The Chevrolet Equinox is a midsize SUV offering five-passenger seating and a relatively low price of entry of $23,185. Now in its second generation, beginning with the 2010 model year, the 'ute has an all-new look and improved features.

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The Equinox, which was unveiled in early 2009, shares a platform with the GMC Terrain and borrows much of its looks from its bigger brother, the Chevy Traverse.

The front-wheel-drive LS model begins at the aforementioned $23,185, including the $745 destination charge. Like the outgoing model, the 2010 Equinox is also be available in midlevel LT and uplevel LTZ trim. All-wheel-drive is a line-wide option.

Code-named GMT172, the new Equinox also has strong family ties to the Malibu, which was the first model to feature Chevrolet's new signature grille design.

The vehicle comes equipped with a 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder Ecotec engine delivering 182 horsepower at 6,700 rpm and 172 pound-feet of torque at 4,900 rpm. That's about as much horsepower as the previous generation's 3.4-liter V6, though torque is down from the 210 lb-ft that engine offered. As a trade-off, fuel economy will rise considerably. The entry-level mill promises to deliver an EPA rating of 30 mpg on the highway and 21 in the city.

GM is also offering the new Equinox with a 3.0-liter V6 delivering 264 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque as an optional upgrade. Also featuring direct injection, the motor has an isolated fuel injector system that promises quieter operation than other DI engines. Rubber isolators are used with the fuel rail to eliminate metal-to-metal contact that would otherwise transmit noise and vibration from the high-pressure fuel system. GM says that engine will achieve 25 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city. The 3.0 offers the same horsepower rating as the old 3.6-liter V6.

The Equinox's interior has been significantly improved over its predecessor. It represents a consistent design theme across all of Chevy's new models, plus seems to reenforce GM's commitment to building better cockpits after years of being trampled by its Asian competitors in material quality and fit finish.