A month ago, I approached General Motors with the proposition to allow me to drive one of their vehicles for free in exchange for blogging and tweeting about my experience. I’ve never driven an SUV, and over the last couple years I have realized that my mommy minivan no longer serves it’s intended purpose to carry around painting supplies for my mural business. To my surprise and joy, General Motors agreed to allow me to drive the 2010 Chevy Equinox for eight days.
Monday the 2010 Chevy Equinox arrived at my home. My kids couldn’t be more proud.
As soon as the representative from GM left my home, I grabbed the keys to the 2010 Chevy Equinox and took my youngest and Lily on a ride around town, but not before pulling out the trusty user’s manual so I could figure out how to release the parking break:
First things I noticed about my drive were the incredibly comfortable seats, remarkably smooth and quiet ride, easy steering, and quick breaking. Additional features I instantly fell in love with are OnStar, Turn by Turn Navigation, rear camera backup system, remote start, and XM Radio. I was absolutely not expecting to enjoy a vehicle this much so quickly!
Soon enough, it was time to pick up a friend and let her feel the experience. I chose one of my most discerning friends and also a fellow mom to ride along with me. She enjoyed right off the top: 1.) smooth ride, yet comfortable enough she could still feel the road; 2.) Turn by Turn Navigation which could probably come in handy with her job as a mail carrier. In fact, she ended up calling me the very next day when she needed directions to an office. Heck, the Turn by Turn Navigation was a life-saver when I was simply looking for a McDonald’s for my kids.
Even Lily enjoyed the ride—remarking that the leather seats were a welcome relief from the heat outside–cool to her belly.
By the way, what is up with dogs and garbage trucks? I will never understand that need!
One feature that is taking me some time getting used to is the location of the power/child lock button. I am so used to it being positioned on the door that it took me some time to find it on the console. What concerns me about the location of these buttons is that it is in too central a location for my kids to easily reach. (Maybe it’s just my kids.) Part of me likes the control of having it on the driver’s door rest, and yet I also see the convenience of having it on the console so an adult passenger can reach it. For now it is okay as long as A.) my kids don’t touch it; B.) my dog doesn’t lock me out for not taking her on a walk (she already ate my window screen and my friend’s blinds). She’s a young dog, so I am sure she can learn some new tricks.
This weekend we are taking the 2010 Chevy Equinox on a road trip and camping to the Hill Country. The 2010 Chevy Equinox is a Crossover vehicle getting 32 mpg on the highway for a possible 600 miles on one tank of gas. I’ll be filling up the roomy cargo area with camping gear and food, then I’ll be reporting back to you my adventures/misadventures. Pray for General Motors that my kids don’t destroy the Equinox in the meantime.
Pssst…looking for some fun? Try these easy magic tricks for kids (and adults too)!
Hi Jane! I just got back from camping in the Hill Country last month…wish I were going this weekend though! I sent you an email with a link to my post for Enchanted Rock near Fredericksburg. I’m taking a group of cubscouts hiking at Old Alton Bridge in Denton County this weekend (North Texas).
Looking forward to hear more about your camping trip to Hill Country this weekend…
Oh! That IS easy…AND convenient! Maybe I need to scrub my cup holders and then buy separate little inserts so I can make my own version of the Equinox’s cup holders!
I have an answer! I have an answer!
🙂
What is really cool about the Equinox I was driving is that there is a flexible liner that comes out of the cup holders that you can wash separately in your sink at home! I thought that was another huge plus when it came to practicality with kids! I have the same problem in my van with not being able to really clean gooey messes out of them.
Hope that helps!
I’m curious…exactly HOW easy is it to clean the cup holders? In my Civic the holders have this little groove around the edge which makes it nearly IMPOSSIBLE to clean them unless I take a little scrubbing brush to them – so NOT convenient!