Inside, where the people live, work, and ride, is where the Chevy Equinox shines when compared to some of its major competitors. Up front, Equinox carries flexible net storage pockets on both sides of the console. The center armrest has dual cupholders, a small storage cubby and a coin holder for toll money. Under the armrest is more storage, an open floor console with cupholder, CD holder, and purse or briefcase storage.

The rear seat sits on a track that allows it to slide back and forth by up to eight inches, to bring kids, brief cases, purses or cargoes closer or to provide extra room for tall passengers in the second seat. With both front and rear seats in the full rearward positions, there's more rear-passenger legroom in the Equinox than you'll find in many larger SUVs, 42 inches, and plenty of room for carrying your stuff. GM calls this innovative feature the Multi-Flex rear seat. There is a 12-volt power outlet and dual slide-out cupholders for rear passengers.

GM's designers have used the space above the wheel wells to create a unique cargo storage system like the adjustable shelf in its larger SUVs. A lightweight reversible panel slides into slots on the Equinox's wheel wells at three different heights. Carpeted on one side and plastic on the other, the panel can serve as shelf, cargo cover or even a picnic or tailgating table. The tops of the wheel wells contain storage bins for small items. And there are several tie-downs and hooks on the panel from which to hang grocery bags.

Equinox's interior is a clean and functional design, with low-gloss nickel-plated trim on the console and control panel instead of the flashier and more problematic chrome trim, a scheme that matched very will with the light gray of our test Equinox LT's leather upholstery.

Having the trio of OnStar, XM satellite radio, and the CD changer onboard meant that there was always more entertainment along for the ride. If you want rear-seat entertainment screens, though, you'll have to step up in size and price to a different vehicle.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the powertrain in the Equinox. It starts, it runs, and it's relatively smooth. That is, until you ask it for full-throttle performance, when it starts to grind and whine a bit. The new five-speed automatic transmission shifts up and down just fine. It's just not a powertrain that will make your blood boil, although GM claims the Equinox's 0-60 sprint comes in only 8.5 seconds, whether it's AWD or FWD. As we said, this is a 25-year-old engine design that is without benefit of balance shafts, variable-valve timing or variable intake, but it's perfectly adequate for family SUV use. Chevrolet rates it to haul families plus trailer loads of up to 3500 pounds, and it has the guts to do it.

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We found the long-wheelbase chassis of this 3600-pound car/truck provided a plush ride, good cornering performance, relatively crisp handling, and long-trip comfort. The brakes are well matched to the size and weight of the Equinox FWD that we tested, with good, progressive pedal travel and linear braking force application.
Equinox and the Saturn Vue have an electric power steering system. An electronic control unit programmed for a variety of performance characteristics controls an electric motor mounted adjacent to the steering column to provide the right amount of assist for a given driving situation. The steering ratio is variable, so the Equinox has good, steady road feel in highway driving and low effort at low speeds for easier parking. We don't think the average American driver can tell it apart from hydraulic power steering, and that's a good thing, especially when combined with the fact that engine power isn't used to drive the system and can be used to move the vehicle, saving gasoline.

With its unique look and larger size than the American and Asian competition, the Equinox is in a position to please the more demanding customers looking for more power and more space than the norm in this segment. The Equinox has a very flexible interior design with lots of space for family goods, and lots of space for American-sized people in both rows of seats.

Equinox is a Chevrolet, with Chevrolet-level quality and materials at a Chevrolet price. It has a distinctly Japanese feel to it, inside and out, but it's American, built in Canada, and a heck of a deal for the money, we think. Whether you measure it by the linear foot, the cubic foot, or by visual impact alone, it's the biggest of the smaller SUVs, and our FWD tester was loaded for bear for less than $26,000.