2016 Chevrolet Equinox FWD LT

Now that the Chevrolet Trax is the brand’s smallest crossover, the Equinox becomes something of a middle child in the Chevrolet CUV lineup. That said, it may not be flashy but the Equinox is the second best-selling Chevy in North America, with only the Silverado Pickup moving more units in 2015. The small crossover segment is, after all, not a small segment. The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox SUV gets mild updates to help it stay upmarket of the smaller, cheaper Trax.

The styling has been updated somewhat, and built-in wifi with 4G LTE service is now offered on all trim levels. The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox is thus still a class leader when it comes to in-car tech. Chevrolet’s phone pairing works well, about on a par with the systems that now come in Ford, Toyota and Chrysler cars. Four-wheel drive is optional on the 2016 Chevrolet Equinox.

We tested a patriot blue metallic front-wheel-drive LT model powered by the 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4. The base engine, this little mill makes 182 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. Paired with the standard 6-speed automatic, pickup is leisurely, about as you’d expect.

The 2016 Chevrolet Equinox FWD LT does return decent gas mileage, though, probably a more important consideration than raw power in this segment. It’s rated at 22 mpg city/32 highway. Opting for all-wheel drive or the V6 knocks these numbers down a bit, of course.

If you’re looking for one of the better looking crossovers out there, and place a priority on in-car infotainment tech, the Equinox is worth a look. For driving fun it may not be the most exciting, but it also has more cargo space than most rivals and deliver the U in its acronym: utility. Overall safety rating tops at an honorable 4 stars, so you and the family can feel confident on the tasks ahead.