GM Cancels Plans To Offer 2.0L Turbo Engine In 2022 Chevy Equinox Refresh
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The upcoming 2022 Chevy Equinox was originally set to debut a refresh for the crossover that included the introduction of a new turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine option. Now, however, GM Authority has learned that those plans have changed, and that the refreshed 2022 Equinox will in fact not offer a new turbo 2.0L engine.
Back in July of last year, GM Authority exclusively reported that General Motors would drop the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG gas engine from the 2021 Chevy Equinox and 2021 GMC Terrain options list, leaving the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX gasoline engine as the exclusive powerplant for the crossover.
Then, as we covered in September of 2020, General Motors planned to offer the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY as a new addition to the 2022 Chevy Equinox lineup. Now, however, those plans changed, and the 2022 Equinox will in fact not offer a turbo 2.0L engine.
According to source familiar with the matter, the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG engine accounted for just 8 percent of all Chevy Equinox sales for the 2020 model year. Rather, most customers were perfectly satisfied with the base turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX.
For reference, the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LYX in the 2021 Chevy Equinox is rated at 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm.
The Chevy Equinox crossover originally slated to receive a refresh for the 2021 model year. However, as a result of complications stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the model refresh was pushed back to the 2022 model year.
When it arrives, the 2022 Chevy Equinox is expected to offer a new front grille design, a restyled lower fascia and fog lights, new taillights, and a new rear bumper in terms of exterior styling updates.
The 2022 Chevy Equinox will continue to ride on the GM D2 platform, with production for North American markets primarily taking place at the GM CAMI plant in Canada, and to a lesser extent in Mexico at the GM San Luis Potosi plant and GM Ramos Arizpe plant.
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This doesn’t bode well for the Equinox’s sister car, the GMC Terrain. I was carefully considering a 2022 2.0l, but this forces me to reconsider. The Terrain Denali is not worth the high price tag if it only has a 1.5l. The most compelling aspect was that it came standard with one of the most powerful engines for its class. Now it will be yet another compact SUV in a sea of compact SUVs that have a 1.5l engine.
Have you really driven a 1.5 Liter LYX Turbo engine? It offers a good balance of fuel economy and adequate performance and runs on 87 Octane with 203 lb ft of torque available at 2,000 rpm. The 2.0 turbo engine was a pricey option costing consumers at least another $1,895 to get the engine and oh by the way to achieve the extra performance and lower mpg figures, you have to run premium 91 Octane gasoline.
The 1.5 tows 1,500 lbs and the 2.0 tows 3,500 lbs. That part matters to some folks.
So they will put this engine in heavier supposedly luxury crossovers but won’t offer it in a smaller crossover that actually needs it. Yeah ok…..
I’m one of those who wanted the 3500lbs. Cancel that capability, and you cancel my order. The 1.5 is dangerous when passing on a 2 lane, BTW. -I wouldn’t buy one even if I wasn’t towing.
I wouldn’t be caught dead towing with anything like this. When people at the Mazda dealership ask for a tow hitch, I tell them do not tow with them! We’ve had way too many issues with it as the cars are just not built to deal with true towing. Need to tow? Buy the Colorado.
Are the issues from exceeding the max towing rate or folks that don’t understand how to pull a trailer?
JWL: If you are asking me, it’s issues with the Mazda quality issues and lack of heavy duty anything for towing. I had one lady who had the Mazda wiring harness installed with a professional hitch and she never stopped having problems. It was so bad that they finally removed it all. Other similar problems too. But the bottom line is that none of these things (CX5, Equinox, Terrain, Compass, Rav4, CRV, etc, etc) are correctly set up or designed for towing. Being unibody and front drive based with no extra support (at least the Mazda), you are just asking for trouble. As I tell everyone who asks about a hitch: It’s not just about pulling or starting to pull a load, it’s even more important to properly stop.
I own the 2.0L Denali AWD and have driven the 1.5L multiple times. The 1.5 is fine but doesn’t compare and I probably won’t get another if the 2.0 is truly dropped.
I highly, HIGHLY doubt that the Terrain will also lose the 2.0. The take rate for that engine in that car is much higher than the Equinox, because buyers tend to expect more premium features.
Don’t automatically assume the Terrain loses the 2 liter as well, just because of this news. Denali customers in particular would expect nothing less that the 2.0 turbo, and rightly so. And GMC understands just how immensely critical their Denali buyers are.
