2015 CHEVROLET EQUINOX CONNECTIVITY ENHANCED WITH ONSTAR 4G LTE
06/01/2014
Chevrolet
A popular crossover vehicle lauded for its spacious interior, efficiency and convenience, Chevrolet Equinox rolls into 2015 with new connectivity features that help drivers maintain their active lifestyles, including OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotpot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.
Advanced safety features, including forward collision alert and lane departure warning, are available and contribute to Equinox's comprehensive passenger protection features. In fact, they helped Equinox earn a coveted Top Safety Pick+ recommendation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, receiving a Good rating in the Institute's small overlap front crash test (2014 model with forward collision alert tested and recommended).
The 2015 Equinox seats five, and is offered in LS, LT (1LT and 2LT trims) and LTZ models, with available all-wheel drive. Its roomy interior offers more headroom than competitors and cargo space of 31.4 cubic feet (889 liters) behind the rear seat and 63.7 cubic feet (1,803 liters) with the rear seat folded.
Equinox delivers connectivity and entertainment options with Chevrolet MyLink (standard on LT and LTZ), as well as an available rear-seat, dual-player DVD entertainment system with dual displays in the front seatbacks.
With the standard Ecotec 2.4L direct-injected engine, the FWD Equinox achieves an EPA-estimated 32 mpg on the highway. A direct-injected 3.6L V-6 is available on LT and LTZ models and delivers best-in-class 301 horsepower (225 kW) and 272 lb-ft of torque (369 Nm).
Chevrolet supports Equinox owners with two years/24,000 miles (whichever comes first) of scheduled maintenance, which covers four services of an oil change, tire rotation and 27-point inspection. It complements the three-year/36,000-mile (whichever comes first) bumper-to-bumper limited vehicle warranty and five-year/100,000-mile (whichever comes first) powertrain limited warranty for peace of mind.
Equinox exterior
Equinox wears Chevrolet's signature global face - a two-tier grille and prominent gold bowtie insignia - that combines with strong fender shapes, distinctive premium roofline, wraparound headlamps and dual round taillamps. Projector-style headlamps are standard on LTZ.
Equinox also stands out with a multi-dimensional hood, wraparound rear side glass and wheels-at-the-corners stance. The fascias on all models are body colors, with charcoal lower sections on LS and LT models and bright lowers on LTZ.
Chrome packages are available on LT models. They include chrome door handles, heated and power-adjustable outside mirrors, and 18-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels.
Additional exterior features include:
Integrated rocker panels make getting in and out of the Equinox easier
Chrome trim and flush-fitting, "exposed edge" windshield and rear glass provide an upscale appearance and reduce wind noise
Range of 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels - including standard chrome-clad wheels on LTZ
Programmable power liftgate is standard on LTZ and available on 2LT (included with available Power Convenience Package).
Exterior colors include: Blue Velvet Metallic, Sea Grass Metallic, Silver Topaz Metallic, Silver Ice Metallic, Black Granite Metallic, Summit White, Black, Crystal Red Tintcoat, White Diamond Tintcoat, Champagne Silver Metallic and Tungsten Metallic.
Flexible space for passengers and cargo
Equinox's interior is designed for comfort, convenience and versatility. The standard MultiFlex sliding rear seat can offer passengers the most rear legroom in its class. It travels nearly eight inches fore and aft, providing up to 39.9 inches (1,015 mm) of real legroom. With the 60/40 split-back rear seat moved all the way forward, the cargo area offers 31.4 cubic feet (889 liters) of storage.
Family-friendly features include several storage bins, an oversized glove box, a closed storage bin under the center armrest big enough to accommodate a laptop computer, four 12-volt power outlets and eight cup and bottle holders.
Equinox is also a quiet and refined vehicle. Noise-absorbing elements in the chassis, engine compartment, interior and windshield glass make the cabin one of the quietest in the segment. 2.4L models feature Active Noise Cancellation that contributes to exceptional quietness and efficiency.
Additional interior features include:
Available Chevrolet MyLink radio with navigation
Air conditioning is standard on all models, with automatic climate control standard on 2LT and LTZ
Leather-appointed seating is standard on LTZ and available on 2LT
Universal home remote is standard on LTZ and available on 2LT with the power convenience package
Eight-way power front passenger seat is standard on LTZ and available on 2LT with the power convenience package
Heated front seats are standard on LTZ
Rear-vision camera is standard on LT and LTZ
Adaptive remote start that also activates the front and rear defrosters, heated seats and outside heated mirrors when the temperature is 45 degrees F (7 C) or colder
Ice-blue ambient lighting accentuates key areas of the cabin and provides an upscale look and feel
Audio system with SiriusXM (with trial period), CD and MP3/WMA capability is standard on LS
Color touch-screen radio with SiriusXM (with trial period), with MP3 capability, USB port and iPod support, is standard on LT and LTZ
Available Pioneer Premium System with eight speakers and 250 watts of output.
