Holden Equinox facelifted

Chevrolet revealed a facelifted mid-size SUV at the Chicago auto show this week, providing an early look at the upgraded Holden Equinox destined for Australia.

However, carsales understands the 2021 Holden Equinox won’t arrive in local showrooms until the fourth quarter of this year because Holden has just released a heavily truncated Equinox range for 2020.

Quietly introduced earlier this year, the updated MY20 Equinox range has been culled from 10 to four variants following the axing of entry-level LS manual and LS+ auto variants, plus all diesel versions and most all-wheel drive models.

For 2020, Holden’s answer to top-selling SUVs like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4, both of which found about 25,000 Aussie homes last year, now opens at $31,990 plus on-road costs (previously $27,990).

All Holden Equinox models – including a new $34,990 Black Edition based on the now-base LT – are now fitted with the same front-drive 127kW/275Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol automatic powertrain, except the mid-range 2WD LTZ ($39,990) and the range-topping AWD LTZ-V ($44,990), both of which get a 188kW/353Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol auto combo.

Last year Holden sold just 4562 examples of the Equinox, which was launched here in 2017. That represents an 8.7 per cent decline on 2018 sales and accounted for just 3.4 per cent of Australia’s biggest SUV sales segment.

Holden will likely want to clear stocks of MY20 models before releasing the facelifted MY21 Equinox, which in the US brings a range of cosmetic and equipment updates.

Echoing the Chinese version, first images of which were leaked in January, North America’s upgraded Equinox brings bolder front-end design featuring a full-width bar that horizontally splits the new grille and headlights.

In the US, the new-look frontal styling is joined by fresh bumpers at both ends, a new rear diffuser insert and revised tail-light graphics, plus new features including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist and automatic headlights.

New options for the US include a high-definition surround view camera, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and a parking assistant.

Some of these items are already seen in Holden’s Equinox, which comes standard with an 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system with smartphone mirroring, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping, forward collision alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, six airbags and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Like North America’s Equinox RS, our Black Edition adds 19-inch alloy wheels and a black grille, mirror caps and fog light bezels, plus privacy glass, roof rails and a panoramic sunroof.

LTZ variants add a powered tailgate, auto-parking, auto wipers, heated leather seats, wireless phone charging, LED headlights and tail-lights, Bose sound and a powered driver's seat.

The top-shelf Equinox LTZ-V adds AWD and, for 2020, a 360-degree surround-view camera, among other extras.