Central Valley Motorsports

February 25th, 2015
By Eric Hinkle

           A Guide to the Redesigned 2016 Crossover SUVs


   Each year, the major auto makers gather in North America to release their new models and show of the latest concept vehicles. They kicked off the New Year in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show, where we caught the first glimpse at the 2016 Ford GT, Acura NSX, Cadillac CTS-V and Mustang GT-350. These new two seaters and performance cars are awesome to imagine yourself owning, but what if you are like most people with a budget and a family to drive around? For what that reason, I enjoy the next show in the circuit, the Chicago Auto Show. With most of the latest high profile cars already released, it is often overlooked by the performance enthusiast. But for guys like me, the all new Chevrolet Equinox, Honda Pilot and Acura RDX got my attention.
   The new Chevrolet Equinox is a stylish way to move your family around safely. I really like the rounder nose and the option of a sliding rear seat. It is also available with Mylink Entertainment to keep everyone busy on long trips. The Equinox starts around $24k for a 2wd 182hp model and goes up to $30k plus for an all-wheel drive 301hp model. There is a trim level available to fit every family's needs, including 4G LTE Wi-Fi and Siri Eyes Free which let you use your iPhone through controls on the steering wheel. Gas milage ranges from 22 to 32mpg depending on the drive train.
   If you have a larger family and need seating for up to eight, the Honda Pilot is the crossover SUV for you. To move all those passengers around, the Pilot is equipped with an improved 3.5 liter V6 making 300hp that gets around 21mpg. The pilot starts at $38,000 and is offered with many trim levels and options. Honda's new navigation and entertainment system with five USB ports is a must when trying to keep everyone in the back seats busy.
   If you refuse to give up performance and handling , Acura has an answer. The 2016 RDX has a powerful 3.5 liter all aluminum V6 with paddle shifters, 4-wheel independent suspension and 18inch wheels. The base model RDX gets 20mpg city and starts around $35,000. With the first scheduled tune up 100,000 miles, the Acura RDX will be a reliable family car for many years. 
   Whether you are in the market to lease, buy or just want to kick some tires, get down to your local dealership and see what they have to offer. Hedrick's Chevrolet is a good place to start, and with the new 2016 models hitting show room floors soon you might walk out with a great price on a current model.