Enduring Equinox: Compact SUV Sales Still Rising After Five Years

Utility player of compact SUVs on track for another MVP year

Greg Stahl, president of Bob Johnson Chevrolet in Rochester, N.Y., has a pleasant problem. He cannot keep the Equinox compact SUV in stock.

While this could be true for any hot new car or truck, the Equinox is in its fifth year of production.

With sales rising every year since introduction in 2009 as a 2010 model, the Equinox joins those rare vehicles – think Toyota Camry and Honda Accord – that report sustained sales month after month and year after year.

“What gives a vehicle staying power is trust,” said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with the car-shopping website Edmunds.com. “Vehicles that are top sellers despite their age are nameplates that car shoppers can trust to have good quality, durability and reliability. They aren't designed with the latest fad in mind – they are vehicles that are tested over time and have proven to be good products.”

More than 25,300 new customers took delivery of a new Equinox in July, a 37-percent surge in year-over-year sales that is helping fuel a fifth straight year of record sales.

Year		Sales
2009		86,148
2010		149,979
2011		193,274
2012		218,621
2013		238,192

“Equinox is one of the rare vehicles that has increased its sales every year since its current generation was introduced,” said Steve Majoros, marketing director, Chevrolet. “It is a market-tested and proven product, and recommendations from enthusiastic customers form the backbone of the Equinox’s strength. We think 2014 should see the third straight year of sales above 200,000.”

Many customers are coming back for seconds – 27 percent, or nearly three in 10 – have traded in their first Equinox for a second.

Tom and Susan Wortman of Raton, N.M., were in that group, recently trading their 2010 Equinox for a 2014 model. Their 31-year-old son and 34-year-old daughter each purchased one of the small SUVs after driving their parents’ Equinox.

“We started it,” Susan Wortman said. “They enjoy the vehicle as much as we do.”

Reception of the current-generation Equinox was immediate and strong, with sales leaping from 86,148 in 2009 to 149,979 in 2010. Sales totaled 238,192 in 2013, 84 percent of them to individual buyers.  

The popularity of Equinox has led General Motors to some creative manufacturing approaches to keep up with demand. In addition to the crossover’s assembly home in Ingersoll, Ontario, GM is running a shuttle system, taking Equinox bodies to Oshawa, Ontario for paint and final production. Beyond the innovative shuttle program, GM also reopened an assembly plant in Spring Hill, Tenn., to support the additional market demand for more Equinoxes.

And that was just to meet the overwhelming retail demand. Daily rental customers were offered the similarly sized Chevrolet Captiva for their fleets, keeping retail customers at the front of the Equinox line.

Equinox seats five, offers all-wheel drive and comes standard with an Ecotec 2.4L engine EPA-estimated at 32 mpg on highway. That’s better than Honda CR-V (31 mpg) and Toyota RAV4 (31 mpg), and the Ford Escape with either the 2.5L (31 mpg) or 2.0L (30 mpg) engines. Equinox also offers a 301-hp direct-injected V-6 that enables a 3,500-pound trailering rating. Neither the CR-V, RAV4 nor Escape offer a V-6.

The Equinox is affordable, too: The starting price for the 2014 Equinox LS model is $25,315. 

New connectivity features for 2015 enhance Equinox’s position as the right vehicle for those with active lifestyles, including available OnStar with 4G LTE offering a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial, whichever comes first.

Advanced safety features, including forward collision alert and lane departure warning, are available and contribute to a comprehensive passenger protection system. The Equinox with available forward collision alert technology received a 2014 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the only midsize SUV of nine evaluated to earn a “Good” rating in the Institute’s small overlap front crash test.

Chevrolet supports Equinox owners with two years/24,000 miles – whichever comes first – of scheduled maintenance, covering four oil changes, tire rotation and 27-point inspection.

Stahl, the dealer whose store led the nation in Equinox sales in July with 98 units sold, said the small SUV resonates with value-conscious customers.

“There are a lot a features for the money,” he said. “It’s efficient and it’s also a great-looking vehicle. I can’t wait for the next shipment.”

