Holden Equinox 2018 Review

The medium SUV segment is on a seemingly inexorable growth curve, and Holden has a serious player in the form of the new Holden Equinox to slug it out with the likes of the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4.

I've just spent a couple of weeks carting myself and the family across all parts of Victoria in the LS+ variant of the Equinox, and it's performed with distinction over the full gamut of (sometimes woeful) roads, both in performance and comfort.

I can't make a direct comparison with the now-defunct (and much heavier) Captiva 5 because I didn't drive it – my main gig is running the motorcycle show at bikesales.com.au – but the LS+ still surprised me, particularly with its cornering dexterity, quietness and overall ride quality. It just felt robust, light and manageable – and the whole package is dressed in smart, clean and modern lines.

Four-strong line-up
The $32,990 LS+ is among four offerings in the comprehensive local Equinox line-up, and sits second from the bottom. Holden offers two engines for prospective LS+ customers, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission: a 127kW/275Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder or a 100kW/320Nm 1.6-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder. The base model LT only comes with the petrol mill, but you can also get that one with a manual gearbox.

The electronics on the LS+ include autonomous emergency braking, forward collision alert with head-up warning, following distance indicator, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert – and even an alert via vibrating seats to really ram home the message that you have to remain vigilant. That one was quite a surprise the first time it came out of its slumber…

The Equinox range then moves up to the LT and range-topping LTZ, which are powered by a 188kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. There’s also a nine-speed automatic as well as 18-inch alloy wheels, more advanced climate control, heated seats, a bigger touch screen, LED headlights, embedded satellite navigation, more USB ports, rear heated seats (LTZ), hands-free tailgate (LTZ) and a premium audio system (LTZ). Price is commensurate with features: $36,990 (plus on-road costs) for the LT and $39,990 (plus on-road costs) for the LTZ.

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are standard across all the Equinox range.

Small, but willing
Ken Gratton drove the Equinox range at the Aussie launch in Noosa last year and he was emboldened by the whole experience.

He particularly enjoyed the flexible nature of the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, and we hope to test that unit down the track as well. However, this time the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder powered us to relatives and friends across Victoria during the frenetic Christmas and New Year rush, and it's a solid operator – nothing more or nothing less, really.

The engine's akin to a low-capacity powerplant in motorcycles, which makes for perfectly acceptable urban driving with a nice spread of torque, but when you're really after a strong dose of acceleration the limitations will be reached. Nothing new on that front, but there are obvious implications if you're a family that likes to travel big in terms of personnel and payload.

It's not a dire situation by any means, as I took the LS+ for a spirited drive up the twisty road to Lake Mountain, in Victoria's Yarra Ranges, and it didn't feel like I was in a constant battle with getting enough power to the ground. In fact, it was the six-speed auto that was struggling to hold its own as it struggled to nail the right gear on a few occasions.

If mountaineering was a regular pursuit I'd be looking at the LT or LTZ for that extra burst of energy from the 2.0-litre engine, but otherwise the 1.5-litre donk was a willing participant – and it settled into a beautiful metronomic beat on the open road. And so quiet, which also holds for general road noise.

Fuel consumption on the LS+ ranged from about 6.5L/100km on the highway to 10.0L/100km on tighter, acceleration-heavy roads. Refuels cost between $65 and $75, and it takes regular 91 RON unleaded petrol.

Cornering ability
I am really impressed by the LS+'s general ride comfort and cornering ability; Holden's chassis and suspension engineers have got it right. The LS and LS+ have 17-inch alloy wheels and Continental tyres, and the drive is impressive with very little harshness – initial or ongoing – over even some of the nastiest tarmac irregularities.

That plushness hasn't come at the sacrifice of cornering, and its road-holding capability is impressive. I'm not sure if that equates to the sportiest ride in the medium SUV segment, but the weight that's been lopped compared to the Captiva 5 has to translate to a much tauter and better handling package.

The feedback through the electric-assist steering wheel is light and easy, and the LS+ always went where I pointed it. Occasional driver lapses were met with the heavier lane departure steering, which can be disabled permanently in the settings via the 7.0-inch screen, or temporarily via a button on the steering wheel. I wasn't keen on it so off it went, but it's there to help should you prefer.

The Equinox range is based on the new General Motors D2XX monocoque architecture and has had its suspension, electric-assist steering and powertrains tuned for Australian conditions.

Settling in
No qualms about the level of well-being inside the cockpit. The cloth seats are comfortable with plenty of cushioning, and for my three boys – ranging in age from 10 to 17 – there was plenty of legroom in the back. In some ways, it's a misnomer to call the Equinox a medium SUV as opposed to a large SUV, as its 56mm longer than the Captiva 5 – and has a rangier wheelbase than the current Captiva.

There's no electric seat adjustment for the front seats – that only kicks in for the LTZ – and while the air-conditioning is effective, I'd like to see climate control. I spent way too much time tweaking knobs and fan speed to get the temperature right.

The infotainment screen is impressive and the menu items are clear, concise and functional, while only one USB charger in a family SUV is probably falling short of the mark. A least the kids had adjustable vents…

There's a big storage bin between the front seat occupants, but no smaller, covered nook for coins, etc.

Boot space is adequate – Holden claims 846 litres with both seat rows in-place – and the second row folded down easily to increase the cargo space again. The Christmas run wasn't a big family trip by any means, so I'd be interested to see how it held up on big interstate jaunts – from both a packing and performance perspective.

However, as it stands the LS+ is a beauty. Everything just works. It's not a complex mechanical and chassis package by any stretch, but put all the parts together and add in a clever suite of electronics and there you have it: a car that's not only happy in the city but one that can devour the country miles too.

2018 Holden Equinox LS+ pricing and specifications:
Price: $32,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 127kW/275Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 160g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

Related reading:
>> Holden Equinox 2017 review
>> Holden Equinox 2017 video review