![]() Each of the four Equinox models-LS, LT, LTZ, and Sport-are available either with front-wheel drive or with an all-wheel-drive system that sends some of the power to the rear wheels when front slippage is detected.The new 3.6L engine offered on the Sport, together with the six-speed transmission, which allows gains in both performance and efficiency, can bring the Equinox to 60 mph in less than seven seconds.The Equinox has a roomy interior with seating for five adults. The top Sport model gets an exclusive powertrain-a 264-horsepower, 3.6L DOHC V6 and six-speed automatic. It's paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. The Equinox comes with a standard 3.4L overhead-valve V6 engine, making 185 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. It ranks as one of the more affordable compact SUVs in LS or LT trim, and with the new electronic trailer sway control, it's one of the better-equipped small SUVs for light-duty towing such as a small boat or pop-up trailer. The 2008 Chevrolet Equinox is one of only a few compact sport utility vehicles with a standard V6 engine, and it also stands out for its flexible and well-designed interior. Model Changesįlexible, roomy interior maneuverability standard V6 in a compact SUV. The LS and LT get a retuned suspension, and electronic trailer sway control is now integrated with StabiliTrak and is standard across the line.Three new exterior colors are offered: Navy Blue Metallic, Black Granite Metallic, and Golden Teal Metallic. There's also a new Equinox LTZ that sits above the existing LS and LT models in the pecking order. And while the Suzuki XL7 may no longer one-up the Equinox in power, the Chevy still doesn't have a third-row.For 2008, the new Chevy Equinox Sport gets a 264-horsepower, 3.6L V6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission, sport-tuned suspension, and unique interior appointments. ![]() There's no word on pricing for the Chevy, but expect it to kick-off around the $25-grand mark. Rivalry in the GM fold will come from Saturn's next Vue Redline, which dumps the Honda V-6 for the identical 3.6-liter V-6. The new Equinox will go head-to-head with Mazda's fine-handling CX-7 (244 hp, starts at $24,345), and the punchy Toyota RAV4 Sport V-6 (269 hp, starts at $26,385). Too bad the steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters used in Saturn's Aura weren't incorporated, although we'd probably make fun of paddles in an SUV like we did in the case of Mitsubishi's Outlander. The Sport also gets a new J-gate shifter-What, Chevy's copying Jaguar these days? Pull down and across to get the manumatic feature. Inside, the front seats get extra bolstering, and can be ordered with optional perforated leather, all-black trim is standard, and there's a 140-mph speedo. The sporty theme apparently also entailed ditching the roof rack. Front and rear fascias come painted in body color, while up front there are new silver-painted trapezoidal air intakes, reminiscent of the Trailblazer SS, with matching chrome dual exhausts at the rear. Thankfully, the designers kept the changes subtle. It also comes with a set of polished, forged-aluminum 18-inch rims wrapped with grippy 235/50 rubber (right). To sharpen the handling, the Sport gets stiffer bushings, beefier anti-roll bars, and slightly stiffer springs, while the ride height is dropped an inch. According to Chevy, that should make for an under-seven-second 0-to-60-mph dash. Swapping in the new V-6 and six-speed-the same powertrain now used in everything from the Pontiac G6 to Saturn's large Outlook SUV as well as Equinox platform-mate Suzuki XL7-gives the Equinox a 42-percent power bump over the 185-horsepower 3.4-liter in the base Equinox. It gets GM's 263-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 coupled to a six-speed automatic, a stiffer suspension, forged 18-inch wheels, a new look inside and out, and will be offered with either front- or all-wheel drive. Chevy's new amped-up Equinox Sport-we're not sure why it's not an SS either-is due in showrooms next fall as a 2008 model.
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