Buyers looking for a diesel-powered crossover with all-wheel drive will have two fewer options on the market for 2020. Both the 2020 Chevy Equinox and GMC Terrain will lose AWD for the next model year.
For buyers, it means the thriftier 1.6-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine will power the front wheels only. CarsDirect reported on the change this past Monday and a Chevrolet spokesman confirmed the news. He cited a lack of demand for diesel AWD models for the configuration change.
AWD has been a $3,800 option for the Equinox and Terrain diesel models, and surprisingly, the fuel economy penalty is minor at best. Estimated highway fuel economy drops by just 1 mpg from 39 mpg with FWD to 38 mpg for AWD models. MPG estimates for the diesel crossovers remain at 28 city and 32 combined no matter if power flows to the front two or all four tires.
The lack of AWD could make an opening for Mazda and its CX-5 diesel. The crossover was revealed at the New York International Auto Show last month and will come exclusively with AWD. It will also cost a lot more than an Equinox or Terrain. The CX-5 diesel, relegated to range-topping Signature trim only, costs $42,045. An Equinox with the diesel engine and AWD costs $32,495 and a Terrain slightly more at $34,795 before other options.
There are no changes to AWD availability for the rest of the Equinox and Terrain’s lineup.
Those who’ve had their eye on a diesel crossover from Chevy or GMC should act quickly.
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Source: CarsDirect
Comments
So more choices being taken away. The product holes at GM keep getting bigger and bigger.
You do realize this is in response to market demand? I’m sure you can take a business class at your local community college if you don’t understand.
I expect that the Diesel will go away all together at some point.
The Diesel was a expensive and difficult program that at the time but the VW scandal just damaged the Diesel to the point were it hurt everyone.
I have yet to see one single Diesel at a dealer or on the road. The high cost and the image of the Diesel has really decreased interest by most consumers.
The Truck market still remains strong for Diesel but that is a different demo and they will remain loyal.
I own a diesel and I’ve seen numerous on the road and the dealer.
Where do you live? Have not seen one in Milwaukee area
Never cared much for diesel. I’ve owned 3 Equinoxes. GM ruined the Equinox when they took the 6cyl engine option away. The 2.0 turbo engine call for 93 octane and the 1.5 is just too small.
I worked in Heavy equipment repair for 15 yrs now i can’t stand the smell of diesel exhaust plus had a heavy duty mechanic die of cancer from all the fumes he breathed in…….. let that sink in.
Thankfully, all of the new diesels have ZERO diesel smell or soot. My Colorado Diesel has 40k miles on it, and the inside of the tailpipe is still silver metal and cleaner than my gas engine vehicles, no joke! GDI engines are actually very dirty, watch someone go full throttle on a 3.6V6 Colorado, or especially any Ford Ecoboost product; puff of black soot. I often get annoyed at the DPF and regens as well as adding DEF fluid for the NOX reduction, but the advances they have made in clean diesel (when you don’t cheat, haha) are very clean. I would love the improvements gained from doing a DPF and EGR delete, but I can’t get myself to do it as I never smell that nasty exhaust or blow a cloud out when accelerating. Some people like that, to each their own I guess. They are not for everyone, but modern diesels make sense for some, and I love mine.
This decision is a growing list for why General Motors’ Board of Directors need to seriously consider firing CEO Mary Barra and install someone who won’t make as many mistakes because Barra is giving up marketshare to the competition who will be more than willing to gobble it up and not let it go.
Here you go again.
Did you read the article? Why should any company continue to offer products that don’t sell well enough to make them profitable?
I am SO GLAD you’re not CEO of GM.
Love my diesel. I have a diesel Cruze, and worst fuel economy for a tank, was 48mpg. I normally get 53mpg.
I have been and still am a diesel fan. I really wish there were more offerings out there (thank you very much VW!!). I’ve owned numerous diesels over the years and as recently as a 2014 Cruze. Loved that car and it averaged 32.7 over 32,000 miles all while driving it very hard doing Uber (yes, a sad time in my life after a divorce, lol). On the highway, I would get 53-55 depending on outside weather and traffic. But I stopped driving Uber and got rid of the car as I didn’t need two cars. Now back to the above story:
I know there are a lot of areas where AWD or 4WD is needed. But where I am in southern California, there really is no need for it. I have no idea how many diesel’s GM sells in these two models, but if the AWD is just not selling overall, then this is a just decision. As for Mazda finally coming out with the CX5 diesel after 2 years of “waiting”, I think they are totally shooting themselves in the foot for only offering it in the AWD Signature trim. Really STUPID IMO, and I work at a Mazda/Volvo store. The only way Mazda will sell many is if they bring it to a lower trim with front drive and increase the overall MPG closer to the 40 mark. Otherwise, the GM twins will continue to dominate this very small segment.
Am I missing something? The same 9 speeds are used for AWD or FWD models. So what saving is there to not offer the AWD transmission? Other then it makes the model crazy expensive. But that’s up to the customer.
I think the added expense of AWD plus the added expense of the diesel likely made most buyers opt for the gas + AWD if they were even considering the diesel to begin with and had to have AWD.
I never bye anymore only a front wheel drive only AWD specially if you have winter gm need build car and SUV AWD but it look like gm is very slow to understand winter get worse now ,,
This is such a shame – AWD is almost a mandatory option here in Canada and the Equinox is quite popular as well. Limiting the Diesel to FWD only would hurt sales especially here.