A big guy requires a big ride. Depending on the size of their ride, drivers can feel cramped as they’re traveling in their vehicle. This can lead to an uncomfortable driving experience, and depending on how much you drive your vehicle, you may find that the discomfort is affecting your normal life.
George Scione, a reporter for The Telegraph in Hudson, New Hampshire, is a larger gentleman, and he had been unable to find the proper automotive fit. He had previously driven a Ram, but the tiny cabin proved to be too small. His Dodge Durango proved a bit more spacious, but it still didn’t do the trick.
“I obviously wanted a bigger car,” Scione explained. “Plus, with gas being the way it’s been over the last couple of years, I kind of had in the back of my head that maybe I should be looking for something more economical. I started looking up some cars with four-cylinder engines, and I ended up coming across the [2015] Chevy Equinox.”
Scione certainly didn’t expect to land on this particular SUV. Having owned Dodge or Jeeps for his entire life, he was expecting to stick with a similar brand. However, after having inspected the vehicle at a local dealership, he immediately knew that he was going to make the purchase.
Roominess was Scione’s main priority, and the Equinox delivered in that respect. With 40.9 inches of front head room, 54.6-inches of front hip room, and 41.2-inches of front leg room, he found that he had ample space to spread out and stretch. In fact, he’s even found that the SUV is also a comfortable spot to take a brief lunchtime nap.
“Yeah, it’s definitely comfortable,” he said. “It’s pretty spacious. I mean, my dream would be to find cars and SUVs that have bench seats like the old days. They’re not going to make those, though, so I have to instead try and find bucket seats that are a little bit more roomy for a bigger person.”
Plus, the 63.7-cubic-feet of cargo room meant that George could fit whatever luggage he saw fit. Whether he’s packing camera equipment for an assignment or loading his golf clubs for the links, he’s found zero issue fitting all of his self-proclaimed “junk.” Plus, with the addition of the 60/40 split-folding seats, George can manipulate his cargo area for maximum flexibility.
“I live out of my car so if you go look in the back right now, you’ll see it’s stacked up with everything,” he said. “I mean, it still has beach chairs. I’ve had golf clubs, gym equipment. I even had a tote in there with extra clothes. I’m constantly in it, so it’s basically like a second home.”
Scione has even found additional reasons to appreciate the roomy and comfortable interior.
“It’s good for my family’s dogs or pets,” he said. “There’s a lot of room for all the animals to relax and spread out; they’re not all on top of each other. When we’ve gone on trips, we just let the dogs roam around the back, and there’s still enough room for them to maneuver around all of my junk.”
Since his job requires a lot of traveling, Scione has appreciated the fuel economy of the vehicle, which is “as good as advertised.” Delivering a 22 city/32 highway mile per gallon efficiency, George has found that he’s actually pocketing money due to the infrequent trips to the pump. This is a far cry from his previous vehicles, which practically required daily refills.
“It ended up being a little bit better on gas but still gave me an SUV style,” he said. “It helped me make my mind up and go with the Equinox. It’s been as good as they said it’d be. I’ll literally be on the road all week and I won’t have to fill up more than twice.”
He’s also been surprised by the engine’s adequate amount of power. The 2.4-liter 16-valve engine pumps out 182 horsepower and 172 pounds-feet of torque. When paired with a four-wheel independent suspension and a front/rear stabilizer bar, drivers can expect excellent handling and drivability. Having to operate on a deadline, Scione acknowledged that he’s certainly tested the power to get to his destination sooner.
“It has pretty good acceleration, especially for a four cylinder engine,” he said. “I’m a big guy, so with me driving in it, I was actually pretty surprised. When you’re going on the highway, it picks up pretty quickly. There’s no drag in it.”
Besides the roominess and fuel efficiency, Scione has also learned to depend on the rear-view camera. The unit allows the driver to monitor all of the happenings behind their vehicle, preventing them from getting in a collision. George never thought the feature would be necessary until he actually had it.
“It comes in handy a lot more than I thought it was going to,” he said. “I used to joke and make fun of people who had it, but it does come in handy. When I’m parking, I can see everything that’s behind me.”
Scione also gushed about the power liftgate. When he has to hustle from one event to another, he doesn’t have time to finagle for his keys. Plus, considering all of the equipment he’s required to haul, it makes loading and unloading an absolute breeze.
“I’m a big fan of the touch tailgate,” he said. “I don’t have to fiddle with my keys and try to find them. I can just hit the button and it’ll go up.”
The Chevy Equinox clearly provides a number of amenities that make for one of the best possible driving experiences. Whether it be the spacious interior, powerful engine, or variety of convenience features, drivers will be content as they’re traveling in the SUV.
As a first time Chevy owner, is Scione going to stick around? He’s very certain he will be.
“I like the comfort of it,” he said. “I like the economy. I like the features, I like the engine. There’s really nothing not to like. I’m not sure why I took so long to come over, actually.”
