For a vehicle with a "sport" designation, I didn't think the 2008 Chevrolet Equinox Sport was all that sporty.
Sure, it had a sport-tuned suspension and a 264-horsepower V-6 engine, but it felt bulky, unwieldy and the furthest thing from sporty that I could imagine outside of a Mack truck. Well, OK, perhaps I'm exaggerating just wee bit. But still. Sporty? No. Nicer than normal? Definitely.
So, as long as you don't enter into the deal with lofty expectations, you'll find that the Equinox Sport, though heavy on the "utility" and light on the "sport," is a really decent SUV. I got into the Equinox Sport after a week of driving my mom's up-level Malibu Maxx, so I found the test vehicle to be very familiar as the vehicles share many of the same interior features. In addition to similar gauges and controls, the vehicles also share two great utilitarian features: the multi-flex sliding rear seat and the fold-flat front passenger seat.
I've always liked driving my Mom's car because it's comfortable, from the seats to the driver's position to the peppy V-6 engine. So, getting behind the wheel of the Equinox Sport was like visiting an old friend. Even though the Equinox Sport is obviously larger, it still had the same level of comfort as the Malibu Maxx.
Some of the pep was lost because of the weight and size of the SUV, but I didn't feel like I was chugging along on the highway. In fact, Chevrolet claims that the Equinox Sport has faster 0 to 60 mph times than both a BMW X3 and a Porsche Cayenne. Since I've not driven the Cayenne or the X3 recently, I can't speak to the verity of that bold statement, but I have to assume it's pretty close to the truth. Otherwise I think BMW and Porsche would be countering the claim. Loudly. And I've heard nary a peep.
While the Equinox Sport can technically outperform the X3 and Cayenne in a straight line, don't even think about bringing twists and turns into the equation. The X3 and Cayenne have sports car roots and can handle sweeping curves with aplomb and a fair bit of speed. The Equinox Sport, however, is not so agile. You will feel every inch of the 65.7-inch height as you take the curves on the Ohio feeder ramp or round a corner. Turning radius is also a bit of an issue. Maneuvering into tight spaces and parallel parking were a bit of a challenge during the test week.
On the upside, the Equinox Sport's fuel economy is pretty decent for an SUV. EPA estimates that that the vehicle should get 16 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. I averaged 19.8 mpg in combined -- but mostly city -- driving, which is .8 above the EPA estimate.
The test vehicle, as a sport model, had a base price of $27,995, which is pretty steep for a Chevy SUV. You do get neat standards like heated front seats, chrome-tipped dual exhaust and remote vehicle start, but I think the premium audio system ($350) and head-curtain side-airbags ($395) should also be standard at this level. Especially with a "sport" designation. The sunroof ($695), perforated leather seating inserts ($595) and Black Granite Metallic paint ($95) added another $1,400, and the as-tested price rang in at $30,125.
The exterior of the Equinox Sport may be gussied up with fog lights, body-colored side moldings, 18-inch polished aluminum wheels and dual chrome exhaust tips, but the overall styling is a bit tired. Eh. Who am I kidding? I've never liked the exterior styling on the Equinox. The good news, however, is that it is late in its design cycle and is due for a redesign soon.
I liked but didn't love the Equinox Sport. Then again, when a vehicle gets late in its cycle, I have to admit I get a ho-hum case of "been there, done that." The Equinox in general and the Sport specifically are solid vehicles. While there was nothing that really made the Equinox Sport shine, there was really nothing to dislike either.
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