fore and aft. With the rear seat all the way back, a tall rider can fit behind a tall driver. When the rear seat is pushed fully forward, rear cargo capacity is 31.4 cubic feet. The rear seat is also split 60/40 and it folds to open up a total of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The load floor is fairly flat.

New Car Test Drive correspondent Kirk Bell filed this report from Detroit.