Chevrolet Equinox review

A bare-bones FWD Equinox LT starts at an attractive $28,600. This comes with all the basics and includes the powertrain setup underpinning all the other Equinoxes. Adding only the AWD capability ups the price to $31,995. Standard equipment includes the 11.3-inch interface, safety assist features like emergency braking, six-speaker stereo system, 17-inch wheels and the sharp yet neutral look of a base-model’s body color fascia.

The Activ includes all of that plus roof rails, a unique, darker front end, 17-inch all-terrain tires (the tires, sure. The car? Drive on as few terrains as possible), two-tone roof color options, a ‘maple sugar and black’ interior theme, and the option of a convenience package not available with the LT. This pack throws in eight-way power seats, dual zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a wireless charging pad and a hands-free auto liftgate.

Lastly, the RS offers all of this but with its own facia, a body color matching mug with a unique blacked-out grill, 19in carbon flash aluminum wheels and all-season tires.

If you’re not buying the super versatile Toyota RAV4 (or the Honda CR-V, or the Nissan Rogue, or Hyundai Tucson...), we’d opt for the Equinox RS. This spec doesn’t come with the Activ’s tacit implication that it’s any better in the mud than it is in the suburbs.

It also has all the extra styling bits the LT lacks, and fully loaded, it still comes in under $40k. Half the cost of the Corvette, more than double the room! C’mon, you’ve been doing the math in your head the minute you passed one at the front of the dealer lot. It’s the carrot, but you’re here buying the stick. Let it go.