Despite being on the market for five years, the Chevrolet Equinox has been a strong seller for The Bow Tie brand. The Theta-based crossover will undergo a full overhaul within the next year or two. And for the 2015 model year, the compact(ish) CUV is  in for a handful of small changes.
To start, the Ashen Gray Metallic and Atlantis Blue Metallic exterior colors are replaced by Sea Grass Metallic and Blue Velvet Metallic. But for reasons unbeknownst to us, Chevy has decided to delete the extremely useful spotter mirrors as well as the eye-catching 19-inch chrome wheels and tries. On the new features front, the CUV is offering front and rear splash guards as an LPO option, OnStar 4G LTE, and the new OnStar Basic plan.
2015 Chevrolet Equinox in the new Blue Velvet Metallic color
2015 Chevrolet Equinox in the new Sea Grass Metallic color
Check out the full RPO-level changes for yourself in the list just below:
Deletions
- (GLJ) Ashen Gray Metallic
- (GWY) Atlantis Blue Metallic
- Spotter mirrors
- (SED) LPO, 4 – 19″ (48.3 cm) chrome wheels and tires
New Features
- (G1M) Blue Velvet Metallic
- (G22) Sea Grass Metallic
- (VQK) LPO, Front and rear splash guard
- (R9Y) Fleet Free Maintenance Credit
- (VV4) OnStar with 4G LTE
- OnStar Basic plan for 5 years
Comments
why don’t they put passive door locks
and push button start on that car??
and blind spot and cross traffic warning
bill sorry it is just not that simple.
The reality is this vehicle is extended about a year already with great sales so they will not invest in a model and platform that is about to change in a year.
Second it comes down to pricing too. Automakers have to weigh the cost of everything not just add items. I know when the 5th gen Camaro was in planning GM asked the group they used as advisers if the smell of leather was important to them. WHy? Because the smell is an added cost that could add to the cost of the vehicle or could cause them to cut something in another areas.
I am sure that GM is looking at the next Nox and has considered these features and will add them if the demand is there but if there not enough demand they may use the cost of this to something that may entice buyers even more.
Now on a Chevy things like this are more critical vs. a Cadillac or other higher prices vehicles where you have more room on price to work.
If there is enough demand or if everyone in the segment is expected they may add it sooner than later but if they can upgrade the interior or some other item that may be of more interest to the owner they may do that.
While push button start is important so some it is not something that makes or breaks the deal to most buyers in this segment as of yet. But if we are to see it we may in the next gen that is coming as that is where they would invest the money to bring it. Right now you are just going to get a few color changes and other small items and that is it.
There is a lot more into planning and pricing cars than many know. I was shocked at the process the first time I saw it.
I have a 2009 Equinox and I can start it with my fob. I only have to insert the key after I am in the vehicle. But I am mostly old-school and I still want a key to start the engine.
Although I don’t own one, I’ve driven several of these wonderful crossovers on long distance trips. I have to say the spotter mirrors are awesome. It may sound silly, but given the blind spots this vehicle has, I would not want to drive one without those mirrors. Of course you can buy some little stick on spots from the auto parts store, but it won’t be nearly as nice as the OEM mirrors. I really hope this isn’t a cost cutting measure as I feel it is one of those little details that adds allot of perceived value to the Equinox. No more bean counting please.
Odds are that the spotter mirror was just upgraded or changed and just given a new RPO code.
Push button start could have eliminated a lot of recalls.
Not sure if the button is all that much better. I had not considered it but someone the other day made a similar statement but a person in the auto industry said that if someone has a push button start and had a hung throttle that it could be an issue.
The key is easy just turn it off from the run position and the engine dies and the electronic stay in tact like an air back since you are in drive.
On a button start you have to hold in on the button to kill the engine that takes a little longer. They said that could be the difference of a crash or no crash.
As for the recalls that was just a poorly designed ignition on GMs part and mixed with a group of drivers that were unbelted, speeding or impaired by alcohol or drugs. Oh and one medial issue. Which all of this was over blown by the media.
As for the throttle sticking we have seen it in cable and drive by wire or even by as floor mat.
Race cars use the button but they also have a kill switch on the dash or on the wheel.
To be honest there really is no advantage to the button in a emergency. Now it is nice when you do not have to get a key out but that is about it.
These things are just not all that cut and dry.
