The sole engine offered is a 1.5L turbo four. The 1.5L is hooked up to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission.

The overall elegance of the Equinox is undermined by its busy frontal treatment and side embellishments that do little than impart visual discord. That said, the bright detailing around the windows is very well judged. The cabin of the Equinox reflects the current School of Chevrolet design ethos, with a dashboard that looks lifted directly from the Malibu sedan. The rest of the interior, with pleasing shapes, some attractive colour combinations and matte finished hard surfaces, is very stylish. The dashboard of the Equinox is stocked with clear instruments and simple, logical controls. There is ample rear legroom and cargo space inside the Equinox. The front seats are comfortable but the small voids in the lower outboard rear seat backrest, meant to permit easy seat folding, leave some occupants feeling unsupported. The Terrain is a rather bland design that lacks the distinctive “trucky” visual punch of its predecessor. The Equinox is still built in Canada but the Terrain is imported from Mexico. GM notes the towing capacity for the 1.5L turbo version of this platform is 680 kilograms (1500 lbs).

All-wheel drive is standard on all trims except for the SLE, where it is a $2400 option. The base Terrain is better equipped than its Chevrolet equivalent. Upgrading from the SLE to the SLT adds an eight-inch infoscreen, an inch bigger than the lesser trim, a power passenger seat with power lumbar support, a memory system, fog lights, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and a hands-free tailgate, and is very good value. The AT4, with a more sophisticated all-wheel drive system, is reasonably priced. The range-topping Denali trim adds active cruise control, a 360 degree cameral system, a Bose-branded audio system, a head up display system, navigation and blind spot and rear cross traffic monitors, at a fair price.

New vehicle, not rated. GM new cars generate fewer complaints than they used to.