It had been more than five years since I'd driven the Chevrolet Equinox, the marque's first attempt at a crossover SUV. At the time, it was being marketed as "An American Revolution."

Those were strong words for a vehicle that fell down in the handling department and had an interior that seemed to have cornered the market on dismal gray plastics. And let's not talk about seat comfort.

What a difference half a decade makes. The redrawn 2010 Equinox is like a vehicle from a different company.

The styling is muscular and purposeful without being too aggressive. Its angular lines have a conservatively handsome flair. The vehicle is visually interesting -- be it the multidimensional hood or the wraparound rear glass -- especially in the test vehicle's navy blue metallic color.

But designers did more than make it look good. The Equinox is filled with thoughtful touches:

• The Equinox's rocker panels are integrated into the doors, narrowing the area over which a passenger must step.

• The rear seat slides forward and back nearly eight inches, allowing for more passenger or cargo space.

• Out back, the power tailgate can be programmed to open to a specified height.

• There's loads of storage space. Check out that center console; it's perfect for stowing a laptop or small, if narrow, purse.

The interior of the test vehicle was decorated in tones of black, silver and titanium, lending it an athletic feel. The center console was particularly expressive.

As expected, the audio and climate controls were mounted up high and easy to understand and operate. Their functions are grouped together and color-coded: Climate controls are silver; audio/navigation controls are black. The Equinox is Bluetooth enabled, with a USB port for your iPod and a rear-seat entertainment system. XM satellite radio and OnStar also are offered.

The Equinox comes in three trim levels: LS, LT and LTZ.

Beyond design, it's what's under the hood that shows how far GM has come.

Both Equinox engines employ double-overhead cams with four valves per cylinder and variable-valve timing and direct injection. Don't know what any of that is? Here's the bottom line: Those features ensure more power while maximizing fuel economy.

A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine is standard on all trim levels and produces 185 horsepower. The engine is rated by the EPA at 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

"Money Q&A" and "Company Town" are featured exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.