Holden Equinox 2020 Review: LTZ-V
Content
- Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10
- Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
- How practical is the interior space? 9/10
- What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
- How much fuel does it consume? 6/10
- What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
- How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
- What is it like to drive? 7/10
- Verdict
You might not think now is the best time to buy a Holden, given General Motors' announcement to close its operations in Australia at the end of 2020.
This is understandable, but bypassing the Equinox, you may be missing out on a practical, comfortable and safe midsize SUV.
You can also bet on some heavily discounted Final Holdens offers that could allow you to make a huge deal if you buy Equinox.
In this review, I tested the top-notch Equinox LTZ-V, and in addition to telling you about its performance and how to drive an SUV, I will tell you what type of support you can expect after Holden closes. The company promised to take care of its customers with parts and services for at least the next decade.
Explore the 2020 Equinox LTZ-V in 3D below
| 2020 Holden Equinox: LTZ-V (XNUMXWD) | |
|---|---|
| Safety Rating | |
| engine's type | 2.0 L turbo |
| fuel type | Premium unleaded gasoline |
| Fuel efficiency | 8.4l / 100km |
| Landing | 5 Places |
| Price from | $31,500 |
Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10
The Holden Equinox LTZ-V is the fanciest version you can buy with a list price of $46,290. It may seem expensive, but the list of standard features is huge.
The Holden Equinox LTZ-V is the fanciest version you can buy with a list price of $46,290.
There's an 8.0-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, a Bose audio system with digital radio, and wireless charging.
Then there are roof rails, front fog lights and LED headlights, heated door mirrors and 19-inch alloy wheels.
There is an 8.0-inch screen with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
But you get all of that and one class down the LTZ for $44,290. So, adding a V to the LTZ, along with an extra $2, adds a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Still a great price, but not as good as the LTZ.
Plus, as Holden gets closer to the 2021 finish line, you can expect the prices of his cars and SUVs to be heavily discounted - everything has to go, after all.
If you're considering the Equinox, you can compare models to the Mazda CX-5 or Honda CR-V. The Equinox is a five-seater mid-size SUV, so if you're looking for a seven-seater but about the same size and price, check out the Hyundai Santa Fe.
Is there anything interesting about its design? 7/10
Big cheesy smirk grille? Verify. Smooth curves? Verify. Sharp creases? Verify. Wrong shapes? Verify.
Equinox is a bit of a hodgepodge of design elements that doesn't appeal to this reviewer.
Equinox is a mix of design elements.
The slanted wide grille bears more than a passing resemblance to the face of the Cadillac family and hints at the American origins of the Equinox. In the United States, the SUV wears the Chevrolet badge, although we have it made in Mexico.
I'm also a little confused by the shape of the rear side window. If you want to see something you can never unsee, watch my video above of me converting this midsize SUV into a small sedan. It sounds ridiculous, but trust me, watch and be surprised.
The Equinox is longer than most of its competitors at 4652mm from end to end, but about the same width at 1843mm across.
How big is the equinox? Just when you thought Equinox's design couldn't be more unusual, it does. Equinox is longer than most of its rivals: 4652mm from end to end, but about the same width - 1843mm across (2105mm to the ends of the side mirrors).
It's hard to tell the difference between an LTZ and an LTZ-V, but you can tell the top-of-the-line Equinox by the sunroof and metal trim around the rear door windows.
Inside is a premium and modern salon.
Inside is a premium and modern salon. There is a sense of high quality materials used on the dashboard, seats and doors, down to the display screen, which is angled just right for my reach, although others in Cars Guide the office is not so enamored with it.
Many cars are adorned at the front but don't have the same treatment at the rear, and the Equinox is an example of this, with hard plastics used around the sills and rear of the console.
How practical is the interior space? 9/10
The Equinox's biggest strength is its roominess, and a lot of that has to do with its wheelbase.
You see, the longer the wheelbase of the car, the more room for passengers inside. The Equinox's wheelbase is longer than most of its competitors (25mm longer than the CX-5), which partly explains how at 191cm I can sit in my driver's seat with more knee room.
Long wheelbase means more room for passengers.
The longer wheelbase also means the rear wheel arches don't cut far into the rear doors, allowing for a wider opening and easier access.
This way, if you have small children like me, it will be easy for them to climb in, but if they are really small, the large opening will allow you to easily put them in car seats.
In-cabin storage is excellent thanks to a huge storage box in the center console.
Headroom, even with the LTZ-V's sunroof, is good in the rear seats too.
