As consumers continue to flock to crossovers en masse, the crossover space will get even more competitive, with automakers introducing models with fresh new styling, modern technologies, and a variety of powertrain options. GM’s Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain are doing very well in their segment, enabling GM to become the best-selling automaker in the mainstream compact CUV competitive set. Case in point: the 2018 calendar year, GM delivered a combined 446,932 units of the Equinox and Terrain, roughly 20,000 units more than the next best-selling rival – the Toyota RAV4. Now, GM’s cross-town rival, the Ford Motor Company, is working on a next-generation its popular Ford Escape for the 2020 model year, and new information suggests that the all-new model will offer a hybrid model, making us wonder whether GM needs a Chevy Equinox Hybrid and/or a GMC Terrain Hybrid.
Out sister site, Ford Authority, recently caught up to a prototype of the all-new 2020 Ford Escape and captured spy shots that confirm, albeit unofficially, a hybrid variant of the compact SUV. That, in turn, brings up the question of whether General Motors should introduce hybrid variants of the Equinox and Terrain, which compete with the Escape. Currently, neither the Chevrolet Equinox nor the GMC Terrain offer a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain, though both models offer a turbo-diesel engine option that is unique to the segment. Even so, a hypothetical Chevy Equinox Hybrid or GMC Terrain Hybrid could be a good move, especially given GM’s push head-first dive into new energy vehicles.
The 2020 Ford Escape is expected to offer at least four powertrain combinations. Two will be small-displacement gasoline models: a 1.5L EcoBoost three-cylinder engine good for about 180 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque and an optional 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder engine making about 260 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Then there will be two electrified variants – the Escape Hybrid and the Escape Plug-In Hybrid. A turbo-diesel engine is a definite for Europe, where the Escape is sold as the Ford Kuga, but it’s unknown whether the motor will make its way to North America.
At this point, it is unknown what powertrain will be used on the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid. It could use the Ford Fusion Hybrid powertrain, which consists of a 2.0L Atkinson-cycle setup that produces a combined 188 horsepower, with the engine itself being rated at 141 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque.
All that presents a golden opportunity for General Motors, as it could combat the upcoming Ford Escape Hybrid with a Chevy Equinox Hybrid and GMC Terrain Hybrid that utilizes the very capable advanced hybrid technology used in the Chevy Malibu Hybrid. That model, in fact, delivers fuel economy of 49 MPG city and 43 MPG highway, outperforming the 43 MPG city and 41 MPG highway of the Fusion Hybrid. In effect, the Malibu Hybrid’s powertrain in the Equinox/Terrain would outperform the upcoming Escape Hybrid, if that model ends up with the electrified powertrain of the current Fusion Hybrid.
A depiction of the powertrain in the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
By comparison, the Equinox and Terrain deliver 26 MPG city and 32 MPG highway in a FWD model with the base 1.5L LYX turbo-charged 4-cylinder engine. Hypothetical Chevy Equinox Hybrid and GMC Terrain Hybrid could offer significantly better fuel economy, while give shoppers in the highly-competitive compact CUV segment an alternative to the upcoming Ford Escape Hybrid.
Whether GM will actually do that is currently unknown, but the decision seems like a no-brainer. Stay tuned to GM Authority for more Chevrolet news and GMC news, and head on over to Ford Authority to check out 2020 Escape spy shots.
Comments
That Ford thing looks terrible.
Maybe with the Volt being axed we will see the plug-in (or at the very least a plain hybrid set-up) system used in a more popular body style. GM seems to want to skip to full EVs. Hope I’m wrong.
Doesn’t Chevy have a full on EV? Whereas Ford doesn’t even offer a full EV.
Chevy offers a full EV in the Bolt. Ford has a full EV in the Focus Electric.
I assumed the conclusion of this article would be that Chevy should put the Voltec drive system into the Equinox, since the Volt and the Equinox share the same platform, but maybe that idea has already been dismissed by GM. As a driver of a Volt, I think a Voltec Equinox is a great idea, and a great way to deploy GM’s industry leading Plug In Hybrid technology.
A year or two ago I read that a Ford and Toyota have an agreement to share Hybrid and EV patents.
The Escape is awful now and looks worse in the photos. It’s like it’s designed for the third-world.
Tim,
Others have made the same suggestion here but thanks for keeping it on the burner.
Nah, that would make too much sense. GM is not in the business of doing smart things.
Live to dream.. drop the Chevy Volt architecture using the 200 hp electric motor from the Chevy Bolt into the Equinox.
Here is the problem.
The addition of a hybrid would add so much to the cost of the Chevy few would buy it. The Volt has shown us that already.
It would be better at Cadillac but GM appears to be skipping the Hybrid step and moving forward to full dedicated electric vehicles.
The cost of adding the hybrid and the complexity of adding it to the assembly line is crazy. The cost and complexity of a Deisel is expensive but the hybrid is even more.
Best to let them do the EV Cadillac first and then base a cheaper Buick and Chevy on it later on.
There is a difference between a good idea and a profitable good idea.
Then how about a hybrid Equinox/Terrain, a plug-in Envision/XT4 and a full EV eXTsomething? A hybrid range at 3 different price points. Let the consumer decide how much electrification they want rather than jumping straight from ICE to EV.
Why are people obsessed with looking over the fence at what the neighbor is building? Why dont we spend the time, effort, and energy focusing on what GM is doing?
All this time worrying about the competition can be spent making GM a better company! But I guess that mindset doesn’t sell very many papers, magazines, or website clicks!
Since Ford is a competitor, it seems worthwhile that some focus (no pun intended) be on some of their competing models. Too, a hybrid would be an attractive addition to the Equinox series. It would probably not be a big seller but it might keep buyers as GM customers instead of losing them to Ford, or even worse, Toyota.