2012 Chevrolet Equinox Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Sales are on the rise for Chevy's midsize Equinox crossover, and though 2012 boasts a lot of changes, none of them stem from the pages upon...

Sales are on the rise for Chevy's midsize Equinox crossover, and though 2012 boasts a lot of changes, none of them stem from the pages upon pages of customer complaints - and some of these changes are disappointing in their own right. With a refresh due next year, perhaps Chevrolet was just saving the best for last - but that means the 2012 edition leaves a lot unanswered.

The Equinox has suffered from several mysterious problems in its base 4-cylinder engine since 2010, and dozens of driver complaints on the 2012 version show no sign of improvement in that area. Between randomly stalling out, poor gas mileage, grinding, clunking and rattling, more than a few drivers have resorted to the lemon law and other legal action against Chevrolet - especially since the majority of these issues cropped up within 1,000 miles.

If fuel efficiency is high on your list, Ford revamped its Flex for 2012 with a turbocharged 4-cylinder that actually gets the advertised fuel economy with the same and sometimes better power output than the Equinox. If upscale space and comfort are high on your list and the $4,000 difference between the Flex and the Equinox is a bit much to swallow, you're looking in the right place. Just skip over the base LS to at least the LT1 and opt for the 3-liter V6 - its estimated 17 mpg city/25 highway rating with its default front-wheel drive and 6-speed automatic is true to reality, and opting for the 1-mpg drop with all-wheel drive gives the V6 the same fuel economy that the 4-cylinder actually delivers.

Unfortunately you won't find any options for a rear-seat entertainment system in the 2012 Equinox, or a factory-installed trailering package either. Two exterior colors have been dropped, Cyber Gray Metallic and Cardinal Red Metallic, several cosmetic option packs and cargo management options bit the dust along with the auto-dimming rear-view mirror, but the wheel materials have been upgraded somewhat. Instead of chrome-clad aluminum for the 19" wheels, now the biggies come in straight chrome aluminum, and the next size down is chrome-clad aluminum instead of machined aluminum. The base 17-inch wheels have a new aluminum material, also intended to smooth out the ride with better shock absorption.

That said, Chevy threw out the rear-entertainment baby with the audio-system bathwater to replace it with the MyLink infotainment system, which at this point does not offer a rear screen, and neither does it simplify the dash controls like as many drivers crave. The new audio system features a 7-inch touchscreen display and several other gizmos techies will surely be able to appreciate more than most.

Bluetooth connectivity is now standard across the board, and a rear-view camera is now standard from the LT1 up. The top-of-the-line LTZ gained the option of a forward collision alert and lane departure warning system, but some may not appreciate the sacrifices made for so few additions.