The 2018 Chevrolet Equinox was in my hands for a full week of test driving and I have to say that I was impressed. As the driver of a large SUV, the first thing I was very curious about was the size of the Equinox which turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. It seated five of us and there was still plenty of storage room. I drove the Chevrolet to work everyday, went out for dinner, groceries and even took it for a three-hour road trip to the beach.

The size, big wheels and all wheel drive (when needed) smooth ride of the Equinox felt great. But the tech and design features were even better as they enveloped entertainment with safety.

First, let’s start with what I call the sun & moon roof.

The size is essentially the entire roof. On a nice day, you can slide the covering back and enjoy the view above. It’s hot here in Texas but I loved opening the window in the mornings and at night.

Enjoying the weather from the top is even better when the right music is playing. The sound quality included some bass power–always welcomed when it comes to my preference of hip-hop and r & b music. And picking the right song was easy. Aside from the radio dialer and satellite radio, I was able to plug my smart phone in and instantly pick up on my favorite tune or podcast. I especially love this sync feature because I give preference to my Maps on my phone when it comes to directions.

This connectivity allows for me to view my phone Maps screen on the main panel which not only made it more convenient, but also safer.

According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, new teen drivers ages 16-17 years old are three times as likely as adults to be involved in a deadly crash. In fact, there is a concept called “100 Deadliest Days,” the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the average number of deadly teen driver crashes climbs 15 percent compared to the rest of the year.

This is why educating and informing about how to be responsible when driving is vital for both parents and young drivers. All drivers are advised to take full advantage of the technology found in new models such as:

“Teen Driver” Technology

This innovative technology works like a digital report for parents. It allows parents to monitor young drivers and provides a safety report including: the speed, if they fastened their seat belt, sets speed limits and even controls the volume of the stereo. This report can serve as a way to initiate the safety conversation with adolescent children.

It’s a little hard for me to think about my three-year-old as a teen driver, but I did think the feature that controls the stereo volume was very helpful. The music in the vehicle did not play at all if all seatbelts were not fastened. Talk about driving attention to clicking up!

Hot Car Incidents

For almost 20 years and in more than in any other state, children in Texas have died inside vehicles that reach extreme temperatures. The new technology “Rear Seat Reminder” reminds the driver when something is left in the rear seats, whether it’s children, pets or other important things.

I love this feature. If I were considering buying a vehicle (will be in the market next year), I will definitely look for more safety features especially those that help me protect my most precious cargo.

Active Safety Features and Advanced Cameras

This technology brings parents a peace of mind knowing that they, as well as their children, have the technology that guides them. These safety features warn the driver of all possible hazards around them, such as the Surround Vision Camera where the driver has a 360 degree view of the entire perimeter of the vehicle. It also includes lane departure warning, frontal collision warning and sensors that indicate the distance between the car in front.

The best part of these safety features is the sensors. Even in newer vehicles, warnings are heard through beeps, auditory alerts.

In the Chevrolet Equinox, you not only hear the warning, but you also see it and feel it.

A red light is flashed in the driver’s side dashboard and view glass. Additionally, the driver’s seat vibrates on either side of direction of warning. This broader sensory scope really makes it hard to miss a beat when it comes to safety.

This post was inspired by my week with the Chevrolet Equinox. I was not compensated by Chevrolet but was loaned the vehicle complimentary. Thoughts are my own along with shared technical insights from Chevrolet.

As always, thank you for stopping by and I hope this post was helpful to you and your journey to live life to they FLYEST!