Hopefully they fix the aero issue this car has where there is a terrible noise if the back windows are down, with the front up and you go more than 20 or so. My mom has this car and that ear splitting noise is the only thing she dislikes about it.
This is not just a problem here but on most new cars.
If you look from the top the greenhouse area is tapered in a bit on most new cars today. This sits the rear windows in just a bit and make for a low pressure area like blowing over the opening of a bottle.
They do this taper to drop the Aero numbers of most vehicles. My HHR has a massive taper I can see from my office window on the third floor. Most are not that pronounced but they still will make the painful noise on your ears. My Malibu and Terrain also do it.
To fix it just crack one of the other windows and it drops the pressure pulse if you have to for some reason drive with only the rear windows down. This is the price of higher MPG in cars today.
Surprisingly, not a problem whatsoever with the current generation Chevrolet Cruze. Windows wide open, partially open, cracked open or some weirdly exotic combination thereof, wind buffet and the god-awful pressure pulse that shreds your eardrums is non-existent in the Cruze. I’d like to believe the car was purposely engineered by Daewoo/GM to achieve this laudable result, but it’s just as likely came to be by sheer luck.
Scott is right about the wind noise. Almost every car I drive (GM and other brands) have the same issue. It is the pressure in the cabin based on shape of the vehicles for fuel economy. Crack on of the front windows a half inch and it all goes away. The same happens on most vehicles when only a front window is open. Crack a rear one and again it goes away.
I am looking into leasing or purchasing a new Equinox. The current Equinox has a 2.4 liter and 3.6 liter as it’s engine choices. I thought that I read somewhere that GM was developing a new 2.5 liter 200hp engine to replace both the 2.4 and 3.6 liter engine offerings in the Equinox. Is this true? Will it be available in 2014, 2015 or beyond?
I also thought that Chevy Mylink was offered on all trim levels of Equinox. When I went to my local Chevy Dealer I found out that a LS trim level does not have Chevy MyLink nor a backup camera. This is a bad choice my Chevy not to have both in all trim levels of the Equinox. The competition (Honda & Toyota) have backup camera’s on all trim levels. When can I expect to see atleast the Backup Camera to be offered in all trim levels of the Equinox? The Traverse has a backup camera on the LS trim level!
Lex the 200 HP should be in the new 2016 model. I also would not be surprised if they cut the V6 for a 2.0 Turbo once the weight comes down. Till the new models arrive on the new platform in 2016 few major changes will happen.
The LS model is really a base model for rentals and the low end buyers who just want the basics. Often you can get these models at very low prices over the import models.
You will find the LT1 LT2 and LTZ all have the camera and My link at a price around the same as the others.
You have to keep in mind when you buy a base Chevy they are pretty basic and often can be had cheaper than anything else. The LT1 and 2 are not that much more and you get a lot for the money.
In time I expect both options will be standard on all models as soon as the next platform change in 2016. They generally will not add it to a entry level model that is old and already was priced out years ago.
I highly doubt that we will get tire screeching performance for the next generation Equinox (regarding the 2.0t). The Ecotec 2.5i (VVT, SIDI, and IVVL) will be class leading and will bring a 3750lb CUV to 60 in 8 seconds. A 7-Speed DCT, Stop/Start, Active Grille Shutters, and a Lightweight D2XX Platform should help this achieve great MPG. Possibly 24 City and 36 Highway. An Ecotec 1.6t I4 (VVT, SIDI, IVVL, and VTM) with 205HP and 215-225LB-FT would be a better choice though. Smaller displacement and VTM would make this a lot more efficient (27 City and 38 Highway) Eco and Sport Modes could manipulate VVT, IVVL, and VTM for more effective use.
The important question is whether they took the hard edges off the places where my knees want to go when I’m seated behind the wheel. A cockpit that is designed for a target market of 5’6″ women does not make for comfortable driving if you are a grown man.
I agree. My wife has owned the 2013 and 2014 models… There just isn’t proper room for a 6’1″ man like myself. It’s just that my knees jam into the dashboard… especially if you have a child car seat behind you. Otherwise, my wife loves this vehicle and it’s perfect for her… at 5’1″.
My husband is 6’4″ and loves my 2015 equinox. He wanted this car over the Nissan Rogue. He has plenty of leg room.
I had the 2013 Equinox 6 cyl AWD it was much quieter than my 2015 4 Cyl FWD