After a long wait, specifications and pricing have been announced for the 2018 Holden Equinox SUV. The once proud lion brand has been sitting on its hands for over a decade while the midsize SUV segment grew, the Equinox will give Holden a model to compete with the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V.
The Equinox will open with the front drive LS manual for $27,990 (all prices before on-roads), a model that private buyers will ignore in favour of automatic variants which start at $29,990.
The LS+ model looks to be the sweet spot in the range and comes in at $32,990.
In terms of competition, the Equinox will need to be a strong offering, unlike the Captiva which sells only on price.
Holden was quick to talk things up, “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.
“We’ve got premium features like a dual-panel panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel and safety alert driver’s seat that gives a small vibration to warn drivers of potential hazards. Not to mention Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a rear-view camera as standard across the range.
“In terms of practicality, Equinox has a huge cargo space of 1798 litres when the fold-flat seats are down, a hands-free power tailgate and one of the highest towing capacities in the segment.”
The 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit develops 127kW of power, while the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol produces 188kW, some quick research indicates this is the highest output in the class. Torque figures are still to be confirmed by Holden.
A 1.6-litre diesel engine will be available at some point in 2018.
Depending on the model, a six or nine-speed automatic transmission will be available alongside the entry-level manual.
In a good move, early buyers of the Equinox will quality for Holden’s promotional seven year/175,000km warranty, this offer finishes on December 31.
2018 Holden Equinox Feature Highlights
LS:
1.5-litre turbo ECOTEC petrol engine
6-speed automatic/manual transmission
6 airbags
17-inch alloy wheels
Electric Power Steering (EPS)
Rear view camera and rear park assist
ISOFIX child seat anchorage system (x2)
60/40 split-folding rear seats
Automatic headlamps with LED DRLs
Active Noise Cancellation (auto only)
Holden MyLink Infotainment System with 7-inch high-resolution colour touch-screen display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Full iPod integration including Siri Eyes Free
USB input (2x front, 2 x rear) and charge point (1 x front, 1 x rear)
LS+ features over LS:
Holden Eye forward-facing camera system
Automatic Emergency Braking
Lane Keep Assist
Lane Departure Warning
Following Distance Indicator
Forward Collision Alert with Head-Up Warning
Side Blind Spot Alert
Safety Alert driver’s seat
Rear cross traffic alert
Automatic high beam assist
Leather steering wheel
Power folding exterior mirrors
LT features over LS+:
2.0-litre turbo petrol engine
9-speed automatic transmission
18-inch alloy wheels
Holden MyLink Infotainment System with 8-inch high-resolution colour touch-screen display
Apple CarPlay® and Android® Auto phone projection
Full iPod® integration including Siri Eyes Free
Satellite Navigation with full-colour mapping with live traffic updates, traffic management control and points of interest
Heated front seats
Front parking sensors
Dual zone climate control
Provision for roof rack mounting
One-touch 60/40 split-folding rear seats with rear cargo release
Diesel engine option (coming 2018)
HID headlights
LTZ features over LT:
19-inch alloy wheels
Hands-free power tailgate
Advanced park assist (automatic perpendicular and parallel parking)
Rain sensing wipers
Leather-appointed seating
Wireless phone charging
Heated front and rear seats
Roof rails
DAB+
LED headlights and tail-lights
Bose premium audio system
LED headlights
Power driver’s seat with lumbar and memory
Adaptive AWD system (optional)
LTZ-V features over LTZ:
Dual-panel panoramic sunroof
Heated leather steering wheel
Power passenger seat with lumbar and memory
Ventilated front seats
Adaptive AWD system (standard)
2018 Holden Equinox pricing (excluding 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
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