The crossover market has run into a conundrum that faces every segment of the automotive industry sooner or later.  It’s a difficult question:  do you want practical, or do you want sexy?

New crossovers like the Honda Accord Crosstour and Toyota Venza are aiming for high-style, with sleek, dramatic curves and standout styling.  Unfortunately, when it comes to suburban do-alls, the fashionable sheet metal comes at the cost of usefulness.  (The question of whether the Venza and Crosstour actually succeed at looking sexy can be saved for another day.)  The all-new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox presents a solid argument for the other side of the equation.  The Equinox has grown up a little.  Now in its second generation, the Equinox rejoins the lineup for 2010 as a five-passenger little brother to the three-row Traverse crossover.  Rather than svelte sheet metal, the Equinox is a versatile and easy-to-drive vehicle whose first mission is efficient and comfortable stuff-hauling.

That’s not to say that Chevrolet didn’t pay any attention to aesthetics, of course.  The family face is here, of course, with the big split grille and gold bowtie badge up front.  The new design is more SUV-like, but the Equinox is still more car than truck.  The longer nose and greenhouse give the impression that the Equinox is a great big beast of a vehicle, but it’s actually an inch shorter than its predecessor.  A widened track improves interior space and on-road stability.  The available nineteen-inch wheels serve only to accentuate the Equinox’ size, rather than making it seem smaller.

The perception of size means that the Equinox is great at “driving small,” and handles much better than expected. Chevrolet’s always been adept at making its larger vehicles friendly to drive, and the Equinox continues this trend.  The suspension uses fully-independent automotive geometry, with struts up front and a four-link rear.  Body motions are nicely controlled, and for a vehicle at this price point the Equinox offers a comfortable and quiet ride as well.  The chassis engineers have done a deft job of combining the tough, work-ready feel of Chevy’s truck lineup with a smooth carlike ride.  Emergency handling is confident as well, thanks in part to standard StabiliTrak stability control and electronic power steering.

The Equinox’ best trick is impressive fuel economy for its size.  The standard 2.4 liter four-cylinder will get up to 32 mpg on the freeway, thanks to high-efficiency direct injection and variable valve timing.   This is a large-displacement four-cylinder, and it makes a healthy 182 horsepower.  When equipped with the 2.4, the Equinox has a freeway range of over 600 miles.  The optional 3.0 liter V6 is also a direct-injection engine, but it’s more powerful, with 264 horses on tap.  The performance comes with a significant tradeoff–fuel economy sinks to 17/25.  I noticed the Equinox’ gas gauge dropping much more quickly than I’d have liked on the freeway, in spite of the tall-geared six-speed automatic transmission.  On four-cylinder Equinoxes, the transmission gains an automatic “Eco” mode that improves fuel economy by changing the shift points.  All-wheel drive is available.

These thoroughly modern and seamless mechanicals are hidden nicely beneath a cabin that’s designed with a strong awareness of its errand-running purpose in life.  The dash’s “floating” center stack is dramatically sloped away from the passengers.  This increases the apparent interior room and looks cool, but puts some of the controls out of easy reach for shorter drivers.  The laid-back navigation and information screen has a hood to keep things legible in direct sunlight.  The seats are tall, comfortable chairs, and the Equinox feels like the very model of a suburban SUV or crossover.  Rear-seat comfort is addressed as well; the rear seats slide fore and aft up to eight inches, for maximum legroom adjustment.  The Equinox pioneer’s GM’s Active Noise Cancellation system, which uses the audio system to send vibration-cancelling sound waves through the vehicle when road noise gets out of hand.  And if you forgot for a moment that this was a Chevrolet product, an extravagant video of a spinning Chevrolet logo plays on the available navigation system’s seven-inch screen with every startup.  Bluetooth and a rear-seat entertainment system are also available.

As a family hauler, errand-runner and road-tripper, the Equinox excels.  It’s not the most exciting hunk of sheet metal out there, but you’ll quickly forget what it looks like because it works so well.  Equinox pricing starts at $22,615 for a two-wheel drive base model.  My all-wheel drive tester was equipped with heated leather seats, a navigation system and the 3.0 liter V6 engine, and stickered for $32,885.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
Length:  187.8 in.
Width:  72.5 in.
Height:  66.3 in.
Wheelbase:  112.5 in.
Curb weight:  3770 lb.
Cargo space:   31.4 cu.ft. (seats up); 63.7 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:  $27,195
Price as tested:  $32,885
Engine:   3.0 liter DOHC direct-injection V6
Drivetrain:  six-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 264 @ 6950
Torque:  222 @ 5100
Est. mileage:   17/24

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