Chevy teases the 2016 Equinox.
Chevrolet will roll out a much-awaited update of its midsize Equinox crossover later this week, and is offering a little tease of what we can expect to blow into the Windy City.
The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox will get revised headlamps and new LED daytime running lights but, beyond that, Chevy isn’t saying much about what’s in store. That said, expect to see improved fuel economy, updates to the crossover-utility vehicle’s infotainment system and other tweaks meant to keep the Equinox competitive in an increasingly crowded segment.
It will be the CUV’s first major update since the current generation was rolled out in late 2009. It remains to be seen when General Motors will offer an update to the Equinox’s near-twin, the GMC Terrain, but that is very likely to come later this year, according to industry observers.
Chevy will have a lot riding on the new model at a time when small utes are now outselling midsize sedans for the first time. Reflecting the booming market for midsize and compact CUVs, the Equinox has become the third best-selling model in the Chevrolet line-up.
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Chevy sold 242,242 of them last year, a 1.7% increase. But more significant was the surprising, 34.4% jump in demand last month compared to year-earlier numbers, U.S. buyers snapping up 19,555 of the midsize utes.
“In one of the industry’s most competitive segments, the Equinox continues to win customers with its value-driven balance of performance, versatility and personal connectivity,” said GM North America President Alan Batey.
The Equinox was fourth overall among small SUVs in 2014, lagging, in order, the segment leader CR-V, the Ford Escape and the RAV-4. Honda sold 335,019 copies of the CR-V. The GMC Terrain rounded out the segment’s Top 10 with sales of 105,016.
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Chevrolet has traditionally been one of the powerhouses in the big SUV market with models like the Suburban and Tahoe. But it has been pressing to gain ground in the smaller crossover market segments long dominated by Asian imports, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Chevy is moving even more down-market with the U.S. version of the Trax ute that has been on sale in Europe for several years.
The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox will make its debut at the Chicago Auto Show this coming Thursday at 10 AM CST.
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