As in, those buyers are everything to the GMC brand. The Terrain will get the 2.0, and likely on the SLT trim level beyond the Denali.
Equinox Premier (and RS Package) buyers would also expect nothing less than the 2.0T, but GM is pretty much thumbing their noses at them.
GMC Terrain sales are 1/3 of Equinox sales. If GM is willing to dump the 2.0T in their volume model, they aren’t going to invest in the engineering necessary to put the 2.0T in the lower selling Terrain. The 2021 Terrain Denali is already being sold with the 1.5L as the only available engine, so GM has already shown they aren’t overly concerned about their Denali trim buyers.
GM has dropped the 2.0 motor on Terrains already. That is too bad. You can feel the lagging at take off and through the whole trip.
I haven’t driven the LYX yet (pandemic got in the way), but I have test driven a 2.0l and rigorously studied reviews of both engines online. I’ll keep an open mind but I’m coming from a 3.6l v6 so I’m concerned with how much power I’d be losing — more for safety purposes (merging, passing, etc.) than for personal enjoyment. As for the 2.0l, I’d surely run premium on it; however, it’s only recommended and not required. I don’t know what GM’s strategy is in all of this, but they would do better if they’d stop removing key features with every refresh.
I agree We presently also have a 3.6 and really like the power and performance. We did not get a 2021 because only a 1.5 was offered and now if the 2.0 will not be offered we will be looking at other car makers.
I have in fact driven the 1.5, and it feel very under powered. We bought a 2020 Terrain with a 2.0, because it had the 2.0. Test drove multiple 1.5’s and the all left me wanting more power.
Premium is recommended but is not required from the owners manual.
Drive one out on an open interstate sometime. I travel from Phoenix to Tucson weekly where the speed limit is 75 mph most of the way. Most people are doing 80-85 mph. I rented an Equinox recently to make this trip and at 75 mph is has virtually no power left if you need to pass someone or avoid an emergency. No thank you.
We owned a 2018 Equinox with the 1.5 and it was OK. Traded it for a 2019 with the 2.0 engine and a whole new world opened up. Taking the 2.0 liter out of the picture eliminates a new Equinox as a possible replacement for us. Having owned both, I would never go back to the 1.5. Head to the Buick dealer and pick up a new Envision with the 2.0!
I’ve driven both the LTG and LYX Terrains and the LTG is really too much for the FWD based chassis. Front wheel hop and torque steer aren’t very fun.
I don’t think it is. Not even close. Our Equinox was tuned and it still wasn’t bad. Yeah, it torque steered if you gassed it coming out of turns, but that’s part of the charm. Front drive can handle plenty of power. I had a 500+hp Grand Prix GTP, and once it got a proper limited slip diff, and built trans, it was perfectly fine.
i agree this is a big error on GM;s part, I have a 2019 1.5 AWD premier and was waiting on the 22 Terrain AT4 with 2.0l. i am a GM lifetimer , had my first new car a 74 Chevy and since that have purchased 20 new chevys in addition to 17 New GM vehicles through fleet.
this is truly discouraging, and may force me co consider a Ford for the first time ever.
the take rate on the 2.0l in the past was stifled as it was expensive and required premium fuel. the new 2.0 runs on regular fuel and gets better fuel numbers. I suggest the real reason its not happening as the 2.0l with 9 speed is the same thats found in the much more expensive buick envisison and the XT4 so they want a separation
I agree man. I’ve been looking more and more at Ford. It’s more than small mistakes, GM has a systemic problem of wanting to be 90s Toyota levels of boring. I have a 2018 with 10k miles so I’m not in the market now but if I was, it wouldn’t be a bowtie. I’ve had about 18 gm vehicles and 0 Fords too, just work vehicles.
Ford is having numerous issues with their small crossover, the Escape. The quality just is not there.
I have a friend in Florida who recently bought a 2019 certified pre-owned…and the computer has crapped out on him not once, but twice. And to add insult to injury, Ford has shown little to no willingness to assist him. He paid the first time out of pocket…I doubt there will be a second payment at all.
Point being, yes, the 2.0 should stay in the Terrain. It’s the far better motor. But if you’re going to settle for far worse quality just to get more power, I can’t agree with that personally.