To view current lease specials on the 2014 Equinox, visit us at kupper-chevrolet.com. 

12 GM Models Make IIHS’ First-Ever List of Recommended Used Cars for Teens

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named 12 models from current and former GM brands at Kupper Chevrolet to its first-ever list of recommended used vehicles for Bismarck-Mandan and surrounding area teen drivers.

Supported by automobile insurance companies, the IIHS released its recommended vehicles with the results of a new survey. Results of the survey showed that half of parents said their teens drive 2006 model year or earlier vehicles.

“We know many teens are driving the older, smaller vehicles in the family fleet are less likely to afford optimal crash protection,” said IIHS Senior Vice President for Research Anne Mccartt. “The vehicles from GM brands on our list provide teens with important safety features across all family budgets.”

IIHS did not recommend any brand’s mini or small cars, or high-horsepower vehicles.

“These IIHS recommendations will help guide our customers as they seek safe and affordable transportation for their young drivers,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America. “The technologies that help inexperienced teen drivers in many cases avoid crashes are found on many of our late-model vehicles.”

GM brands were recommended in two categories – Best Choices ($20,000 and under) and Good Choices ($10,000 and under) – and include Chevrolet (three models), Buick (four models), GMC (two models) and the discontinued Saab (one) and Saturn (two) brands. Pricing excludes tax, title and license and is based on oldest model and lowest trim levels in Good condition or Better condition found on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. They are:

Best Choices: Earned Good ratings in IIHS moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests; earned at least four out of five stars in federal government crash tests; and offer standard electronic stability, which helps drivers prevent rollover crashes.

Large Cars

• 2011 and later Buick Regal
• 2010 and later Buick LaCrosse

Midsize Cars

• 2010 and later Chevrolet Malibu built after November 2009
• 2012 and later Buick Verano

Midsize SUVs

• 2010 and later GMC Terrain
• 2010 and later Chevrolet Equinox

Large SUVs (GM brands swept this category)

• 2011 and later Buick Enclave
• 2011 and later GMC Acadia
• 2011 and later Chevrolet Traverse

“We are proud to be a part of the GM brand that continues to strive for outstanding safety performance in their vehicles,” said Used Car Sales Manager Rod Sandvig of Kupper Chevrolet. “As always, we are here for Bismarck-Mandan and surrounding area parents to discuss all options for teen drivers.”

Because behavior also influences traffic safety, GM and the GM Foundation are working to reduce injuries and fatalities to young drivers and passengers. In June, Safe Kids Worldwide released “Teens in Cars,” a research report funded as part of a $2-million grant from the GM Foundation. The report was based on a national survey of 1,000 teens between 13 and 19. Of those surveyed, one in four reported they do not use a seat belt all the time for reasons that range from not making it a habit to discomfort.

Visit www.kupper-chevrolet.com to view a complete list of our GM Certified Pre-Owned Inventory.

Small Crossovers Are the New Utility Players

Versatility and value are helping make compact crossovers and SUVs among the hottest vehicles in the country. Chevrolet is helping meet the demand with its strongest lineup in history, including the Equinox and – early next year – the new Trax.

“Compact crossovers and SUVs make sense for so many consumers,” said Steve Majoros, marketing director, Chevrolet. “Suited to adapt to whatever life throws at them, our customers want a vehicle that can do – and go – anywhere, and they want it with expressive design and fuel efficiency.

“It’s a tall order and it’s why Equinox sales have risen nearly every year since we introduced the original in 2006,” he said. “Next year, the Trax will provide this same flexibility in a smaller footprint.”

Equinox retail sales in June were up 11 percent from June 2013. Chevrolet has sold nearly 1.5 million Equinoxes since the first generation was introduced in 2005. A second generation was released for the 2010 model year.

The popularity of Equinox has helped Chevrolet grow its share of the segment from 7 percent to more than 10 percent in the past eight years.

Market shift

Overall, demand for compact crossovers and SUVs has nearly doubled since 2008, from 10 percent to 18 percent of the market, according to AutoTrader.com.

