Holden Equinox Holden will launch three variants of its new medium-sized Equinox SUV in New Zealand towards the end of this year.
There will be three engine options for the Equinox, which will replace the ageing Holden Captiva SUV.
The five-seater vehicle will be built in Mexico, and all models will have a nine-speed automatic transmission. They will be powered by either a 2-litre turbo or 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine, with a 1.6 litre turbo diesel engine also available.
We drove a pre-production and camouflaged 2-litre version of the Equinox at Holden’s Lang Lang proving ground near Melbourne this week.
Holden engineers are still refining the suspension and other aspects of the model before production of right-hand-drive versions begin in Mexico soon.
Holden Equinox. Photo / Supplied
The Equinox proved agile on a slalom course at the proving ground, and pulls away quickly and incredibly smoothly from a standing start.
There is plenty of feel in the steering and the Equinox rides well over a variety of surfaces, rough and smooth.
Holden engineers also showed two early pre-production models of Holden’s new large seven-seater SUV, the Acadia, to be introduced next year.
Pre-production work to adapt the high-end model for the Australasian market is not as advanced as the Equinox, and again the Acadia was partially camouflaged.
Both models are important for Holden, broadening its SUV range as it transitions from the rear-wheel-drive Australian-manufactured Commodore sedan.
Holden Equinox. Photo / Supplied
That model is doing well in the declining large car segment of the market, but production will cease in Australia in September.
While there will be a new European-sourced Commodore sedan and wagon, vehicle buyers are quickly moving from large sedans to SUVs.
Holden director of communications Sean Poppitt told journalists new-born babies may be cute but Australians don’t love them as such as they love their SUVs.
Last year in Australia a new baby was born every one minute and 41 seconds, while a new SUV was bought every one minute 10 seconds.
“Such is the surging popularity of the SUV market,” he said.
Holden Acadia. Photo / Supplied
SUVs now accounted for 40 per cent of the Australian market, with Holden already offering the small Trax SUV, and the more rugged seven-seat 4x4 Trailblazer in the New Zealand market.
“They will be joined by the high-tech Equinox and the luxurious Acadia,” said Poppitt.
“The Acadia in particular will add some real American swagger to the Holden showroom.”
The Equinox has been designed and developed in North America, and will be built at a General Motors manufacturing plant in Mexico.
Australasia will be the only market for right-hand-drive models in the world, and Holden engineers have been involved in developing the car since it was first mooted seven years ago.
Holden Acadia. Photo / Supplied
They have developed unique suspension hardware, and damper and steering tuning to suit the Australasian conditions.
Among the safety features on the Equinox will be a forward collision alert system with a head-up display warning, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, a blind spot alert system, and rear cross traffic alert, vibrating seat alerts, advanced park assist and LED daytime running lamps.
Holden is keeping drivetrain details of the Arcadia under wraps until closer to its launch date next year, but in North America the model is powered by a V6 motor, and is available in both front wheel drive and all wheel drive models.
The Acadia is named after the Acadia National Park, which encompasses more than 47,000 acres of mountains, woodland, lakes and ponds and ocean shoreline in the eastern state of Maine in the United States.
Holden New Zealand said detailed specifications and pricing of the Equinox would be available closer to its November launch, and the Acadia would reach New Zealand next year.