They’re not even talking about GMC here. I wouldn’t presume. They’ve offered different on sister cars before.
A couple of things could be happening as the article is really only speaking on the 22 Equinox. Most of the mainstream competition aren’t selling larger engine options. Even Hyundai is supplementing additional power through hybrid tech on the 1.6T (has less torque), which could be an option eventually.
On the GMC side, the 1.5T could be the on again off again subcompact engine of choice. This would allow the Terrain to move a little more upmarket using the 2.0T as it’s base engine and differentiating it from the Equinox. It makes sense to give customers a reason to actually consider the GMC over the Chevy.
Kia Sorento – 2.5L Turbo available
Hyundai Santa Fe – 2.5L Turbo available
Ford Escape – 2.0L Turbo available
Jeep Cherokee – 2.0L Turbo and 3.2L V6 available
Mazda CX-5 – 2.5L Turbo available
Subaru Outback – 2.4L Turbo available
The competition is selling competing models with larger available engine options. GM’s strategy here will drive customers away.
GM now have a reputation for selling underpowered vehicles. Their highest end vehicles have excessive power but the cars most people can afford are built on boring FWD platforms with average handling and less power than the competition.
It’s not a formula for success.
Contrast with a company like Mazda which has the reputation for great handling cars because every car they sell handles well. GM’s very best cars feature chassis tuning that surpasses any Mazda but none of that trickles down to the GM vehicles most people buy.
The 1.5 is not a slug by any means. You want a slug drive a Citation 4 cylinder from the 80’s. Also this is not a race car.
If the take rate was only 8% that is the reason it is not offered. Toss in issues with the virus and production it will kill low volume options.
Also the 1.5 gets lower emission.
I would want the 2.0 myself but it appears the people have spoke. I would have thought it would have been closer to 40%
This isn’t the 80s anymore. The national speed limit isn’t 55 and cars can go faster than 85. In fact, at least around here in central Florida, speed limits on normal roads is 55 or better. You can’t compare then and now. Time goes on, cars are faster and more powerful. My daily driver (21 BMW M550), with 523hp and a 3.6sec 0-60, would have been an off the charts supercar in the 80s. Now it’s not even the quickest or most powerful in its own line. A 495hp Base Corvette would have been unthinkable when the L98 was making 230-245, and even the mighty ZR1 was only doing 385-405. Different time, different standards.
Whut has the speed limit got to do with anything. Both engines have no issue getting up to speed normally.
You act like the 1.5 can’t do 55.
Mike,
Thats where the GM boys ALWAYS go !
Well its better than the HORRIBLE Citation !
I also happen to believe gm itself used to mostly think that way !
Just like the CHEAP gm interiors ! POOF all of the sudden, gm, is like, WOW you think we should make a better interior ?
NAAAAAAAA this interior is better than that 1980 Citation interior, thats ” Good Enough ” !!!
Your bias completely and totally blinds you to the substance of C8.R’s analogy.
Looks like lifelongGMmoaner is back to his droning and moaning yet again.
Why thank you G8Burnout !!!
And thank you for adding your :
DROOL, DROOL, BROOL !
BABBLE, BABBLE, BABBLE !!
Whatever you say, boss 😉 stay salty.
You too man !
lifelongGMowner
In 1980, Ford was building Pintos, and Chrysler was getting bailed out. Europeans all leaked oil. The Japanese were known for pealing paint and rusting out prematurely. Datsun still existed.
A Chevy Citation would have been a wise Choice
Peter G.
My Grandma had a Pinto !
My sister had a Chevette !
My mom and dad had 2 VW diesel Rabbits !
Not me, I had a 1968 Camaro !
Did your Camaro come standard with all of those exclamation points?
Grizzly man,
Nope, in that year you bought every one individually !
Those exclamation points you see up there, are the New gm !
You know the option system at gm !
Want one exclamation point ?
Well not at the New gm, in order to get the one you want, you are FORCED to ALSO get 15 exclamation points you DO NOT WANT for the low price of JUST $2,995.99 !!
Ha ! HA !
LOL!
My best friend’s mom had a 1985 Citation but was equipped with the 2.8 port injected V6 that made all of 130 hp. It was quite peppy for the time and still ran really well with well over 100K miles. The difference was that it weighted under 2600 LBS compared to around 3600 for an AWD Nox or Terrain so the power to weight ratio was actually decent for the V6 Citations considering it was the 1980’s and not so impressive for the Nox considering it’s 2021 with 170 and 3600 Lbs!
