The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was presented on September 22, 2016, and the sales of this vehicle should start in spring, 2017. The 2010 Equinox received a new Theta/GMT191 platform as well as the D2 toolkit similar to the one from Buick Envision which is produced in China.
The Body, Weight and Cargo Capacity
The body of the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox will be much lighter when compared to the previous model, but it will still be stiff enough. The engineers use materials such as high-strength steel in order achieve the level of hardness they want. The A- and B-pillars are made of hot-stamped press-hardened martensitic steel, and we can find this material under the toe pan which protects the powertrain during a frontal crash.
The new model will see serious weight reduction. Namely, the 2018 Chevy Equinox will be 400 pounds lighter, but it will also be smaller than the ongoing version. The wheelbase is shortened by 5.2 inches and the length by 4.7-inches. Moreover, the new car will be slightly lower compared to the current vehicle, but the width is expanded by 0.1-inch.
So, the material choices and the size reduction are the main reasons for a drop in weight and the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox has much more welds, while the use of structural adhesives has been increased as well. This also helped with the slimming down.
Although the new model will be smaller, the cargo capacity will remain the same at 63.5 cubic feet. This is largely the case due to the design of the middle-row seats as they cannot slide forward and backward but instead of that, the seat cushion can be articulated forward and down when you want to fold it, and the result is a more level load floor. The headroom and legroom are affected a bit by this modification, but the shoulder room is increased by 1.4-inches.
Safety Equipment
Some of the most important safety features are lane keep assist and safety-alert electro-whoopee cushion seat. The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox will feature a 7.0- or 8.0-inch MyLink touch screen with 360-degree around-view monitoring for parking maneuvers, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone support, keyless entry and start as well as projector-beam headlamps.
2018 Chevrolet Equinox Engine
The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox should sport the new 1.5-liter engine which comes with an enhanced turbocharger that will improve performance and fuel efficiency. The engine will produce 170 hp and 203 lb-ft of torque. Another option is a naturally aspirated 2.4-liter base unit that pumps out 158 hp and 234 lb-ft of torque.
Top of the line powerplant which will be offered within the range is a 2.0-liter turbo good for 252 hp and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine is going to be mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and although this unit delivers 19 hp and 12 lb-ft less than the V6 in the current model, don’t forget that the new car will be 400-pound lighter. We can expect to see improvements in both performances and fuel economy.
Furthermore, a diesel variant has been offered in Europe for about three years. You can find this engine under the hood of Astra, Meriva or Insignia. In Europe, it bears the name of “the whisper diesel,” which means that it is quiet, this has been achieved thankfully to its extra-rigid all-aluminum bedplate block design. Moreover, the transmission also helps with the noise reduction. The Equinox with 1.6-lilter diesel should produce 136 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, and in order to reduce lag, the turbo has a variable-nozzle turbine inlet design. According to the EPA estimates, the fuel economy could be rated at 40 mpg.
The new 2018 Chevrolet Equinox will have to go against Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue once it goes on sale. Chevrolet improved fuel economy drastically, and the new model offers some remarkable engines within the range.
