First off, I think Chevy should have used the new 3.5L 200HP V6 in the Equinox. Not because of the horse power/torque levels, but because it is a newer engine with more modern tech and is claimed to be smoother and more reliable than the engine it replaces. the 3400 V6. As far as HP/Tq goes, I think the Equinox is fine. THe magical 200# is more of a marketing thing, what really matters in an SUV is torque. THe Equinox will have 210tq vs. 193tq in the V6 Escape. But for those that feel the Equinox is still underpowered here is a list of SUVs in its class that the Equinox is more powerful than.


SUVs with less torque than Equinox

Chevy Equinox 210tq
BMW X3 175tq ($31K)
Escape I4 152tq
Escape V6 193tq
Honda CR-V 162tq
Honda Element 161tq
Hyundai Santa Fe I4 hp 147tq
Land Rover Freelander hp 177tq
Mazda Tribute I4 152tq
Mazda Tribute 193tq
Mitsubishi Outlander 162tq
Saturn Vue I4 152tq
Toyota Highlander 165tq
Toyota RAV4 165tq
Chevrolet Tracker 162tq
Jeep Liberty I4 165tq
Suzuki Vitara 162tq
Nissan Xterra I4 154tq

SUVs with less HP than Equinox

Chevy Equinox 185HP
BMW X3 184HP $31K
Escape I4 153HP
Honda CR-V 160HP
Honda Element 160HP
Hyundai Santa Fe I4 138 hp
Land Rover Freelander 174 hp.
Mazda Tribute I4 153HP
Mitsubishi Outlander 160HP
Saturn Vue I4 143 hp.
Toyota Highlander 160HP
Toyota RAV4 161HP
Chevrolet Tracker 165HP
Jeep Liberty I4 150HP
Suzuki Vitara 165HP
Nissan Xterra I4 143HP.

 

Great job putting that list together!! I have dissed the equinox's power as much as the next person...and never realized the fact that it was ahead of the game! I love this vehicle and would consider it! though i'll wait for an SS version. ha ha

 

The Equinox will get a new engine for '06. Is it the 3.9 or the 3.8 that is a "high value?" It is one of those...

 

Great list. Now Chevy should market it just like that!

 

The Equinox SS is coming...and with a 240hp 3.9L.

 

I'd like to see a 270HP 3v 3.9L, that would make the perfect SS

 

FWD tq steer and SUV don't go to well together, LOL. I'd hate to try to drive one aggressively with that kind of power.

 

I'd be willing to bet the SS will have AWD

 

Good point but it is still a FWD based system. But you don't hear AWD Talon guys complaining about tq steer so maybe it won't be a problem.

I know my wife's 222hp Maxima has it big time...it will literally yank the wheel out of your hands under the right conditions.

 

I don't think it'll be a problem with AWD because each front wheel will handle half the power it would with a FWD drive train, plus you've got the back wheels pushing along.

 

Oh.. its not going to be RWD/4WD like the Trackers?

I heard the Trackers/Sidekicks/Samuri's were decent mini offroader platforms....

But I bet the Equinox would is vastly more comfortable and quiet..

 

The Equimox is FWD/AWD. It's also a unibody contruction as opposed to the frame on body of those models (as far as i know they were frame on body).

I'm not sure how it would do off road, but I'm guessing in AWD trim and decent off road tires it's wouldn't be too bad.

 

Not a bad comparison at all, I'm glad you put it together. Helps view things in perspective a little.

However.

There are a number of figures in your list for 4 cylinder models from other manufacturers, whereas they can be optioned with a V6. So while the base engine has smaller TQ/HP figures, the optional engine fares better.

TORQUE
BMW optioned with 3.0 I6 - 214
Hyundai, 2.7 V6 - 182 (LESS)
Hyundai, 3.5 V6 - 219
Toyota Highlander V6 - 242
Saturn (Honda 3.5 V6) - 242
Jeep Liberty - 235
Nissan Xterra (SC V6) - 246

HORSEPOWER
BMW (3.0 I6) - 225
Hyundai 2.7 V6 - 172 (LESS)
Hyundai 3.5 V6 - 200
Toyota Highlander V6 - 230
Saturn Vue - 250
Jeep Liberty - 210
Nissan Xterra - (SC V6) - 210

Of course you do have to opt for the better engine, which costs extra, but at least it's available as an option. It is impressive that 3400 comes as the BASE engine, but what's disappointing is that it comes as the ONLY engine. For now at least.

 

Size, and more importantly weight, are factors too. The Equinox is a fair chunk bigger than many listed ....I don't know how it compares weight wise.

 

Well, the AWD Saturn Vue (same chassis) is 3630 lbs curb weight.