Theory goes that GM did not want to cut in the Equinox sales and the US had already the Buick Encore.
Reason why they did launch it after all is the ever changing market trends. The CUV As we call it here in Canada is currently a hot market with the Trax being the most economic one with its 1.4 litre engine. (And its true, after the break in period of my trax it starts to live up its brochure economics and even does better.) Chrysler/FIAT will launch their Jeep Renegade with probably a similar 4 cylinder turbo charged engine, maybe GM wants to get the part of the affordable CUV's in the states as well.
Reason why they did launch it after all is the ever changing market trends. The CUV As we call it here in Canada is currently a hot market with the Trax being the most economic one with its 1.4 litre engine. (And its true, after the break in period of my trax it starts to live up its brochure economics and even does better.) Chrysler/FIAT will launch their Jeep Renegade with probably a similar 4 cylinder turbo charged engine, maybe GM wants to get the part of the affordable CUV's in the states as well.