I have a 2018 2.0l Equinox and was hoping on getting a new one in 2022. I enjoy the torque of the 2.0l. Might have to look elsewhere other than GM. Many choices for 250 horses from other manufacturers in small five seater SUV’s.
That leaves the Cadillac CT4 and the new Buick Envision. Both are equipped with the new 2.0 liter LSY Turbo engine and rated at 237 hp and 258 lb ft of torque for the CT4, rated at 228 hp and 258 lb ft of for the Buick Envision.
I highly, HIGHLY doubt that the Terrain will also lose the 2.0. The take rate for that engine in that car is much higher than the Equinox, because buyers tend to expect more premium features.
Don’t automatically assume the Terrain loses the 2 liter as well, just because of this news. Denali customers in particular would expect nothing less that the 2.0 turbo, and rightly so. And GMC understands just how immensely critical their Denali buyers are.
GMC already took the 2.0T out of the Denali for 2021 and is offering them with the 1.5L only. That really shows how critical GMC thinks those Denali buyers are. They also only sell 87K Terrains per year compared to 240K Equinoxes. They aren’t going to spend extra development money on a vehicle that sells only 1/3 of the volume selling equivalent.
You can run a tune from trifecta. They’re pretty cheap.
The 1.5 PCM is locked down and cannot be tuned. They did that in the middle of the 19 MY.
You can’t beat the Trifecta for the cost. Wakes the 1.5 up. Its not the 2.0 for sure but its what the 1.5 should have been tuned like.
Very dumb at least by keep the older 2.0 t. I bought my terrain with 2.0 for one the extra power and towing capabilities I don’t believe that number of how many people wanted the 2.0
The take rate was probably low for two reasons: 1) no dealers had any in stock to speak of, and 2) very few dealers will actually ORDER a car for a customer.
Does anyone know when the Equinox will be redesigned? Or will the upcoming electric crossover replace the Equinox? If 2022 is the last model year for the Equinox, then it may not matter too much. Hopefully the 2.0L buyers will be ready for an electric Chevy crossover.
Model Year 2022 is the mid-level refresh for the Equinox so it probably has another 3 years left.
GM better have an electric substitute ready for when those ready to upgrade who have the 2.0L engine. This is my third time owning the 2.0L engine and I love it
Prob dropped the 2 Liter to keep GM’s MPG average high
All this shows is gm will and does flip on a dime !
Its like Cadillac used to be, and I would say soon will be again !
If gm can ship a vehicle from China like the new Envision, with the 2.0T, why waist any more time on this Equinox ?
If you want the 2.0T, gm will FORCE you to move up or elsewhere !
Being Agile isn’t a negative. The outcome is all the matters. This doesn’t seem like an overreaction if only 8% opted in. They may be keeping it with Terrain and steering people that way if you need that specific capability, or towards one of the other SUVs in their line.
Yep I agree 100% !
Being agile is NOT a bad thing !
YET, YET, YET, NOT having a PLAN is NOT a good thing !
Like in the past Cadillac lineup !
If gm tells customers a 2.0T is coming in the 2022 Equinox, THEN changes plans, it messes with the customers PLANS !
Not ALL people plan as short term as gm !
And I will stick to my stock issue !
Sure the dealer orders what they think they can sell ( to a degree ), YET it is STILL gm that shoves that underpowered BLAH down the dealers throat !
” I got an offer here you will not be able to refuse ” = underpowered gm BLAH – HP !
What is GM trying to do? Trying to lose all the ICE market share it still have?
I have bought a GMC product since the 1961 model year because of the large selection of options available . I bought other manufacturers products in 1974 and 1999 when GMC did not have what I wanted. This situation may have occurred again.
Ok Chevy is going to make a 330hp 2.7 all wheel drive Equinox because Chevy isn’t p-whipped so here comes the Equinox SS.
They don’t have the balls. If they did there would be a real SS with the twin turbo 3.0L.
Agree 100%. They don’t have the balls to do anything exciting anymore. At least 15 years ago the watered down Trailblazer SS and Silverado SS were partial attempts.
