i've done a few online side by side comparisons, but i'm looking for anyone with actual experience. the trailblazer appears to be more vehicle for the money, more hp, more interior room, etc. the equinox is slightly more fuel efficient, and is supposed to have a more "car like" ride. i like the look of the tb more, the equinox looks a bit soft.

i'm not necessarily sold on either of these, so if you can come up with any models you would recommend over these two, fire away. opinions?

my inlaws have a trailblazer, and while i like the ride and drive, its not as refined as say the outlook/acadia. not having driven the equinox, but a cousin in the newest vue, i can say i liked most everything about the vue except its slightly small size, and being somewhat loud (with the 3.6 VVT engine) at higher rpms and speeds.

I drove a GMC Envoy(Trail Blazer Cousin) for the past 8 days through Oregon. Hated it. I could not get comfortable in the seat. I hate the way it coasts...it rocked back and forth and swayed badly. Very little cupholder space. And very little storage space in the back... it was a golf outing and there is no way we could have carried 4 guys with luggage.

It was 2 of us in the car and we had to use the back seat to be able to carry everything we had.

I would never ever buy this vehicle.

I have driven an Equinox through New Englad earlier this year. I don't remember much because I was very unimpressed with it.

I guess similar vehicles in this class would be 4-runner or Highlander.. which I love.

Oh, the best SUV rental I had was last year this time.. Ford Edge. I drove that sucker all over Oregon. I would buy it.

For the OP - how did you narrow your selection to these two? Apologies to BigRobSA for his TBSS that must be a beast, but the TB and the Equinox are absolutely mediocre vehicles.

There must be at least 10, maybe 20 mid-size SUVs that are better all around than those two.

quote:

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how did you narrow your selection to these two?

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+1

+3


I drive the TBSS because it's a friggin' beast, not because a normal TB got my gander up and I found the SS by accident.

No apologies necessary, Spice!

outside of a trailblazer SS, why would you even consider it. Not only is it mediocre at best, but it also is based on platform that started in 2001(ish). Needless to say the car is being dropped after this year. Why buy a new ride that is already dead?

BigRobSA - I'm a fan of you and your TBSS beast. So I hate to criticize your TBSS. But of course I wasn't criticizing YOURS!

Just the one the OP was looking at.

AimtoMaim,

HEY!

They changed the wiper design in 2007. It's had a face-lift, damnit!!!!

what's your price range? engine size/hp preference? mpg range? cargo space, 3rd row seat, towing capacity, etc preference?

We'll find you something WAY better than these two lame ducks, I can assure you.

this is actually exactly what i needed/wanted to hear. i am from a chevy family and we have always had suburbans and silverados (1500s and 2500s) so i guess i just naturally gravitated to those 2 models. i don't need a suburban or tahoe or anything that big, and i don't want a truck. i don't really want a coupe or sedan either, because i have a lead foot, and i get enough speeding tickets as it is in my jeep (the only non-chevy vehicle my family has owned).

i don't plan on doing much towing, and i don't really have a daily commute, so horsepower and gas mileage aren't huge issues. i like the interior space and functionality of an suv, but don't do any offroading anymore, so i don't need 4wd.

price range between 18k and 25k, but that's not set in stone. give me some suggestions.

Toyota Rav4



Mazda CX-7



Subaru Outback



Mitsubishi Outlander



Honda CRV



Honda Pilot



Nissan Murano



Volkswagen Tiguan




If I were you, I would take a look at the two Hondas (depends on what size you prefer), the Toyota Rav4, Mazda cx-7, or the VW.

All of these can be had for ~$26 or less, and all have either v6 or i-4 engines. The Rav4 and CRV's have come a LONG way in terms of cargo space and functionality and are actually very capable every-day machines.

I've heard nothing but good things about the CX-7, and the Volkswagen interests me based on looks and VW reputation; I, admittedly, know nothing about that particular model, since it is new.

Hope this helps and gives you a broad scope of what's available! Happy hunting!

Chevy Equinox has a Chinese assembled V6 which is a deal killer for me.

Did you cross shop anything else that everyone above mentioned?

I like the CX7 and the Vue.

