Chevrolet (13)
There’s a seemingly endless list of SUVs out there to choose from, in case you haven’t noticed. But a handful of them rise to the top of the sales charts every year, and for good reason, as they’re the real deal.
One of those is the Chevy Equinox, which underwent an attractive redesign for 2018 and sees only minor changes for the 2019 model. I’m here with a full report on what it has to offer and how it holds up to the competition.
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While most SUVs aren’t too thrilling to look at, the Equinox’s look is one of the better designs in class, and my test vehicle was helped along by its sharp “Orange Burst Metallic” paint scheme.
The Equinox is classified as a compact SUV (the Trax being the subcompact in the Chevy family, the Traverse the midsize). I found the space situation in the Equinox to be roomy, but not a class leader. You get a grand total of 63.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.
The 2019 Chevy Suburban isn’t just big.
It’s not just huge.
It’s absolutely massive.
It’s too big for some people, probably most people.
But the truck-based full-size SUV is great for large families (and sports teams) and can seat up to 9 people comfortably, a claim not many vehicles can make.
It’s also very adjustable, with the second and third rows folding down for maximum storage space. You can either pack in a bunch of people or a bunch of stuff, or sometimes both. You’ll find 39.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row (which is actually comfortable for adults to sit in), and 121.7 cubic feet with the 2nd and 3rd rows folded down.
The downside of this size is maneuverability (or lack thereof) in tighter spaces, as well as the difficulty of finding a proper parking space at times. Once you’re parked though, you won’t have any trouble finding this big boy in the lot. I often just parked farther away, which is generally a wise move anyway.
It terms of the interior, you’ll find in the Suburban a well-appointed design that is sharp looking but just shy of luxury level materials that you’ll find in its GM cousin Cadillac Escalade model
All passengers have plenty of leg and head room, seats are comfy, there’s lots of charging locations for your devices, and tech setup/controls are intuitive.
It’s been nearly a decade, but the Chevy Traverse is at long last getting an overhaul.
Lower in annual sales that most of its three-row SUV competition, it’s made some needed changes (slimmer weight, boosted power, tech upgrades) to help catch up to the many vehicles in a class that only continues to grow (Its competitors include the new Volkswagen Atlas; Ford Explorer; Dodge Durango; GMC Acadia; Honda Pilot; Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-9).
I recently spent some time in a 2018 Traverse and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up.
“Go big or go home!” is a saying I seem to hear often these days, with everyone from poker players to “Jeopardy!” contestants spouting this all-or-nothing wisdom.
But when it comes to buying a vehicle, the good news is you can go big AND go home -- you just need to get one of the few remaining truck-based full-size SUVs that are still available to consumers to do so.
One such entry in this small (but very profitable) segment is the 2018 Chevy Tahoe, which I recently had a chance to test. I’m back now with a full report on how it compares to the other remaining big boys on the battlefield including some others from within the GM stable (which collectively dominate this segment in sales) and the Ford Expedition.
Did I hear the word diesel?
It’s pretty rare these days … as diesels were never that hot on this side of the pond, and after the scandals involving Volkswagen and other automakers in recent years it’s a format that few automakers are eager to explore here, as they choose to leave their diesel offerings overseas and not stateside.
But for those who dare (GM is offering diesel engines on the Chevy Cruze and GMC Terrain in addition to the Equinox), it remains an alternate way to offer better fuel milage without offering hybrid or electric vehicles.
The question is: Can diesels ever really catch on the U.S.A.? I recently tested a 2018 Equinox diesel and I’m back with a full report.
The future is now. That’s how General Motors sees things, at least.
Having announced this month a move toward a future heavy with electric vehicles (aka EVs), and an estimated 20 new General Motors EV models promised by 2023, GM (and other automakers) are banking on this being the way we travel in the future. The biggest brand in the Motor City sees a future not of loud hot rod engines, but of quietly humming EVs.|
I was able to spend some time in the brand new Chevy Bolt EV this month, and it’s not a stretch to call this vehicle GM’s biggest news in decades. I have driven many EVs in recent years, and the Bolt was arguably the best experience I’ve had in one -- mainly because due to its very impressive 238-mile maximum electric range. I never once had even a thought of “range anxiety,” the issue that has plagued previous EV models and limited their success.
My initial thoughts on the Bolt were that it’s an awesome leap for GM to put out those kind of numbers. This puts other EVs to shame (outside of a pair of overpriced Tesla models that beat the Bolt’s numbers), and has drawn some eyes to GM who normally would not look at the brand.
Built in Michigan at GM’s Orion Township plant, the Bolt ditches the gas backup engine you’ll find on the Chevy Volt (essentially rendering the Volt obselete), and despite being a true EV it actually drives like something pretty close to a normal car. The Bolt offers 200 horsepower from the electric motor, and features a 60-kWh battery pack. Regenerative braking charges the battery, so it’s most efficient in stop-and-go traffic.
Read on for my full take on the Bolt EV, and the future of EVs in general.
SUVs may be all the rage now, but Chevrolet was well ahead of its time more than 80 years ago, when it introduced the 1935 “Carryall Suburban” vehicle, which must have felt tremendously out of place among the vehicles of its day with its longer wheelbase.
The nameplate is still going strong (the longest one in the business in fact) and I recently spent some time in much more recent version of the mark -- the 2017 Chevy Suburban.
With a limited number of full-size truck-based SUV competitors (Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Toyota Sequoia and Nissan Armada), plus a few that fall within the GM lineup (GMC Yukon and Yukon XL; Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade), the Suburban does quite well in this segment.
But the real question with this type of vehicle is -- who really needs it? I’m here to answer that question.
The Trax, being just a few years old now, is among the lesser known vehicles in the Chevy lineup. But this subcompact SUV is one the automaker has high hopes for, as sales continue to rise amid a surge in support for this emerging class of vehicles.
In essence, Chevy’s entry in the mini-ute category is a more simplified version of GM’s more upscale Buick Encore offering. I recently spent some time in a 2017 Trax and I am back with a full report on how it competes against the other small soldiers on the roadways.
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While higher off the ground than sedans, mini-SUVs are going to all be pretty tight inside. It comes with the territory.
But overall, the Trax has a decent amount of room for the segment. Though sitting two up front and three in back will be a tight squeeze. I wouldn’t do it regularly unless the ones in back are all little ones.
Compact cars may be a smaller part of the sales pie than they used to be, but they’re not going away. Chevy knows this, and are doing what they can to keep the Cruze up-to-date in this extremely competitive segment.
One thing they were lacking was a hatchback option on the Cruze. While they long ago offered a hatch overseas on the Cruze, it’s just now coming to the U.S., having debuted with the 2017 model. I recently tested one out and I’m back with a full report.
Few car makes can stand alone as one name, and instantly be recognized by nearly everyone: “Camaro” is one of those that can, with the muscle car having been part of the collective American consciousness for fifty years -- let’s just call it what it is, an icon.
I recently spent some time in a 2016 Camaro, and here are some key things you need to know about this Michigan-made hot rod.
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For a while, many in America were thinking smaller. Whether due to the economy or other reasons, people shied away from large vehicles and thought more compactly -- hence the rise of smaller crossover SUVs.
Well now, it’s beyond compact -- we’re into the age of subcompact crossovers, and one of those entries in this new category is the 2015 Chevy Trax, which I recently tested.
I’m back with a full report on my experience driving the newest model offered by the Bowtie.
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