We think the Equinox should be available with the 3.5 liter that is used in the new Malibu. The reason is not just power, but the fact that General Motors Saturn brand is offering the smaller VUE with a 250 horsepower V6 for nearly the same money so why not an optional 200 horsepower Equinox engine? I want to make it clear that the 3.4 is a good engine especially in the midrange area with the nicely reacting five speed automatic transmission keeping the Equinox frisky.

Of course, the 3.4 engine has never been known to be a quiet, but the coarse sound only comes through at higher rpms. I would guess that the biggest complaint is the torque steer. I used regular unleaded fuel and got about 22 mpg. The tank is about 17 gallons and so you have a range of about 350 miles before having to take out another loan to pay for the sky-high gas prices that no one outside the White House can understand.

Young businesswoman's view: Here's the question that needs to be answered. Why buy a Chevrolet Trail Blazer when the Equinox does everything better except for off roading and heavy towing? The Equinox is more environmentally friendly, is simpler to park, and much easier on your credit limits. I found the front wheel drive Equinox both practical and fairly pretty.

I like the way you sit in the Equinox and how it quickly makes you feel at home. The position is very car like and the doors open wide to allow easy access in front or back making it ideal for those who have spinal problems or are handicapped.

Stopping is good and the four-wheel independent suspension provide plenty of softness thanks to the combination of a unitized body with full-length frame rails and isolated subframes to reduce harshness. It works, and the MacPherson strut front suspension and rear coil springs, seem to offer the ride quality most people like in such vehicles. The Equinox has vented front disc brakes with dual piston calipers, and drum brakes in the back and they work satisfactorily. The pedal feel is a bit numb, but light years ahead of the Dodge Durango's that we just tested.

My experience with the Equinox was very positive with most of the negatives centered around the feel of the control levers and buttons, the position of the parking brake on the right side of the driver's seat, and the window switch location at the bottom on the dash extension. For me, the bottom line is that this is a tall station wagon for those who like the higher seating position and the trendy nature of SUVs.

Unemployed young male's view: The back seats were too hard, but you can partial adjust the rake, and the feature I really did like was the way you can slide them seven-inches forward or back to give you more legroom or cargo room. The 60/40 split rear seats easily fold down so you can make a fairly level rear cargo hold. You don't even have to remove the headrests, which is great for such a tidy sized SUV. Also, you can fold down the passenger seat to carry longer objects. I liked this feature because most people are either hauling cargo or people, and with the ability to move the seats you can maximize the interior for your needs.

Handling is fairly good for such a tall vehicle. But beware, the emotionless steering makes it easy to turn too sharply and the Equinox, as well as all SUVs, is top heavy and does not react well to sudden turns. The Chevrolet's long wheelbase makes for a more relaxed ride over rough highways. Indeed, the Equinox handled bumpy roads far better than the new Dodge Durango we just reviewed, although, the Dodge had a tighter turning radius despite being much longer.