Massive mistake. We have an 18 2.0T Equinox. Had it not been available, we’d have gotten something else. The 1.5 was never an option. It felt way underpowered, and frankly, unsafe.
GM has been doing a lot of stupid things lately. From the BlackWings not getting AWD, to Buick and GMC sharing showrooms while both only sell Crossovers, to underpowering everything, to locking down PCMs, it almost seems like they’re trying to kill themselves. Just think, we bailed them out for this. Stupid. Fire Mary Barra and hire somebody that’s not as dumb as a box of rocks.
I’m starting to think GM is just expecting people to keep driving Pontiac Torrent GXP’s until EVs with 500 mile batteries and 15 minute charging arrive.
Hedge fund shareholders have consequences.
The Equinox didn’t sell super great last year, relative to previous years. It could be because of COVID, it could be because the Blazer and Trailblazer are cannibalizing sales.
I remember reading the replacement vehicle will be an EV. I have to think that’s coming sooner than later.
The blazer seems like a 3.6 equinox ate a few too many Big Macs but not enough to make it a Traverse! Same concept with the Trailblazer, really don’t get what GM were trying to accomplish with those stepping stone models between the Trax and Traverse other than trying to win back people with name recognition alone.
The blazer is an interesting vehicle. It’s almost like stepping up from a Malibu to an impala in the crossover segment. SUV’s and crossovers used to be judged on size alone, then there’s this thing called the blazer. It maybe your on to something, Canabilize the higher trim equinox sales with the blazer then strip down the equinox. Will it boost overall sales? Will it keep customers who upgraded to the blazer keep coming? Will they keep the equinox around for a while longer just for representation?
Welp, the Bronco Sport officially wins, 2.0 EcoBoost is available in the badlands model with 250 HP and 277 ft-Lbs of Torque and for around the same price as an optioned out equinox/terrain (around 40,000-45,000 CAD).
I own a 2015 Terrain with the 3.6 and love the power it has, really wish GM kept the 2016 refresh body for another 3 years and added the 3.6 from the ATS V as a Denali and SLT option, hell, pull an FCA and throw a Corvette ZR1 engine in it and make it longitudinally mounted with AWD and bring back the syclone pack!
Other than Ford hired chimpanzees in the design segment. Whoever designed the bronco, bronco sport, Mach-e and new escape needs to be fired. I always considered Toyota the ugly child in the auto world. Ford just beat them. Even my wife who’s a Ford fan doesn’t like the new designs.
Eh, I think the Mach-e looks fine. I just would have preferred they not use the mustang name. But, I understand why they did.
One problem with that 3.6tt from the ATS V. The 3.6tt from the ATS is only a RWD engine platform it wasn’t designed to be put into FWD/AWD platforms. The XTS V-sport on the other hand had a 3.6tt v6. That engine can be mated to FWD/AWD platform. Granted it’s not as powerful as the ATS V. But did produce good numbers. 369 lb-ft of tq and 410 hp.
That would make a good XT4 V, if possible to add more power, a good XT5 V as well. A good option to the XT6 NA v6. A Blazer SS would be possible. They had the engine with very good power numbers. They could have put that engine into multiple FWD/AWD cars. Actually have a fun to drive vehicle lineup while also having sedated vehicles throughout their entire lineup. Doing this would have put them (at least Cadillac anyway) ahead of their current strategy. They have a luxury trim and a sporty trim for their Y strategy.
Hell the recently discontinued Buick Regal GS should of had that engine. Especially for the price they were asking for. The stinger GT was in that price range with more power, than the NA v6 in the GS. The Buick GS was capable of going to 60 from zero in about 5.4 secs. With the XTS 3.6tt it could easily be a high to mid 4 sec car in terms of 0 to 60 times.
A 3.6TT Regal GS wagon I’d have been VERY INTERESTED in. In fact, if it was available, I might have been able to save $50k. 😕
I’m sure with tuning and E85, I could make an easy 475-500 Clydesdales with it.
Here’s a suggestion. Why don’t you just dump the Equinox all together? There’s already another exact same size vehicle in that segment at the Chevrolet dealer, bastardizing the Blazer name.
the EQ is a big seller the blazer that don’t blaze is overpriced
The 8% take rate is a load of bull. Every Denali had it std prior to 2021 and most AWD SLT’s seemed to have the 2.0 engine. As far as Equinoxes quite a few Premiers have this engine and even many LT’s are driving around with dual exhaust outlets. My local dealers always had a good mix of LT/Premier 2.0 engines from 2018-2020 and finding one was really easy. This is just more ways of gaming the Cafe system and saving money not having to certify the new LSY engine in these vehicles. It’s all about triple zero yo’ nothing else matters!
