2018 Chevrolet Equinox: Built For Road Trips

Grab a friend or two, pack your bags and throw a dart at the map. I recently got the chance to test out the brand new, updated Equinox and drive it around Niagara, Ontario. It was love at first sight. The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox, built for road trips and school drop offs.
2018 marks the third generation of the Chevrolet Equinox since it’s debut in 2005. The first thing I noticed when I walked up to it was that it seemed trimmer. Indeed I was right, the 2018 has a 400lb weight loss over it’s prior version.That loss of weight doesn’t mean a loss of interior space. Loads of leg room in both the front and back with room for 5 adults comfortably. The Premier edition I was testing also had upgraded seats and a heated steering wheel (must have for Canadian winters).In addition to many of Chevrolets advanced safety features like Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert, new for the 2018 Equinox is the Rear Seat Alert system. A reminder comes up on the dash that alerts drivers who had opened the back door at the start of a trip to check the back seat once they get to their destination, a feature first introduced on the 2017 GMC Acadia.The newest, lets call it interactive feature in most cars today is a hands free lift gate release. By waving a leg across the sensors under the bumper, the lift gate opens as if by magic. It takes a little practice but once you find that sweet spot, it’s a great feature for people like me who only want to make one trip with all my bags from the grocery store.Most auto companies are integrating personal tech with vehicles and Chevrolet is no exception. The Infotainment centre is bigger and sleeker than in past models and easily connects to Apple Car Play (also available for Android).The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was built for road trips. The storage alone is something to swoon over. Add to that the panoramic sunroof, charging outlets for all, your own Spotify playlist and some snacks and you’re on your way.My overall opinion: The Equinox is a perfectly sized SUV for family or fun. It’s feels sporty to drive and comfortable for long road trips. The safety features are endless and the only feature I was missing was the adaptive cruise (my all time favourite feature) but I certainly didn’t feel lacking for perks. The price for the fully equipped 2018 Equinox Premier 1.5T AWD is $40,490CDN for the model I drove and worth every penny. This is an amazing SUV for the value. I highly recommend testing one out.