The suggestions above are good ones. The VW Tiguan had a very good review in Consumer Reports but it is brand new. I'm a bit scared of brand new VW SUVs because the Toureg is terrible.

If you want American - you really should look at the Ford Edge. At the high end of your price range but it has a solid platform, good style, and Edmunds readers give it a 9.0 rating, significantly better than the Saturn Vue.

None of the small or mid-size Jeeps or Dodges are worth considering.

Ford Escape is worth a look too. A little small but still very capable.

If you are a bowtie guy, wait it out a couple more months for the '09 Chevy Traverse.

http://www.chevrolet.com/traverse/?seo=goo_|_2008_Chevy_Retention_|_IMG_Chevy_Traverse_|_Chevy_Traverse_|_09_chevy_traverse

Price is more than the TB and Equinox though

http://www.chevrolet.com/traverse/PricingPDF.pdf

the traverse looks good, but it's more car (8 passenger) and more money (40k loaded) than i want/need.

the only ones that i really like the looks of out of flaith's list are the murano and the tiguan. i know it might sound odd for the guy who liked the tb to be too picky on style, but i guess it just did it for me. i have a friend with an 07 murano and it's definitely a nice ride. my dad has a tdi jetta for his commuter car (forgot about that one, our other non-chevy) and he likes it. the maintenance seems to be a little more expensive, but it definitely has problems less frequently than my jeep or any of our trucks. anyone seen any other reviews on the tiguan?

thanks guys.

I would at least look at the Vue, its on par with the vehicles you listed but much cheaper w/employee pricing.

22.5k for a 3.6l loaded with leather, hard to pass up that deal.

Man Card

http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2009-volkswagen-tiguan.htm

it rates higher than the avg

[This message has been edited by Flaith (edited 9/11/2008 9:03a).]

Just turned in my 2006 Explorer (company car) and got a Equinox. I admit that I was disappointed when I got the car but I grown to like it quite a bit. It actually has more interior room in the front and rear than the Explorer. You give up the room in the rear.

The back row does have a neat feature that will allow you to move the entire rear row forward. This really increases the rear storage.

I have only had the car for 16K but I would probably order another one if I had to choose between the Explorer and Chevy

i'm in florida right now and have an xterra for a rental. the base model has a lot of cheap looking plastic inside but there is a lot of interior room, cargo space, and the ride seems pretty solid on the highway and in town.

not saying it is now on my list or anything, but does anyone have any input on the xterra? when it first came out i remember some people calling it a "girly" suv but this doesn't look bad.

I just bought a '07 Xterra this week and so far so good. Paid $16,300 for it with 10,000 miles and got Nissan's bumper to bumper 100,000 mile warranty with no deductible for another $600. I think it is less "girly" than a Trailblazer or Equinox, but it does not have a "car like" ride, if that is something you are looking for.

Not mine, but I like....



[This message has been edited by slschultz02 (edited 9/13/2008 4:21p).]

i do like the looks of the xterra, definitely more than the equinox, cx-7, outback, outlander, cr-v, and pilot. i was just in florida for a week and there were trailblazers EVERYWHERE. i had never seen so many of them.

any other suggestions? thanks guys.

my dad has a new 4 runner, my boss has a new highlander, and my inlaws have a new sequoia, and they have nothing but good things to say about them

Camden Creek - you said you won't go offroad. The Exterra is designed for offroad use - like a Jeep, 4Runner, or FJ Cruiser. They have higher ground clearance, low range gearing, heavy duty suspension, etc. all of which costs money and fuel economy.

I know you said fuel economy isn't important - but why buy something that will cost you more every mile you drive it?

I drive a Nissan Pathfinder and it looks similar to the Xterra, but definitely more passenger friendly. It comes in 6 and 8 cyl. engine varieties. The Nissan V6 is pretty reliable.



In addition to the Pathfinder, I'd put the CX-7/9, Highlander, 4runner, Pilot, Outlook/Acadia, Edge all in the running before an Equinox or Trailblazer.


[This message has been edited by Ronnie (edited 9/18/2008 12:14p).]

I would look at the Edge. While I think they are a bit of a "girl" car, they look interesting and I will probably test drive one when I make another car purchase.