Someone better inform GM that Joe’s observation of tail pipes is more important than their actual analytics on the matter. Who needs real data when you have anecdotal observations of Joe
You do realize Dual exhaust tips on the Equinox and Terrain is exclusive to the 2.0 Turbo models…
It’s really irrelevant if the dual pipes are exclusive or not, that wasn’t the point being made. It’s the premise of Joe’s anecdotal observation driving around looking at tailpipes is somehow more insightful than the actual data GM has at it’s disposal in which to make decisions.
It was a direct observation that 2.0T models are far more popular than a one time GM statistic to try and get around the fact that they are simply saving money yet again and not giving the customer choices and extra power/towing capacity!
Underpowered and dangerous.
That’s the new Equinox.
Time to let others know.
I love it when gm says stuff like ” the take rate was “.
Because everyone who has ever looked at a gm dealers lot will tell you that its a ” PUSH RATE ” not a ” Take rate ”
gm stocks the vehicles gm wants and NEEDS to sell, plain and simple !
If gm stocked the 2.0T Equinox, and the ” customer special order ” was the 1.5T, very, very, very few customers would order it with the 1.5T !
GM ” NEEDS ” to push the ” DUD ” powerplants in these ” grocery getter ” vehicles so they can continue to sell the lo CHEAP, lower efficiency, NA V8 vehicles !
That is where gm makes their profits !
And the rest of the masses just move on !
Side by side, on a dealer lot, test drive both, very few would ” take rate ” the 1.5T over the 2.0T !
Just like side by side, on a dealer lot, test drive both, very few would ever ” take rate ” a Cadillac 2.0T over the 2.7T !
You just can not buy the ” more desired ” vehicle on a gm lot, you HAVE to order it !
WHY ?
PROFIT on the 60 year old gm V8 !
I was wondering the same thing. If someone at GM reduced production of the 2.0L to 8% to make it look like the take rate is only 8%. Then they can scrap the option, reduce cost, and add that to their yearly bonus. GM has a habit of trying to force the public to buy what they want to sell.
I saw that in action. I went to numerous dealers to find a 2020 Equinox 2.0. The closest one where I could do a dealer trade was over 300 miles away (I’m in Michigan). Lots of 1.5s around. gm obviously (sorry Captain) was not building 2.0T versions to limit sales, so they could kill it.
Possibly capacity for the 2.0 was needed for the more expensive Envision? This being gm’s top selling SUV you would think they would give customers more of a choice. It was not that long ago you could get a V6 in the Equinox.
I would not have bought this vehicle with the smaller engine and my second choice was not a gm product. The 2.0T is far superior and can tow what I need. Passing power is impressive for this grocery getter.
Dealers play a role here too in what they order too. They can opt for more 2.0s in their lineup. There’s likely a conscious decision to have very split segments and if you need something higher they walk to another model. There’s an added cost to 2.0s as well, no doubt they have far more information to make their decisions on what to stock than anecdotal observations from the internet.
Chase,
I agree with you on the data side.
I also agree with you on the ” move up ” deal, as ” move up to a GMC or Buick, form this entry Chevy.
However the larger dealer inventory, is still a gm push, has to be.
There is NO WAY my small local dealer has 25 Equinox on the lot, then POOF over night, 15 Envisions, then POOF all gone but 3 or 4 of each !
They did NOT move 35 vehicles, over night, to a end user customer !
Its gm inventory manipulation, plain and simple, move them to where they are needed and we will ” make it right ” !
The customers play an even bigger role. Like, why are you all buying off the lot? Its probably the German car buyer in me, but I special order EVERYTHING. I haven’t bought a car off the lot in over a decade. That way you get the exact car that YOU want, and not what the dealer decided to order. Its usually a 10-12 week process, which I assume has a lot to do with it, but the Equinox isn’t made overseas, so its much quicker. They got us the Equinox 2LT in about 3 weeks.
If more people did that, we’d get a real sense of what they want. Since they don’t, they want what the dealer tells them they want.
