Driving Ms. Daisy {Review}

I’ve talked a lot about my commute on my blog. I’ve told you how much I hate it. I’ve told you about the traffic, the time that I saw someone catching pigeons on the side of the road and the crazy driver who treated the toll plaza like his personal change jar. I’ve told you the funny and the absurd (Chicago traffic anyone?) but I have yet to share the one week I had a good commute.

It was, of course, the direct result of this beautiful piece of machinery that came to visit our household for one (very short) week:

B and I have long been discussing a new car – after all, our old grey mare just ain’t what she used to be- and the kind people at GM offered to let us test drive the car we were talking about buying. They were so sure we’d love our week with the 2011 Chevy Equinox LTZ that it would solidify its position as our number one New Car contender.

They were right. Never doubt the experts.

Cars have been a touchy subject between B and I for a long time, I grew up in a “European cars only” household, my Mom drove a Volvo my entire childhood. B’s father was an engineer at General Motors for 38 years, designing Cadillacs. Needless to say, they are company loyal. Not to say I don’t blame them, but B and I had a lot of distance to cover to find a middle ground when it came to cars. My “demands” regarding a new car were small in number, I wanted safety, space, good gas mileage and heated seats. B wanted a GM automobile, safety, space, good gas mileage and a sun roof. We don’t need (nor can we feasibly drive in the city) a huge SUV and we hate minivans, but our four door sedan is already bursting at the seams with the two of us and our dog whenever we make a trip back to Detroit or up to Wisconsin. One day we might need room for kids seats and more suitcases (not any time soon, no reading between the lines) and we thought a crossover might be the answer.

Enter the Equinox. At 22 city and 32 highway miles per gallon, we both agreed it was fuel efficient, especially considering its size. The safety ratings were more than acceptable (ok fine, they are pretty darn good). We liked that it had room, that the back seat could move forward and back (allowing our taller family members leg room), and we thought the interior was rather handsomely appointed:

What we didn’t expect was to be so sad to see it go after a week. We both had a lot of fun driving it. The cargo area still had room after a Saturday of errands that included Costco, two grocery stores and Target. The dog hung his head out the window like it was his, and I for once, had a nice commute with the navigation aid and ample radio choices. And,as far as checking things off the “necessity” list, in the LTZ model (our model of choice) heated seats and the sunroof come standard. WINNER. We also found a new must-have feature, seat and window memory. As a one car family, we both take turns driving and the ability to get back to your seat and mirror settings with the push of a button is priceless.

Do I think any of you are going to run out and buy an Equinox because I said I loved it? No, probably not. But consider this your introduction to our new car, because as soon as the pennies are saved, we expect one in our parking spot, helping us get through city driving, long commutes and tiny parking garages.

I was given a one-week test drive, courtesy of General Motors, of the 2011 Chevy Equinox LTZ. I have not been compensated for my time or post, nor did GM ask me to post my opinions. My opinions have been and always will be entirely my own and I am not paid to publish positive comments.