2018 Holden Equinox on sale in December

The local pricing and specifications for the new Holden Equinox have been revealed ahead of the car’s local launch in December 2017, with pricing starting from $27,990 plus on-road costs. Half replacing the five and seven-seat Captiva (the incoming Acadia seven-seat SUV will be the other half of this upon its release in 2018), the Equinox is a five-seat midsize SUV that competes with cars such as the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4, among many others.

Equinox is a fresh nameplate to Australia after being sold in North America as a Chevrolet since 2004. The new model is the third generation of the nameplate, and the expansion of the Equinox name to Australia as a Holden marks the first time that it has been exported under a different badge.

“Equinox is a game-changer for Holden and will undoubtedly battle it out at the top of the mid-size SUV segment,” said Holden’s Executive Director – Sales, Michael Filazzola.

“Our customers are demanding more technology and more performance without sacrificing any practicality or value, and with Equinox, Holden is delivering once again.

Opening at $27,990 plus on-road costs, the Holden Equinox range will offer a choice of five different specification levels, five different available drivetrains and pricing ranging all the way up to $46,290. At the entry point of the range, a turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol engine is available coupled to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, with a 2.0-litre turbo engine in both front and all-wheel drive through the mid- and high-end of the range. In 2018 a 1.6-litre turbo diesel will become available from LS+ models and above.

Entry level LS models are offered with a 127kW 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with a $27,990 six-speed manual or $29,990 six-speed automatic – both are front-wheel drive. LS models are equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, six airbags, a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a reversing camera and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, automatic headlights with LED daytime running lights, 2x USB charging points in the front and rear seats, as well as active noise cancellation for the automatic.

Disappointingly, the entry level Equinox LS is not available with any form of active safety – the autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alert of the entry-level Mazda CX-5 Maxx is not available on the Equinox LS.

To gain such equipment, buyers must step up to the auto-only $32,990 LS+, which adds AEB, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, a following distance indicator and forward collision warning with head-up warning, as well as blind-spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, automatic high beam headlights, a leather steering wheel and electric-folding mirrors.

Above the LS+ sits the $36,990 LT, which gains a 188kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission, as well as 18-inch alloy wheels, a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen with inbuilt satellite navigation and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring, heated front seats, front parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, one-touch folding rear seats and HID headlights.

The $39,990 LTZ specification arrives with larger 19-inch alloy wheels, an electric hands free tailgate, automatic perpendicular and parallel parking, rain-sensing wipers, leather seats, wireless phone charging, heated front and rear seats, roof rails, DAB+ digital radio, LED headlights and tailights, a Bose sound system and an electrically-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment and memory settings. All-wheel drive is an option on the LTZ for $4,300.

At the top of the local Equinox tree is the $46,290 LTZ-V. The LTZ-V adds a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, an electric passenger seat with lumbar adjustment and memory settings, as well as standard-fit all-wheel drive. Disappointingly, no Equinox is available with radar cruise control, nor reverse automatic braking.

Whilst Holden is yet to release more technical details of the Equinox range, we do know that its maximum boot capacity is listed as a huge 1,798-litres of space with the rear seats folded – a full 456-litres larger than the top-selling Mazda CX-5. Seats up, up to 847-litres is listed by overseas sources – again, much larger than the CX-5.

2018 Holden Equinox pricing (plus on-road costs):
Equinox LS 1.5 manual FWD – $27,990
Equinox LS 1.5 auto FWD – $29,990
Equinox LS+ 1.5 auto FWD – $32,990
Equinox LT 2.0 auto FWD – $36,990
Equinox LTZ 2.0 auto FWD – $39,990
Equinox LTZ 2.0 auto AWD – $44,290
Equinox LTZ-V 2.0 auto AWD – $46,290

(Equinox diesel variants TBC)