2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox?
Minor changes help to improve the appearance and comfort of the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox. Body-color trim now comes standard on the LS model, while the LT gets body-color mirrors. Inside, the shifter and climate controls are revised, and cloth seats can now be heated for cold winter days. Also, the seat heater controls are moved to the console, the rear cargo panel is removed for greater space, and the back seat headrests are smaller for better visibility. Black Amethyst and Bermuda Green are the new colors for the 2006 Chevy Equinox.

Advantages of the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox:

• Torquey V6 engine
• Simple stereo and climate control layouts
• Flexible interior space
• Comfortable rear seats
• Easy to climb into and get out of

Objections to the 2006 Chevrolet Equinox:

• Front seat comfort is lacking
• Grainy, coarse powertrain not as energetic as Honda V6 in Saturn Vue
• Artificial feel of electric steering
• Noisy interior
• Not much fun to drive

Editor's Advice:
Chevrolet's version of the Saturn Vue enters a crowded marketplace populated with such competitors as the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4. The 2006 Chevrolet Equinox is a stylish and roomy alternative to established players, but with its general lack of refinement, middling performance and handling capability, and marginal front seat comfort levels we'd hesitate to recommend it over more well-known models from the competition.