Interior color and trim choices:
Cloth seating with Light Titanium/Jet Black or Jet Black interior colors (LS)
Premium cloth seating with Light Titanium/Jet Black or Jet Black interior colors (1LT and 2LT)
Perforated leather-appointed seating with Light Titanium/Jet Black, Jet Black or Brownstone/Jet Black interior colors (standard on LTZ and available on 2LT).
MyLink and OnStar 4G LTE
Chevrolet MyLink is standard on LT and LTZ models, with navigation available on LTZ and 2LT. Each is integrated with Equinox's advanced audio system.
Enhanced connectivity and convenience with MyLink includes text message support and Siri Eyes Free. With text message support, the driver can be alerted to new messages and can have them read aloud, view and respond to them (functionality depends on the smartphone). Siri Eyes Free enables iPhone4S and iPhone 5 users to access Siri via the steering wheel controls and check calendar entries, have text messages read and respond to them, place calls or call up music.
Android phone users can also use the steering wheel controls to access their phone's voice recognition features.
Additional MyLink features include:
Hands-free voice control system powered by Nuance(R), which allows simple voice commands to initiate phone calls and select radio stations or media from portable MP3 players and smart phones
Pandora Internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio allow users to create personalized radio stations based on favorite artists or genres. MyLink integrates control of both of these apps for a driver-directed listening experience
Gracenote(R) identifies the music collection on the driver's USB device, MP3 player or smart phone and presents information such as artist name, genres and album cover art on the MyLink screen
USB connectivity adds the ability to play music files directly from flash memory devices, and gives the customer the ability to update MyLink with future enhancements.
Complementing MyLink to enhance Equinox's connectivity is new OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.
4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network - 10 times faster than 3G and 100 times faster than the previous generation of OnStar hardware. And with OnStar, it also offers stronger, broader coverage than smartphones on the same network and it's easy to use: If the vehicle is on, the connection is on.
At the time of purchase, six months OnStar Directions and Connections includes all of OnStar's advisor-based safety and security features, including Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, as well as Turn-by-Turn navigation.
Five years of OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, which runs monthly checks of a vehicle's engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes and more, and Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends a diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer to simplify service scheduling.
Chassis and suspension
Equinox is built on a body-integral structure with single-piece body side stampings and targeted applications of high-strength steel. These elements create a solid, quiet driving experience. Additional features include:
Strong structure with four-wheel independent suspension system for greater control and driver feedback
Rack-mounted electronic power steering on 2.4L-equipped models; hydraulic power rack-and-pinion steering on 3.6L V-6-equipped models
Available all-wheel drive
Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control and rollover mitigation technology help keep the vehicle in its intended path in the event of an emergency maneuver
Trailering anti-sway control and hill hold assist feature
Standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with traction control, hill-start assist and electronic brake force distribution to help maximize braking performance.
Powertrain details
Both the standard Ecotec 2.4L engine and available 3.6L V-6 in the Equinox feature fuel-saving direct injection and continuously variable valve timing technology. The 2.4L delivers 182 horsepower (136 kW) with an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy rating of 32 mpg (FWD models).
The 3.6L is rated at 301 horsepower (225 kW) and 272 lb-ft of torque (369 Nm). This engine uses lightweight components that contribute to the Equinox's fuel efficiency while boosting its horsepower. An integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold design saves about 13 pounds compared to a non-integrated design, while a composite intake manifold saves about 5.5 pounds vs. an aluminum intake. Additionally, a lightweight structural front cover and high-strength connecting rods save additional weight.
An efficient six-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models and an "Eco" transmission mode on 2.4L-equipped models alters shift points to improve fuel economy.
Safety and crash-avoidance features
Equinox is built on a solid structure that includes strategic applications of high-strength steel to protect occupants in the event of a crash. And it is equipped with safety features designed to avoid crashes or protect occupants in the event of one, including:
Six standard air bags including dual frontal air bags, head curtain side air bags and pelvic/thorax seat-mounted side air bags
Standard four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, traction control and rollover mitigation.
Rear-vision camera that helps drivers identify objects behind the vehicle is standard on LTZ and 2LT and available on 1LT
Standard tire pressure monitoring system
Daytime running lamps make the Equinox more visible to other drivers and to pedestrians
Forward collision alert, lane departure warning and rear park assist are standard on LTZ and available on 2LT.