General Motors has a rather lengthy history of making thirsty SUVs, but the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox promises to nudge the Detroit automaker onto a new path. Early estimates suggest the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox would achieve an EPA rating of 30 mpg highway, but GM’s newest crossover has shattered all expectations.
According to the EPA’s 2010 rating, the front-wheel drive Chevrolet Equinox is capable of 32 miles per gallon on the highway. That rating not only puts the Equinox on par with some compact cars, but exceeds the greenest SUV of the market – the Ford Escape Hybrid – by 1 mpg.
The Equinox is also good for 22 mpg in the city, averaging out to a very respectable 26 mpg combined. Adding all-wheel drive takes down the Equinox’s ratings to 20/29 mpg city/highway.
Those better-than-expected fuel economy ratings can be attributed to the Equinox’s economical drivetrain. Thanks to a six-speed transmission and 2.4L four-cylinder engine featuring direct-injection, the 2010 Equinox can return highway mileage on par with much smaller cars. The EPA has yet to rate the six-cylinder version of the Equinox, but early estimates suggest it will return 18/25 mpg city/highway.