“Sales of crossovers of all sorts have been growing significantly in recent years, but the growth in sales of smaller crossovers and SUVs has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said Michelle Krebs, senior analyst for AutoTrader.com. “It’s easy to see why, with the segment being so versatile to meet the needs of a wide variety of car buyers. They can carry people, serve as a substitute truck or haul bigger cargo while still driving like a car.”

According to AutoTrader.com’s research, crossovers and small SUVs are the only growing segments within the SUV market and, for the first time, outpace two other segments that have experienced consistent growth in the past eight years – compact and midsize sedans.

“I call my Chevy Equinox my ‘multi-tool’ of vehicles,” said Gail Haffey of Beverly Hills, Mich. “It fits my family’s needs perfectly, from traveling to our summer cottage, to flipping down the seats to haul cargo and supplies from the garden shop, to my daily commute to work. Plus, the fuel economy is great, so I get versatility and value in one package.”

The Equinox seats five, offers a maximum cargo capacity of 63.7 cubic feet and a maximum towing rating of 3,500 pounds (3.6L V-6 models) and an EPA-rated 32 mpg highway (2.4L FWD models).

Both the Equinox and GMC Terrain with available forward collision alert technology received 2014 Top Safety Pick+ ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the only midsize SUVs of nine evaluated to earn Good ratings in the Institute’s small overlap front crash test.

For 2015, Chevrolet brings OnStar 4G LTE capabilities to Equinox and Trax. Combined with standard Chevrolet MyLink, these technologies accommodate customers’ increasingly connected lifestyles with a more reliable connection during road trips, connectivity for up to seven devices, and range of up to 50 feet outside the vehicle.

Making Trax

The Chevrolet Trax small SUV – a customer favorite in the global markets where it’s already being sold, arrives in the U.S. early next year. Part of another fast-growing segment, Trax sales have grown from just over 3,000 in 2006 to more than 90,000 last year.

Trax will offer eight different seating arrangements with 60/40 split rear seats and a fold-flat front passenger seat, as well as more than 48 cubic feet of cargo space and a standard turbocharged engine. Both Equinox and Trax are available with all-wheel drive.

GM Again Receives Most Initial Quality Vehicle Awards

Six segment award recipients and 11 models in top three of their segments

General Motors continues its strong performance in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study^SMtaking more initial quality awards than any other automaker for the second year in a row. GM also has the most models ranked in the top three in their respective segments.

GM’s plant in Ingersoll, Canada, where the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain are built, was awarded a Silver Plant Assembly Line Quality Award.

In the study, GM swept the Large SUV segment with Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon – both ranking highest in a tie – along with the Chevrolet Tahoe. In addition to the Large SUV segment sweep, two models have now ranked highest in their segments for two years in a row: the Chevrolet Silverado HD and Buick Encore. The Chevrolet Malibu topped the Midsize Car segment.

“We are committed to providing customers with the highest levels of safety, quality and an exceptional ownership experience,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, senior vice president GM Global Quality and Customer Experience. “Having the most award recipients of any automaker shows that we are on the right track by putting the customer front and center in everything we do.”

Brand Highlights

Chevrolet- Segment Award Recipients• Malibu – Midsize Car• Silverado HD – Large Heavy-Duty Pickup• Suburban – Large SUV (tie)
-Segment Top Three• Camaro – Ranked Second – Midsize Sporty Car• Equinox – Ranked Second – Compact CUV• Tahoe – Ranked Second – Large SUV

Cadillac• Escalade – Ranked Second - Large Premium CUV

Buick• Encore – Segment Award Recipient – Small SUV (tie)

GMC• Terrain – Segment Award Recipient – Compact SUV• Yukon – Segment Award Recipient – Large SUV (tie)• Sierra HD – Ranked Second – Large Heavy-Duty Pickup

The 2014 IQS is based on responses from more than 86,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2014 model year vehicles surveyed at 90 days of ownership. The study provides manufacturers with information they can use to quickly identify problems and drive improvement.