With Equinox, Chevy has gone to great lengths to accommodate such needs. Among little surprises are small or larger storage areas that seem to pop up in unexpected places. The passageway space between front bucket seats, for example, is designed to securely stow a heavy-duty handbag or briefcase out of the way, while still allowing armrest comfort. There are sensible cup holders and a couple of accessible 12-volt outlets.

A winning feature among early Equinox owners is the vehicle's unique seating system. The front passenger seat folds totally flat to allow rest stop desk space for the business traveler with laptop computer, or perhaps a crossword puzzle dabbler during a boring, river crossing car ferry ride. Chevy has dubbed its movable rear seat, that slides backwards or forwards a total of eight inches over a flat rear floor, "Multi-Flex." (Basketball families or oversized fans can relate to the voluminous rear legroom that results.)

In addition to an expected cargo net, Chevy has added a special cargo-area transport feature: Side notches hold a vehicle-wide tray to be positioned at different levels for an added layer of storage above the cargo floor (such as flats of colorful impatiens plants riding safely a level above a load of grocery bags). The tray, normally part of the cargo floor, is reversible and has a pull-down support beam to accommodate heavier objects. Second row seats fold forward to expand cargo room.

For a price sensitive sport utility (at just under $26,000 as tested) our LT test version included premium interiors, with a breathtaking list of standard features. There's the expected keyless remote, outside power mirrors, deep tinted glass, body-colored bumper, luggage rails and door handles (for a smooth, classy appearance), fog lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels.

The LT options on the front-drive version (adding just over $2,500 to the tally) include 17-inch aluminum wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto-dimming mirror that posts the temperature outside, and six-way power seats. It also includes GM's OnStar security communications system and XM satellite radio.

On the ride side, Equinox handles as smoothly as many autos, without a sense of unstable top-heaviness sometimes associated with sport utility models. Based on mostly city driving (like Equinox owners would be expected to do), it was responsive, easy to park and had enough "oomph" to merge in and out of traffic with ease.

Safety comes in a dual front seat airbag system, child LATCH seat anchors and side guard door beams. As with all GM vehicles, Equinox sports daytime running lights (a safety mandate cast in stone by GM engineers). And, thankfully, the Equinox lets you turn off the interior lights when the doors are open if you prefer. That's a definite safety feature for women driving alone at night who might not want to be bathed in light if traveling in a less-than optimum area.

It's only fair to mention an oddity Chevy might consider looking at in the future, when it gets ready to "morph" to a next generation version, perhaps. On the "wish list" side: Moving the floor-mounted power point forward a bit so a cell phone power cord doesn't fight for space with a large handbag or package.

Equinox comes in four different trim flavors, from the low $20K to a shade above $29K range, in front- or all-wheel-drive models. Its name, by the way, refers to the bridge between seasons, when the sun crosses the equator and all days and nights are perfectly balanced, the same attribute Chevy designers give their namesake. Chevy wants you to know it's pronounced "EEEquinox," as in "equal," or "EEEEEKKK!" (if you happen to see a mouse).

We can think of a few other "E" words for the vehicle, as in easy to handle, excellent details designed into it, ecstasy for knowing it will serve our needs in comfort and style. For all that, we'll give the Equinox a solid "A" for anticipation that owning it will be a joy.

For more information click on: Chevy Equinox
For the Chevrolet SUV 2005 Model Guide : Click Here

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