By Bill Roebuck

The 2010 Chevrolet Equinox made its Canadian debut at the Toronto Autoshow. The compact crossover draws its exterior design inspiration from the Chevrolet Malibu sedan and Traverse crossover. 

It has a new 2.4-litre, 182-hp, four-cylinder engine that gets 25% better fuel economy than its predecessor (10.1L/100 km city and 6.7L/100 km highway). That’s a significant improvement that should get the attention of SUV-leery showgoers. A new 255-hp, 3.0-litre V6 version also is available, as is an all-wheel drive option. General Motors says models with either engine will have a driving range of more than 1,000 km. 

2010 Chevrolet Equinox

Standard features include six air bags, four-wheel disc brakes with StabiliTrak electronic stability control and traction control, OnStar and a ‘smart’ remote starting system that also activates the HVAC system and optional heated seats depending on the outside temperature. 

The new Equinox retains its MultiFlex rear seat capability, which allows the seat to be moved fore or aft nearly 203 mm, for the best rear legroom in its class. The cargo area has 889 L of storage.