Automotive News, Media & Press - No More Diluting The SS Brand: Meet The Chevrolet Equinox Sport

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/14/2008-chevy-equinox-sport-one-s-shy-of-ss/

That's right, GM has elected NOT to slap an SS badge onto their hottet up Equinox which is ironic when you consider that the craptastic 170hp Cobalt SS gets the double S but this 263hp hot ute doesn't. This thing is definitely sharper looking than its lesser stablemate but I'm still a bit iff on the slightly retarded looking trapezoidal air inlets. The MDXish box tips are a nice touch though. Under the hood (what you've all been waiting to hear about I'm sure) lies GMs 3.6L DOHC HF V6 rated at 263hp and 250 ft-lbs of torque in this application which beats the crap out of the 185hp 3.4L pushrod V6 in the base car. The 3.6L is mated to a 6 speed automatic that drives either the fronts or all 4 wheels. And while I know that this is an SUV it would've been nice if GM went the extra mile and equipped this thing with a pair of shift paddles to further emphasize the sport aspect of this thing. Other than that the interior is a further step up from the standard Equinox.

All in all this is a MUCH better sporty offering from GM than some of the others they've given us in the past. Oddly enough THIS is how to do an SS and yet it isn't given an SS badge. GM went and shoved the biggest engine they could into their smallest SUV and gave it a top notch transmission and spruced up the interior. The Equinox Sport is much more deserving of an SS badge than the 170hp Cobalt SS IMO. Oh well. In the end the Equinox finally has the balls to do battle with the Mazda CX-7, Acura RDX and the Toyota Rav 4 V6 at the track which IMO is a step in the right direction.

2007 Chevrolet Equinox Sport:

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We bought a loaded LS version and its actually very nice, especially for the price. It feels better then 185 hp but is no speed demon. The interior is very nice and most people are suprised how nice the little chevy SUV is. Looks better in SS form and would have liked the higher power level but the price would have to be right.

I actually wouldn't mind driving it, looks real nice. IF i were to get one i would take off that sport emblem and buy an SS emblem to replace it with.
-Joel

That's a cool little SUV. The wife wants one of these anyway, maybe we'll hold out for the sport version. :cheers:

Wow...I actually like that. Nice job GM!! I almost forgot it was a GM product after reading it has a 6 speed auto.

It does nothing to me...at all. Looks like a crossbred between an Avalanche and a Toyota Rav4. The interior looks okay I guess. I pass.

Two thumbs up from me. Only cosmetic flaw in my opinion is the somewhat euro-inspired tailights. I'd own and drive!

^^^ i agree. the red lens (or leds, whatever they are) look nice but the assembly is :gay:

I like it gm gets a thumbs up from me

Bruddah- the Cobalt SS has two different HP ratings. The quick one (13.9-low 14's) has 205hp. Dont care if it has 100hp or 500hp, if it runs 13's then its a quick little sucker.

Dont really know why they made a distinction between "SS" 170hp and "SS supercharged" 205hp, they should have just stuck the SS on the 205hp version.

Bruddah- the Cobalt SS has two different HP ratings. The quick one (13.9-low 14's) has 205hp. Dont care if it has 100hp or 500hp, if it runs 13's then its a quick little sucker.

Dont really know why they made a distinction between "SS" 170hp and "SS supercharged" 205hp, they should have just stuck the SS on the 205hp version.

I know the SS Supercharged is the top of the line model but the 170hp version is NOT deserving of the SS badge. I know back in the day you could order up SS Chevy's with different motors but anyone who thinks that a modern day 170hp Cobalt SS can be equated to a say a Camaro SS350 while the SS Supercharged would be the equivalent of an SS396 is off their nut. Simply put, only the top dog supercharged Cobalt should get an SS badge. In fact Chevy should stop being stupid and put the 240hp 2.0L turbo from the Solstice/Sky into the damn thing.

At what pricing will this vehicle come in at?

Josh

I expect this to start at maybe 25k for one not so loaded and maybe 32k for one fully loaded with AWD. The Trailblazer SS starts at 32k and can go as high as 40k.

I expect this to start at maybe 25k for one not so loaded and maybe 32k for one fully loaded with AWD. The Trailblazer SS starts at 32k and can go as high as 40k.
Over priced for what it is...as far as I'm concerned. Fully loaded (no leather) should tip the bank scale at about 27 or 28, tops.

I know the SS Supercharged is the top of the line model but the 170hp version is NOT deserving of the SS badge.

I agree that the SS should be the TOTL version only.

In fact Chevy should stop being stupid and put the 240hp 2.0L turbo from the Solstice/Sky into the damn thing.

While its not the Solstice/Sky engine, Chevy does offer two dealer installed upgrade kits for the SS Supercharged Cobalt: Stage 1 = 236hp and Stage 2 = 241hp. See here: http://www.chevrolet.com/cobalt/accessories/

the 2.4 n/a vvt motor in the SS has gone only a few tenths slower than the supercharged 2.0 motor, search it on j-body.org. suprised me

Wish my mom would have waited about a year and got this one, much rather drive it over hers, she was looking at a TBSS at the same time, this would have been perfect..

I like it.