NADAguides.com Awards 2010 Chevrolet Equinox 'Car of the Month' for May

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- NADAguides.com, the leading provider of vehicle pricing and information, today announced that the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox received the NADAguides.com "Car of the Month" award for May. Selecting the Chevrolet Equinox was an easy decision. The second generation crossover SUV was already listed as one of NADAguides.com's "Best Car Buys" for 2010 and benefits from sharp new styling, improved engine choices, impressive fuel economy and five-star safety rating. Unlike the previous version, the 2010 Equinox is equally striking inside and out while offering a smooth and quiet ride as opposed to most of its competitors. Combine all this with an affordable price and you've got one of the best crossover SUVs on the market.

"Sales for the Equinox are a major factor in why this car was selected as well. In March 2010, Equinox sales were up 194% over the previous year and GM got it right. Overall, the 2010 Equinox has impressive looks, offers a comfortable ride and handles much better than the previous version," said Michael Caudill, NADAguides.com Auto Expert. "Small families or anyone looking to downsize from a cumbersome, inefficient SUV will find tremendous value in the 2010 Equinox and its many amenities, which is why it is clearly worthy of the NADAguides.com 'Car of the Month' distinction."

The 2010 Equinox comes in four different trim levels: LS, 1LT, 2LT and LTZ. Each trim is available in either all-wheel or front-wheel drive. A few amenities and options that stand out for 2010 include: blue ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, a hard drive audio system, an integrated rearview camera with rear park assist, power rear lift-gate, a navigation system with voice recognition, a 40-gigabyte hard drive, premium speakers and a USB port. Families can also splurge on a rear DVD entertainment system that comes with a screen in the back of each front seat and a USB port. Safety equipment includes dual threshold front airbags, curtain side airbags, front side airbags, a tire-pressure monitor, anti-lock brakes with brake assist, hill start assist, traction control, and GM's StabiliTrak electronic stability control, making this crossover SUV one of the safest in its category.

Under the hood, the 2010 Equinox starts with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine good for 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. The 3.0-liter V6 that pushes out 264 hp and 222 lb-ft of torque is available on all trims except the LS. Both engines come with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is an option. Fuel economy is also improved, as GM says the 2.4-liter four-cylinder version will achieve 22/32 mpg (city/hwy) with front-wheel drive and 20/29 with all-wheel drive. The 3.0-liter V6 tops out at 18/25 mpg with front-wheel drive and 17/24 mpg with all-wheel drive, allowing the Equinox to shrug off today's ever-increasing gas prices.

Ride and handling have also evolved with the 2010 Equinox, as the overall feel is much more of a car than an SUV. The steering is light and the body lean is reduced from previous versions, allowing passengers to ride in comfort while making commuting and family road trips a breeze. To sum it all up, the 2010 Equinox has all the right improvements and amenities that make it stand out amongst its competitors, and with a starting price ranging from $22,615 up to just a little more than $35,000 for a fully loaded LTZ, consumers are certain to find an Equinox that fits their lifestyle and budget.

For the complete video review, pricing and image gallery, please visit NADAguides.com, and click on the Chevrolet Equinox on the homepage.

The NADAguides.com "Car of the Month" program is unique from any other review program in the automobile industry and provides consumers with expert commentary and practical information on the cars, trucks and SUVs they are shopping for. Selecting one vehicle per month, NADAguides.com will announce the "Car of the Month" through a multi-media platform including an online video review, press release and a comprehensive blog post where consumers can provide additional commentary.  

SOURCE NADAguides.com