GM Testing Indicates 2010 Chevrolet Equinox Will Offer Best-In-Segment Highway Fuel Economy of 32 mpg
05 May 2009
Internal GM testing of the new 2010 Equinox indicates that the front-wheel drive models with the direct-injected 2.4-liter I-4 engine will offer an EPA estimated 32 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg city. GM expects final official EPA estimates shortly.
| The 2010 Equinox will likely carry a 32 mpg highway rating. Click to enlarge. |
At 32 mpg, the 2010 Equinox will offer best-in-segment highway fuel economy and have a highway driving range of up to 600 miles. GM’s biggest competitors in this segment and their 2009 EPA fuel economy estimates are the Honda CR-V (20/27) and the Toyota RAV-4 (22/28).
At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, GM had said that the 2010 Equinox would achieve at least 30 mpg highway.
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| The 2010 Ecotec 2.4L I-4 VVT DI (LAF) for Chevrolet Equinox. Click to enlarge. |
2010 Ecotec 2.4L I-4, VVT DI (LAF). The 2.4-liter direct injection engine in the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox (which will also be applied in the GMC Terrain) generates 182 hp (136 kW) of power and 172 lb-ft (233 N·m) of torque. (Earlier post.)
A higher compression ratio (11.4:1 in the LAF engine) is also possible due to the cooling effect as the directly injected fuel vaporizes in the combustion chamber. This cooling effect reduces the charge temperature reducing the likelihood of spark knock. The direct-injection fuel injectors have been developed to withstand the greater heat and pressure inside the combustion chamber, and also utilize multiple outlets for best injection control.
The increased combustion efficiency and control helps to reduce emissions, particularly during cold starts, which is when the bulk of emissions are created.
Continuously variable valve timing (VVT) optimizes the engine. Both the intake and exhaust cams have hydraulically operated vane-type phasers that are managed by a solenoid and directed by the engine control module (ECM). The phasers turn the camshaft relative to the drive sprocket, allowing intake and exhaust valve timing to be adjusted independently.
The slightly dished LAF pistons use a lightweight design, resulting in less reciprocating mass inside the engine, increasing efficiency, decreasing vibration and enhancing the feeling of performance as the engine builds revs.
Each piston has its own directed jet that sprays oil toward its skirt, coating its underside and the cylinder wall with an additional layer of lubricant. The extra lubrication cools the pistons, reducing both friction and operational noise and helping ensure durability to match the engine’s high output.
Better late than never...but too bad this didn't come out in 2008.
I just hope enough people still have faith in GM to buy these products. It's important to have an auto industry that is american owned, otherwise we start looking like a colony.
Posted by: danm | 05 May 2009 at 05:46 AM
2009 Honda Accord 31hwy / 22city
2009 Toyota Camry 31hwy / 21city
Along comes GM with a friggin' SUV that trumps two mid-size sedans from Toyota and Honda in fuel economy.
Will they put this 4-banger into a Malibu? I'd expect 33-34hwy and 23-24 city with that combo.
Posted by: Patrick | 05 May 2009 at 07:58 AM
These are internal GM estimates, so I'll wait for the official EPA numbers. And it will be curious to see if the numbers change for the sedan models (and similar cars) you mentioned.
And yes, why don't they have a 1.8L version for passenger cars? Why so much attention still placed on SUVs?
Posted by: Will S | 05 May 2009 at 09:27 AM
2009 Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
* 2.4L I4, 16 valves, 169 hp
* 6 speed automatic transmission
* 22 mpg city / 33 mpg hwy
Curb Weight AT 3649
Good numbers and this is not the DI engine...yet.
Posted by: SJC | 05 May 2009 at 10:05 AM
If they add Start/Stop, they might have something....assuming GM is still solvent.
Posted by: dursun | 05 May 2009 at 10:37 AM
2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
Standard Engine 2.4L I4
Standard Transmission 4 Speed Automatic
Cylinders 4
Horsepower @RPM 164@6400
Fuel Economy Cty/Hwy 26 / 34
Combined Fuel Economy 29
Curb Weight AT 3537
26/34 with the start/stop BAS system is not bad. $25k MSRP is a good price for a mid sized sedan with this kind of mileage.
Posted by: SJC | 05 May 2009 at 10:57 AM
Nice, totally creames the other small SUV competition, especially on the highway.
Now stick that same engine in a sedan and add their BAS and it should get 30mpg city and close to 40mpg highway.
If they could also turn it into an Atkinson cycle engine with a full hybrid drivetrain, it'd probably match the Honda Insight with a much larger vehicle.
Any idea when we'll start seeing DI in hybrids with the Atkinson cycle?
Posted by: Dave R | 05 May 2009 at 11:13 AM
The present Malibu I4 6 speed with BAS, even without the DI engine, ALREADY meets the 2020 CAFE rules for 35 mpg. The Equinox with BAS should also meet the 2020 CAFE 35 mpg standard.
Unlike the EPA wihich just abitrarily dreams up a number to paste on the window sticker, the NHTSA CAFE has a defined profile of a genuine travel trip. Furthermore it has not changed, since 1973, so we can say that the Equinox gets 165% of the mileage of the VW Beetle back in 1975. It also get 331% of the average mileage of the typical US sedan back in 1973.
Progress is substantial, even if the the prissy know nothings don't know what happened yesterday. At the same time these vehicles are near zero genuine pollution, even though powered by ICE engines. The profitable lifestyle of the environmental "leaders" is endangered because we are close to accomplishing all that we set out to do, to clean up our Autos and our Environment.
That is part of the reason for their concern with a phantom worry like CO2. They have to keep scaring people to keep the donations feeding their lifestyles, even if their has been no Global Warming for going into 11 years.
Posted by: ExDemo | 05 May 2009 at 01:04 PM
near zero genuine pollution
And I thought I had heard everything...
Posted by: Will S | 06 May 2009 at 05:31 PM
I see Chevy is now advertising the 32 mpg EPA rating. Was it made official? I looked at the DoE website and it says 19 city and 25 highway for the 2010 Equinox.
By the way, Chevy calls the Equinox a crossover. Is that fair, when they compare it to Honda CR-V, Rav4 and Ford Escape in its class. Those are all SUVs. Shouldn't Chevy be comparing the Equinox to a Pontiac Vibe, which has 32 mpg (highway) and 26 mpg (city)
Posted by: Times Editor | 19 August 2009 at 03:21 PM
Exdemo, I tell you what, I'll offer you the salary of the average environmental advocacy professional. You wouldn't take it.
And it's nice that Chevy makes a decent SUV, but it still burns 1000 gal/year of Middle Eastern gold. Do you hate America that you think we should be buying that stuff from them, forever, while they fund our enemies?
Posted by: Dollared | 14 June 2011 at 11:03 PM