The 2007 Chevy Equinox is aerodynamically smoother, thanks to a subtle re-shaping of front and rear fascias as well as the rear spoiler. From the front, Equinox still looks the part of a Chevy truck, with its requisite single-bar grille sporting a large gold Chevrolet bow-tie emblem. But the black mask overlapping the front bumper has shrunken and retreated, which we find a subtle but worthwhile aesthetic improvement.

It's harder to see the difference in the rear spoiler. And in side view, Equinox looks pretty much the same as before. That's good, because we've liked Equinox from that angle since it debuted for '05.

In that broadside view, Equinox looks quite a bit different from the rest of the Chevy truck family. The roof pillars and the sheetmetal above the windows but below the roof seem to be extra-thick, imparting a feeling of extra solidity and strength, important for a truck made on a car platform. When you shut the doors, the sound is more like the muted mating of plastic than the hollow clang of sheetmetal. It's a sound that no other Chevy truck makes.

The doors open wide for easy entry and exit, and the rear gate goes up and out of the way, allowing you to stand fully upright for easy loading of groceries, camping equipment, or dogs.

The Equinox looks solidly planted on its wheels. Equinox is based on a car-type platform, with unit-body construction rather than body on frame for better ride and handling.