2005 Chevrolet Equinox Overview

Introduction

With the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, General Motors finally has a compact SUV to challenge the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.It's bigger inside and out than most of the SUVs in this class, and that's deliberate.Like the Honda, Toyota and Ford products, the Equinox is car-based, using the new GM Theta front-wheel-drive architecture and adapting it for all-wheel-drive versions.This same architecture is under the Saturn Vue SUV as well.

The Equinox's dimensions blur the line between compact and midsize SUVs.It is 13.9 inches longer than the arch-competitor and market leader Ford Escape, and only three inches shorter than a TrailBlazer, and that extra room will make all the difference on some families' buying decisions.It rides on a wheelbase that is 9.4 inches longer than the Escape's, yielding a generally smoother ride.When the rear bench and front passenger seat are folded flat, there's room inside this truck for eight-foot-long loads.The rear seatback is split 60/40 for added cargo/people hauling flexibility.Read full review