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April 16, 2005
Chevy's Equinox is a Top-Selling Hit
GM has a new product success story on their hands in the Equinox SUV, which is selling quite well since its introduction a little over a year ago.
Actually, that's an understatement. For the first quarter of 2005, the Equinox has been the number one seller in the small SUV category every month, by a wide margin. [See chart after the jump.]
On the market only eight full months last year, the Equinox sold 84,024 units -- well ahead of its nearest competition, the Nissan Xterra, which sold 66,690 in twelve months. In 2005, the Equinox has sold 29,777 vehicles through March.
In the overall SUV segment, the Equinox is the 11th best-selling vehicle, which is led by the Ford Explorer in first place and the Chevy Trailblazer in second.
Autodata, the company that compiles industry statistics, does not include the Equinox in the "Sport wagon/crossover" category, which is led in sales by the Ford Escape. Were the Equinox listed there, it would be the fourth best seller, behind the Escape, Honda CR-V and Toyota Highlander.
No matter how you slice the stats, the Equinox is performing better than anyone in the auto media is acknowledging.
Sold in two versions, the Equinox LS lists for $20,995 and the LT starts at $22,710. Both are front-wheel drive; the LS can be outfitted with all-wheel drive for $22,970; the LT gets AWD at $24,335.
The Equinox is an all-new vehicle for GM, and though it does replaces the Tracker in the small SUV category the two vehicles are completely different. Based on the same architecture as the Saturn VUE, the Equinox has a redesigned exterior and interior design and has both a longer wheelbase and wider stance.
Both the LS and LT share a 3.4L V-6 engine that produces 185-horsepower and is rated at 19 MPG in the city, 22 on the highway. Chevy dealers currently offer 0% financing on 36-month loans and a choice of either $1,000 in "Hot Button Bonus Cash" or a $1,500 total cash allowance.
The GM Hot Button program is giving away 1,000 vehicle between April 11 and May 31 to consumers who go to a GM dealer, push the OnStar button in a vehicle -- and are then told they are one of the lucky winners. Either way, you can use the $1,000 against the price of the vehicle you buy, though no purchase is required just to walk into a dealership and play.
Posted by Frank at April 16, 2005 3:42 PM | Filed under Auto News
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