2009 Chevrolet Equinox

After many years of serving the cute SUV market with the Suzuki-supplied Tracker, Chevrolet eventually came up with its own product, the Equinox. Though it borrowed its underpinnings from another GM product, the Saturn VUE, Chevy's version ended up having some pretty marked differences.

The Equinox got its own engine, better seats, and an interior with cleaner ergonomics. Yet what really set the Equinox apart (from the VUE or otherwise) was its size. Its body measures 189 inches (longer than any other compact SUV), a fact that pays off big for rear passengers. They benefit further from a bench seat that can slide fore/aft to accommodate people of any size -- probably the Equinox's best feature. In fact, comfort seems to be a high priority all around, judging by its slow, light steering, soft suspension, and wide turning circle. The Equinox is definitely one of the lazier-driving SUVs.

Laziness is also apparent in its design. The Equinox's main engine is an aged pushrod 3.4-liter V6 that makes only 185 horsepower and gets mediocre mileage. The transmission has only four speeds, and the optional all-wheel-drive system is known for its delayed reactions. For 2008, the Equinox gained a new Sport version with a more powerful V6, but that model starts at $28K, while the Equinox remains the only small SUV without a 4-cylinder engine. Some also find the Equinox a noisy vehicle with a rental car interior. It also lacks the option of body-level side airbags, and its 67 cubic feet of cargo room is scant for something this size.

If getting the biggest back seat for the money is your most important criteria in an SUV, the Equinox is hard to beat. But in too many ways, the Equinox takes a back seat to its competitors.