2005 Chevrolet Equinox Review

Chevrolet and SUVs go together like ice cream and apple pie, Vegas and gambling, SpongeBob and SquarePants. After all, Chevrolet pioneered the utility segment with the 1936 Suburban, added a dash of sport with the Blazer in the late 1960s, then downsized SUVs with the original S-10 Blazer in 1983. Today, each of these models lives on in some form.

Where Chevrolet has not been a leader is the small SUV slice of the market, and the whole crossover movement seems to have taken this General Motors division completely by surprise. For better than a decade, the diminutive Tracker was GM’s sole combatant in this increasingly competitive arena, first under the Geo banner and then as a Chevrolet product. But with consumer preferences shifting to car-based utility vehicles designed to look tough and rugged like a traditional SUV but ride and drive like a family sedan, the underpowered, undersized, body-on-frame Tracker was at a distinct disadvantage.

Enter the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox, the first crossover vehicle to wear a gold bowtie on the grille and one that deftly straddles the line between mini-SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and larger mid-size sport-utes like the Toyota 4Runner. It’s based on the same platform that underpins the Saturn Vue, albeit stretched a bit in terms of length to provide additional cargo space and a more unique exterior appearance. The result is a vehicle sized exactly right for the general consumer looking for a roomy family conveyance that looks good, drives much more like a car than a truck, and can duke it out with snowstorms if not the Rubicon Trail. But while the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox has the basics covered, the details need improvement, especially in the hardware department.

Under the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox’s hood is GM’s venerable 3.4-liter overhead valve motor, constructed with a heavy cast-iron block and lightweight aluminum cylinder head. Rated at 185 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 210 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,800 rpm while quaffing regular unleaded, the engine drives the front or all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission and is charged with motivating the Equinox’s 3,660-pound curb weight (3,776 for AWD models). The 2005 Chevrolet Equinox can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Refined would not be the right word to characterize the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox’s powertrain. Coarse, grainy, noisy, and torquey are more accurate. The Equinox offers solid punch off the line and feels sprightly in the city, but out on the highway the engine labors a bit. Under extreme power demands, like flattening the accelerator for passing power, the five-speed automatic transmission changes gears harshly and behaves in a confused manner. Drive like a tourist in a new city, and the transmission shifts unobtrusively. Just make sure to shove the selector all the way into park when you’ve finished your drive – on one occasion we didn’t and the Equinox emitted an incessant chime until we randomly discovered the source of the problem.

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Every 2005 Chevrolet Equinox is rated to achieve 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. We got 18.2 mpg during our drive in the city, on the highway, through the mountains, and along forested trails. On slippery surfaces, the optional AWD detects when one of the front wheels begins to spin and automatically diverts power to the rear wheels as necessary. We test drove a silver 2005 Chevrolet Equinox LT without AWD, and discovered during light off-roading on well-traveled fire roads that the system is necessary to climb even moderate hillsides strewn with loose dirt and rocks. Our test vehicle’s P235/60R17 Bridgestone Desert Dueler HT front tires threw up quite a cloud of dust as we made three attempts to travel up an incline that many regular cars can manage. And after we finally made it to the top of the hill and back onto blacktop, the transmission performed a jarring drive-neutral-drive slam all on its own before calming down and whisking us back to Los Angeles.

Equipped with a four-wheel-independent suspension comprised of MacPherson struts in front and a four-link coil spring suspension in back, the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox is clearly meant for paved road traveling. Ground clearance is adequate at 7.9 inches, but over the washboard, rock-strewn surfaces of our trail run, the suspension’s bits and pieces emitted fragile-sounding noises that clearly communicated dissatisfaction in the dirt.

Not that the suspension shined brightly on paved roads. With 57 percent of the Equinox’s weight over the front wheels (56 percent for AWD models), understeer is this SUV’s primary handling characteristic. The tires begin to howl their discontent early, and the Equinox displays noticeable body roll in tight turns.

But that was when we drove it hard on a twisty road. Around town, the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox rides much like a car. We took note of the suspension’s irritating tendency to produce woozy vertical and lateral body motions over larger dips, but otherwise we couldn’t complain about the tires or the underpinnings. When accelerating, engine noise invades the cabin. At speed, wind roar is evident. Textured pavement makes the tires sing, and bumps create suspension thump. Cruising at low speeds, on smooth pavement, the cabin is quiet enough so that you can hear all the little creaks and rattles from various interior parts.

Chevrolet endows the 2005 Equinox with vented front disc and simple rear drum brakes. ABS is standard on AWD models; optional on FWD. When FWD is equipped with ABS, traction control comes standard. Rear disc brakes are not offered, and neither is a stability control system. The Equinox’s low-tech braking system produces stiff pedal feel and grabby response. The ABS is also quick to engage, a liability in the dirt.

Electric power steering is supposed to give the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox “precise control and performance, along with improved fuel economy,” according to the press release. Programmed to offer variable ratio assist, the intent of which is to provide a firmer feel at highway speeds and low-effort maneuverability around town, this rack-and-pinion setup produces a rather wide 41.8-foot turning circle, artificial feel through the steering wheel, and on dirt roads vacillates between heavy and light effort as surface conditions change. Plus, we felt it could use a quicker steering ratio.

When asked if the 2005 Chevrolet Equinox is fun to drive, our response is no. Not in the city. Not on the highway. Not in the dirt. This is an appliance used to get from Point A to Points B, C and D. If driving enjoyment is important to you, skip the new Equinox.