Holden doesn't
manufacture automobiles anymore. It just brings in other GM products from
elsewhere and sells them in Australia with lion badges on the nose. And the
latest is the Equinox.
Sold as a Chevrolet in America, the Equinox has now
arrived Down Under as a Holden, offered in an array of trims and specifications
ranging from AUD 27,990 all the way up to AUD 46,290.
That's a big range,
spread across a staggering escalation of six trim levels, separated by
equipment levels and powertrain options. The base model comes with a 1.5-liter
turbo four mated to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The larger
2.0-liter turbo engine pairs with a nine-speed automatic, and there'll be a 1.6-liter
diesel arriving next year (following the gasoline models that roll out next
month).
Adaptive all-wheel drive is available on the
penultimate LTZ model, and comes standard on the top LTZ-V. US pricing, in case
you're wondering, similarly starts at US$ 26,505, but tops out at US$ 38,225
for the top-of-the-line Premier model in America – where the Chevrolet division
has to be careful not to encroach on upscale Buick and Cadillac territory.
Though classified as a compact SUV in the US, Holden
terms the Equinox as a mid-size in Australia. Either way, you're looking at
essentially the same vehicle, with as much as 1798 liters of
cargo space inside (with the rear seats folded flat).