Interior storage is excellent: the center console drawer is huge, the door pockets are large; four cupholders (two in the back and two in the front),
There is a large trunk with a capacity of 846 liters.
However, even with all that extra space, the Equinox is just a five-seater SUV. However, you're left with a large boot capacity of 846 liters when the rear row is up and 1798 liters with the second row seats folded down.
You get 1798 liters with the second row seats folded down.
Equinox has plenty of outlets: three 12-volt outlets, a 230-volt outlet; five USB ports (including one type C); and a wireless charging compartment. That's more than any midsize SUV I've tested.
A flat floor in the second row, large windows and comfortable seats complete the comfortable and practical interior.
In fact, the only reason the Equinox doesn't score 10 out of 10 here is the lack of third-row seats and sun shades or thin glass for the rear windows.
What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 8/10
The Equinox LTZ-V is powered by the most powerful engine in the Equinox range, a 188-liter four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with 353 kW/2.0 Nm.
The only other brand in the lineup with this engine is LTZ, though it doesn't have the LTZ-V all-wheel drive system.
The Equinox LTZ-V is equipped with the most powerful engine in the Equinox range.
It's a powerful engine, especially considering it's only a four-cylinder. Just over a decade ago, V8 engines produced less power.
The nine-speed automatic shifts slowly, but I found it smooth at all speeds.
How much fuel does it consume? 6/10
Holden says the all-wheel-drive Equinox LTZ-V, with its 2.0-liter turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, consumes 8.4 l/100 km combined with open and city roads.
My fuel test drove 131.6 km, of which 65 km were urban and suburban roads, and 66.6 km were driven almost entirely on the motorway at a speed of 110 km/h.
At the end of that, I filled the tank with 19.13 liters of premium unleaded 95 octane petrol, which is 14.5 liters / 100 km.
The trip computer did not agree and showed 13.3 l / 100 km. Either way, it's a voracious mid-size SUV, and it didn't even carry a full load of people or cargo.
What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 8/10
Holden Equinox received the highest five-star ANCAP rating when tested in 2017.
The future standard is advanced safety technologies such as AEB with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control.
Child seats have two ISOFIX anchorages and three top cable points. There is also a rear seat warning to remind you that children are sitting in the back when you park and turn off the car. Don't laugh... this has happened to parents before.
Front and rear parking sensors are standard, but in the media menu you can swap "beeps" for "buzz" that vibrates the seat to let you know when you're approaching objects.
The driver's seat, that is, if all the seats were buzzing, it would be strange. Actually, who am I kidding - it's strange that even the driver's seat is buzzing.
The spare wheel is located under the boot floor to save space.
The rear camera is good, and the LTZ-V also has 360-degree visibility - great for when the kids are running around in the car.
The spare wheel is located under the boot floor to save space.
Warranty and safety rating
Basic Warranty
5 years / unlimited mileage
guarantee
ANCAP Safety Rating
How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 8/10
The Holden Equinox is backed by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty. At the time of this review, Holden has been offering free scheduled maintenance for seven years.
But usually the Equinox is covered by a price-restricted maintenance program that recommends maintenance every year or every 12,000 km and costs $259 for the first visit, $339 for the second, $259 for the third, $339 for the fourth, and $349 for the fifth.
So how will service work after Holden closes? Holden's Feb. 17, 2020 announcement to end trading by 2021 said he would support Australian and New Zealand customers to comply with all existing warranties and warranties while providing service and parts for at least 10 years . The current seven-year free service offer will also be honored.
What is it like to drive? 7/10
The Equinox's handling isn't perfect, and the ride could have been more comfortable, but this SUV has far more upsides than downsides.
The LTZ-V is easy to drive, precise steering provides a good feel for the road.
For example, the impressive power of this four-cylinder engine and the all-wheel drive system that provides excellent traction, good visibility and a host of safety features.
But while I can forgive average dynamics, the 12.7m turning radius was annoying in parking lots. Not knowing that you can turn around in the allotted space creates anxiety that you should only experience while driving a bus.
With five-point steering, the LTZ-V is easy to steer and the precise steering provides a good sense of the road.
Verdict
Ignore the Holden Equinox LTZ-V and you may be missing out on a practical, roomy mid-size SUV with good value for money. Worried about Holden leaving Australia and how it will affect service and parts? Well Holden has assured us that it will provide service support for 10 years after closing at the end of 2020. Anyway, you can get a good deal and be one of the last cars with the Holden badge.
