2018 Holden Equinox | spy pics

A key cog in Holden's relaunch as a full-time importer was spied testing in Melbourne last week, with a lightly camouflaged Equinox mid-size SUV spotted undergoing local tuning ahead of the new model's on-sale date next year.

According to a company spokesperson, Holden's “electrical engineering team are currently performing real-world calibration tests” on the Equinox – which will be sourced from North America where it is badged as a Chevrolet in the United States.

Small lashings of camouflage were applied to the headlights, tail-lights and badging of the right-hand-drive engineering mule – which was found doing the rounds in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.

Nevertheless, the Equinox was easily identifiable as it precisely mimics the exterior of the production model that was revealed overseas last year.

In America, a four-tier range – including the L, LS, LT and flagship Premier – is on offer. The test vehicle appears to be an Equinox Premier as it exclusively shares its chrome door handles, roof rails and 18-inch alloy wheel design with the top-spec grade.

Right-hand-drive versions of the SUV are expected to be manufactured in Canada alongside their left-hand-drive Chevrolet counterparts, but there is no official confirmation from the red lion as yet.

Set to be built on General Motor's D2XX platform – which currently underpins the Opel-sourced Astra hatch – the mid-sizer will measure 4652mm long, 1843mm wide and 1661mm high, with a 2725mm wheelbase.

Cargo space is on par with its rivals, with the Equinox capable of swallowing up to 1798 litres with the second-row seats folded down or 846L of cargo when all seating is in use.

Local specifications – including powertrain options – and pricing are yet to be detailed by Holden. However, US models employ one of three turbocharged four-cylinder engines – a 127kW/275Nm 1.5-litre petrol, 101kW/320Nm 1.6-litre diesel or 188kW/353Nm 2.0-litre petrol.

A manual gearbox is not offered in any variant, as the two smaller-displacement powerplants are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, while the flagship 2.0-litre is matched to a nine-speed unit.

Front- and all-wheel-drive configurations are available across all the model grades, except for the Equinox L which sends power exclusively to the front axle.

It is expected the local arm will eschew the entry-level L in Australia and instead offer the better-equipped LS as the range-opening variant. Standard equipment for the American version includes a reversing camera, 7.0-inch 'MyLink' multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six-speaker sound system, keyless entry/start, 17-inch wheels, LED daytime running lights and tyre pressure monitoring.

Higher-spec grades in the line-up will likely add a mix of features from the LT and Premier – such as an 8.0-inch 'MyLink' set-up, wireless smartphone charging, heated front seats, LED headlights/tail-lights, 18-inch rims, hands-free power-operated tailgate, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Equinox will be a crucial model for the brand as the mid-size SUV enters the sub-$60,000 segment where it will face fierce competition from the top-selling Mazda CX-5, as well as others like the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan.

Holden's previous offering in this class, the Captiva 5, was discontinued in December 2015. Captiva 5 sales peaked in 2012 with 7085 examples finding homes, whereas the aforementioned CX-5 paced the segment with 24,564 units sold last year.

Will new models like the Equinox help Holden successfully relaunch itself as a full-time importer? Tell us what you think in the comments below.