Sporty CUVs from GM

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
04/15/2014 at 20:21 • Filed to: None

Right before bankruptcy, Chevy, Pontiac, and Saturn all had a sporty CUVs.

Chevy had the Equinox Sport:

Pontiac the Torrent GXP:

And Saturn the Vue Redline:

All but the Equinox featured engines available on lower trim level models. The Sport introduced the 3.6 V6 to the Equinox line, while both the Vue and Torrent already offered it. All sat on lowered suspension and bigger wheels. All were offered in both front and all-wheel drive to put 260 horsepower on the ground.

Now why hasn't GM introduced sportier versions of the new Equinox and Terrain? Sure, the old ones didn't offer a performance advantage over lesser models, but they looked pretty out there in a market of boring CUVs. Frankly, I think a little bit of sporty flair would help all of GM's Theta cars. None of them really stand out from other Crossovers like say, the Edge Sport.

So I have to say this: GM more sporty crossovers please. Or at least sporty looking. Cause the last three you made actually looks amazing.

DISCUSSION (32)

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 20:23

Love them all. Too bad that nobody bought them, in those trims at least.

ly2v8-Brian > jkm7680
04/15/2014 at 20:30

I've seen the Chevy and Saturn around town before. Did not know of a Torrent GXP

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680
04/15/2014 at 20:31

We were so close to buying my mom's Vue in Redline trim, but we couldn't wait for one to be custom made for us because we were leaving for Florida in a month and wanted to have the car by then.

jkm7680 > ly2v8-Brian
04/15/2014 at 20:37

Same, I've seen the other two around. Never seen the Torrent Gxp. But Me Gusta.

jkm7680 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 20:37

Nice, I still have a thing with those.

Opel Badges though! That can be your mirror revenge.

ly2v8-Brian > jkm7680
04/15/2014 at 20:39

I wonder how they perform? like 0-60, 60-0, or skidpad numbers. would be hilarious to toss one around a track.

jkm7680 > ly2v8-Brian
04/15/2014 at 20:40

Only one on Ebay. It sounds like it's a good deal. I wouldn't drive one though.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pon…

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680
04/15/2014 at 20:41

But flaunting around a badge from a brand that should've died is so much better!

Stupidru > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 20:47

Wow, I guess I had no idea these ever actually existed. I'm still happy with our FXT purchase, but had I known about these I would've cross-shopped a bit more

ly2v8-Brian > jkm7680
04/15/2014 at 20:51

I like that they went with the engine cover that makes you think the engine is in longitudinal when it is actually transvers. I view this as GM engineers admitting transverse engine mounting is an abomination.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Stupidru
04/15/2014 at 20:51

The only one I've ever had experience with was the Vue. Looks even better in person and the interior looks amazing with black leather and suede inserts.

Kinja'd!!!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jkm7680
04/15/2014 at 21:07

Fuck, that would supposed to say shouldn't have. Why can't I type.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ly2v8-Brian
04/15/2014 at 21:14

I found a review of the Vue Redline. Pretty decent.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/17/in-…

Firewrx234 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 21:25

I found one near me:

2008 Chevrolet Chevy Equinox SPORT AWD LOADED w/ DVD!! CLEAN CAR FAX! 13900

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/4416388812…

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Firewrx234
04/15/2014 at 21:26

I'd drive it.

Firewrx234 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 21:27

It honestly seems to be pretty nice

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Firewrx234
04/15/2014 at 21:28

Black Vue Redline AWD for sale around me

XJDano > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 22:01

Kinja'd!!!

my wife drives an equinox LS & fwd, and pretty boring. My brother in-law drives a torent awd that my sister used to, she got an excursion.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > XJDano
04/15/2014 at 22:04

That 3.4 is only putting out 185 horsepower. Amazing how much power the extra .2 liters gives. Then again, the 3.4 ain't exactly a young.

XJDano > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 22:21

14x,xxx and just about 9 years old, it still spins the tire, but sags pretty bad with the camper like that.

The one thing I don't like about it is the fold out table in the back, takes up space & we don't use it. It would be different if the table sat outside the car.

Kinja'd!!!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > XJDano
04/15/2014 at 22:26

That's an...Interesting Option.

The 3.6 in my mom's Vue loves spinning the front tires.

Kinja'd!!!

Ours doesn't have trailering equipment though.

XJDano > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 22:45

well I added the hitch for about $130 when we got together, she uses a bike rack on it mostly. Check the door sticker, its rated to 3500 lbs, or maybe I made that up, but that camper weighs about 1800 I think and pulling in 4th instead of D had no issues and cruised at 60 with about same average gas milage. No one makes a HD rear coil for it, I looked.

Its over due for some maintenance/ repairs. I should sea foam it. Replace rear brake shoes, other 3 wheel bearings. Maintenance sucks, and this winter was not good for it.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 22:57

back in 2005-07 when Chevy was putting SS badges on everything, the Equinox Sport was almost the Equinox SS. True story. I worked for OnStar at the time and we had access to some of the internal GM product stuff. They almost made an AWD Uplander SS with the 3.6, lowered suspension, and big, blocky 18" wheels like were on the Malibu and Cobalt SS cars.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection
04/15/2014 at 23:07

Sometimes I miss how GM would slap SS badges on everything, because there were some bonkers things that got the treatment. Personal favorite would be the Malibu Maxx SS

Kinja'd!!!

But an Uplander SS would be a class first!

Long Live the Longdoor > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 23:39

I dig them. I've seen the Equinox Sport a couple times, I've never seen the Torrent GXP (but know of it's existence) and I see Vue Redlines everywhere (they seem really common in my area)! I see a lot in this generation as well:

Kinja'd!!!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Long Live the Longdoor
04/15/2014 at 23:40

There's a lime green one of those around here. Also, lol Honda engine. VTEC IN MY VUE BRO.

Long Live the Longdoor > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/15/2014 at 23:44

Crap, I forgot about that! That compels me to buy one more just so I can say that. lol

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Long Live the Longdoor
04/15/2014 at 23:46

They offered that engine in the AWD base models of the final generation. Couldn't stop using the competition's engine..

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/16/2014 at 02:51

All of the 5 speed autos in the Equinox / Torrent / (I believe also) Vue were Honda transmissions. And the 3400, while a GM engine, was built in China.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/16/2014 at 02:56

The Sport version was really the only Equinox worth buying in that generation. I remember how hilariously calibrated the fly-by-wire was on those (non-Sport) throttles.

A version on the new platform would be interesting. About the only way I can seeing it happen would be taking the XTS V-sport engine, and putting it in the SRX and Torrent. But, this will never happen because I don't think GM has a transmission that could live with that abuse. You can already get the 3.6DI in the Theta CUVs so they're already doing better than the previous gen, minus the suspension and appearance changes.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jdrgoat - Ponticrack?
04/16/2014 at 07:00

they already have the trans that's hooked up to the TTV6 in the XTS they could use. Because the VSport is fwd-based awd, it could maybe work in a Terrain, Equinox, or SRX.

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
04/17/2014 at 01:52

Shoot. It appears I overlooked that. In that case, I hope that they can figure out the packaging to make it work! But I also guarantee that anyone who gets their hands dirty under the hood would hate it.