My 2004 Chevrolet Equinox was a safe and reliable vehicle. At the time I had the car I lived in Michigan but went away to college in Ohio. I made the commute on several occasions and never once did I have an issue as far as quality is concerned.

Since purchasing the Equinox this summer, used, with 75,000 miles, a number of things have gone wrong. I had to replace the head gasket within a couple weeks of owning the vehicle. Head gasket failures are apparently common with Chevys. After that, "emissions-related" parts have failed, costing about another $800 in repairs. Now that (hopefully) everything is fixed, I love the car and hope it will prove reliable. The MPG is decent for an SUV crossover, about 17-20. The heated leather seats, power moon roof, touchscreen console, GPS, power seat adjustor, and satellite radio all make me feel like I'm in a luxury vehicle. I have no problems driving at decent speed on snowy days or over ice. The burgundy color hides dirt well, but does not hide winter road salt residue and requires frequent washing in the winter due to that. The storage space in the back is more than ample, with one backseat and a large cargo area.