Mike L,
I personally do both, buy off the lot and order.
If the lot has what I want, why wait ?
Yet I do NOT ” get convinced ” by ANYONE of what I need !
I will add some details. Like my wife’s ATS. We went from a 3.6 2004 CTS to a 2014 ATS 2.0T. The engine spec of the 2.0T was BETTER than the 3.6. However it CLEARLY is NOT !!
So, you take ownership of a vehicle, then as you drive, merge into traffic, live with it for a month or two, you realize its not near the performance of the spec.
At that point, what are you left with ?
Just MORE CASH OUTLAY !
Sure that’s what gm wants, yet to a point !
When you promise, and offer, and preach ” X “, people plan for ” X “, then when you TAKE AWAY, ” X “, or NEVER OFFER ” X “, people lose hop, move on, make other plans !
So soon your ” nimbleness ” is looked at as POOR PLANNING !
So soon, you lose customers !
Now there is one more thing, of many I need to say here.
Like my Cadillac purchasing, we bought the ATS, after a test drive, and spec. research.
So the ( stock on the lot ) IF, IF, IF, IF we would have had the option to test drive, the 3.6 – ATS, we probably would have bought that, AND been HAPPIER !
YET ——– NO ——–, why ? Because there was NO STOCK of the BETTER engine to test drive !!
SAME EXACT THING NOW WITH THE CT5 !!!!!
We go to test drive the CT4 and CT5, what can we test drive ? a DUD, BLAH, Chevy Equinox, Buick Envision, 2.0T, IN BOTH CARS, the CT4 and CT5 !
Sure you can order the 2.7T or the 3.0TT, but you can NOT test drive one !!!
OK, OK, OK, you CAN test drive one, IF I TRAVEL 400 MILES !!!!!!
So I call the dealer, and I call the dealer, ” do you have a 3.0TT yet to test drive ?
One is always ” on the way ” yet SOLD every time I want to test drive it, OR it was a order by another customer that they would ” let me drive ” if I get there within the hour ( or something )
This is why and how the gm pushing a stock product, or the product gm wants, affects more than the ” take rate data “
If they have what you want on the lot then by all means buy it. I’m a little different. I like to order quirky combinations so that I never see the exact same car as mine, so buying off the lot isn’t an option.
If the manufacturer offers an “Individual” (in BMW speak), “Designo” (as Mercedes calls it) or bespoke option, I’m going to take it. I love customizing stuff. Even my house was custom built. I just find normal stuff to be boring. 🤗
Mike,
Well if you like to buy quirky combinations, you are not ordering any gm vehicles.
GM does NOT offer you the customer an option to order ANYTHING out of mass produced steps !
And this loss of the 2.0T in the Equinox proves it even more !!!!!
That’s for sure. I’ve been buying Germans as my daily’s for years, since my 2011 CTS-V. They let me mess with options all I want. We just have the Equinox because I needed a cheap lease for my mom.
I drive a 2020 Equinox as a company vehicle. The 1.5 engine is just adequate off the line and quickly loses steam. It is not confidence inspiring in passing situations. I went from a ’17 Impala to the Equinox….serious downgrade all the way around. I don’t understand the appeal of the Equinox. It is small and cramped in the passenger compartment & the hatch/cargo area is tiny. The crossover segment is supposed to haul families and their “stuff” but there is not much room for either. The 21 Camaro LT1 I got a month ago as a toy makes up for driving the Equinox all day for work. That 6.2 is the cure for any of life’s distractions.
It’s a compact sUV. If you need more space you step up to a midsize or full size. That said, we’ve had no issues carrying 5 adults and luggage in the Equinox. That’s something your Camaro will never do.
Very disappointing news. What exactly does the Equinox have now as a differentiator? It is a middle-aged crossover with a light refresh and a so-so engine. No power option. No hybrid option. There’s little compelling reason to bother stopping at a Chevy dealership anymore.
Seems all those buying 1.5 EQs, as well as other Chevy SUVs would beg to differ. But you do you.
People are buying them because GM puts $5,000 rebates on the hood, and with dealer discounts on top of it people get a $32K Equinox for $25K. At that point they don’t care about the small engine or cheap interior. They have a reasonable car payment on a new car with a warranty that they can drive for a 5 years and then move on to something else.
Need to get rid of CEO Barra only interested in electric vehicles