Equinox Archives - Gjovik Auto Blog

New 2015 Chevy Safety Features Earn Four Top Safety Pick Awards

2015 Chevy Spark - 2015 Chevy safety features — 2015 Chevy Spark – 2015 Chevy safety features earn top marks

Chevy has done it again – this year it won four Top Safety Picks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2015 Spark, Volt, Malibu, and Equinox were all awarded the prestigious title for their innovative safe design and new features. Here at Gjovik Auto ,we were glad to hear about the success of the new 2015 Chevy safety features.

2015 Chevy Safety Features: New Standards for Safe Driving

2015 Chevy Malibu - 2015 Chevy safety features earn the car Top Safety Pick honor — 2015 Chevy Malibu – 2015 Chevy safety features earn the car Top Safety Pick honor

According to Chevy, the industry has nearly doubled the number of awards from last year, meaning the entire market has introduced some innovative new features. In particular, Chevy has made forward collision alert, blind-spot warning, and new engineering techniques the new standards for safe driving.

“Receiving this recognition from IIHS for the 2015 Spark, Volt, Malibu and Equinox is great news for Chevrolet and even greater news for our customers,” said Steven Majoros, director of Chevrolet Cars and Crossover Marketing.

As one of the world’s largest car brands, it’s refreshing to know that Chevy isn’t just focused on performance and fuel economy, but safety as well. You can rest assured when buying a Chevy, thanks to the new award-winning features.

Visit Gjovik Auto today to test drive any of these fine Chevy vehicles!

Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain receive Top Safety Pick+ rating

Chevrolet Equinox Wrecks and IIHS calls it ‘Good’

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently wrecked a Chevrolet Equinox and really liked what happened.

14 mid-size utility vehicles were put through IIHS’s small-overlap frontal crash test. Only the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain received the highest rating of ‘Good’. (While the Chevrolet Equinox was the only vehicle tested, it and the Terrain share the same design features.) For the 2014 models, the front structure and door-hinge pillars were modified.

The Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain received IIHS’s highest rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+. The TOP SAFETY PICK+ award is given if a car receives:

Good (or Acceptable) rating in small overlap crash test
Good ratings in four other occupant protection tests
Basic or higher rating for front crash prevention.

Of the other tested models in the small overlap test, one received an ‘Acceptable’ rating and all others received ‘Marginal’ or ‘Poor’ ratings. That’s a little scary to us.

GMC Terrain 2014 model — The GMC Terrain is the Equinox’s twin.

A frontal crash is the most common collision resulting in fatalities so the small-overlap test is designed to be difficult to pass. It replicates what happens when the front driver’s side of a vehicle collides with another car or with a stationary object. Like when your teenager hits a light pole in the mall parking lot or a tree jumps out in front of them.

IIHS’s front crash test is designed to avoid the crumple zone which typically absorbs the crash impact. Since its not absorbed by the front end crumple zone, the energy from the crash reaches the passenger cabin, resulting in injuries to the occupants.

During the small-overlap test, the car travels at 40 mph toward a five foot tall barrier. 25% of the car’s width strikes the barrier on the driver side. A dummy sits in for the driver to replicate an average size man. Since passengers move both forward and sideways in a crash, some airbags and seatbelts find the test challenging.

Got 9 seconds?
See what happens during a small-overlap crash test.

Got 120 seconds?
Hear from directly from IIHS why the Equinox and Terrain got the highest rating. Includes lots more crashing!

Needless to say, Gjovik Auto does not recommend anyone perform their own crash tests. We’re just happy to know that our customers will be safer should a traffic accident happen.

But the mall’s light pole may not fare as well.

Chevrolet to Add Siri Eyes Free to Six Vehicles in 2014

Chevy has announced that six of its 2014 model-year vehicles will feature Siri Eyes Free integration, bringing everyone’s favorite pocket-sized personal assistant with drivers onto the road as part of Apple’s continued rollout.

Chevrolet’s 2014 versions of the Camaro, Cruze, Equinox, Malibu, SS, and Volt will all feature Siri Eyes Free as part of the MyLink infotainment system. Siri Eyes Free mode connects to MyLink through Bluetooth , allowing for those using iOS6 or iOS7 Apple devices to interact with the voice activation button found on the vehicle’s steering wheel.

This interaction allows drivers to access their calendars, playlists, contacts, and messages without ever having to take their eyes off of the road. Drivers can also make calls, hear the content of texts read back to them in Siri’s dulcet tones, and compose messages of their own. Siri Eyes Free was previously, and successfully, integrated into Chevrolet’s Spark and Sonic vehicles.

“The response to Siri Eyes Free integration in Chevy Sonic and Spark from our customers has been remarkable,” said Chris Perry, Chevrolet vice president of U.S. Marketing, in a statement. “Easy, reliable and portable connectivity is a top priority for our customers, and Siri complements MyLink’s existing capabilities to help deliver an incredible driving experience, so we’re excited to expand this to even more customers.”

Of course, this also means you can now amuse your friends on the road by asking Siri silly questions and chuckling as she casually offers to tell you where the best places to hide a body. For more information on Siri Eyes Free and Chevrolet’s 2014 lineup, come see us at Gjovik today!