Crossover Sport-Utility (SUV) vehicles are very popular here in America and that popularity seems to be growing in Europe and elsewhere. That class of vehicles has been marketed long enough that many manufacturers are now producing third or even fourth (or more) generation SUVs. As time passes and experience grows, car makers are getting better at packaging and other aspects of SUV design.
Styling remains something of a problem thanks to boxy configurations of what amounts to a tall, often short station wagon body. Aerodynamic considerations add to styling constraints.
The subject of this post is the
Chevrolet Equinox, the latest version introduced for 2018.
Its styling is what I'd call professional: pleasing with no glaring flaws. Better yet, it isn't as over-decorated as many Japanese models are. On the other hand, its styling isn't distinctive -- perhaps a result of having been passed through the sort of design clinic process that
Bob Lutz famously criticized. (I do not know if the Equinox design was ever given such an evaluation, so what I just mentioned is speculation.)
Gallery
Front quarter view. The grille is hexagonal, a current fad, but shaped into a "smile" expression. The headlights and their connecting shape are also current fashion and therefore not distinctive.
Side sculpting is fairly elaborate, but the creases and resulting curves and planes are not strongly emphasized, creating effects that are more subtle than striking. One tiny detail that I like is the sculpting by the aft top of the C-pillar. It's hard to see in the images here, but the side bevel of the metal roof "lid" atop the aft quarter windows extends forwards as it meets the top of the pillar.
Rear quarter view. Shaping here might be termed "subtly fussy." The lower edge of the aft window ensemble echoes the grille's "smile."
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