When it arrives on dealership lots this June, the revamped 2010 Chevrolet Equinox will carry a base MSRP of $23,185 (including $745 destination charge) for the front-wheel drive, four-cylinder powered LS trim model. In case you were wonderting, that's a full $1,800 less than the 2009 Equinox's starting price, according to Chevrolet.
Three trims will be available (LS, LT, LTZ), as will a Haldex-made all-wheel drive option. Customers will have two engines to choose from -- a 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder (182-hp) or a 3.0L V-6 (264-hp) -- both of which feature direct-injection and variable valve timing for increased fuel efficiency. Chevrolet estimates the Ecotec musters 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway (FWD) and 20/27 (AWD), while the bigger V-6 gets around 18/25 (FWD) and 17/24 (AWD).
Engineers have also given owners of the four-cylinder equipped Equinox the chance to eek out more mpgs by way of a dash mounted ECO button. The handy option remaps the shifting points of its six-speed Hydramatic automatic gearbox and also calls for more aggressive fuel shutoff when coasting.
Standard on all versions are six airbags (front, side, head curtain), four-wheel disc brakes with StabiliTrak, OnStar with XM, and remote start. A tilt and telescoping steering wheel, power driver's seat and 17-in. wheels are included in the mix as well for no extra cost.
Complete pricing for the entire 2010 Equinox lineup has yet to be announced.
Source: GM