2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV review: An affordable EV without compromise

When Common Motors introduced the EV part set previously generally known as Ultium, the automaker promised that it might accommodate many several types of automobiles. To date, although, we’ve primarily seen huge pickup vehicles and luxurious SUVs. These extra worthwhile fashions will assist GM extra shortly amortize the upfront value of its EV funding, however they don’t play to the automaker’s conventional energy of, as outlined by government Alfred P. Sloan, providing “a automobile for each purse and goal.”

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV modifications that. Chevy launched this electrical counterpart to its gasoline Equinox compact SUV for the 2024 mannequin yr, however for 2025, the Equinox EV turns into actually reasonably priced due to an entry-level front-wheel drive LT mannequin priced at $34,995 with 319 miles of vary.

This goes a great distance towards serving to the Equinox EV stand in for the Chevy Bolt EV as a mass-market electrical mannequin till the latter returns from hiatus. I spent per week driving one to see the way it compares to rivals just like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4 and whether or not GM’s newest tech actually makes a distinction during the last Bolt EV in a mass-market car.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: design

GM continues to be planning a brand new Bolt EV, however for now, the Equinox EV capitalizes on the present recognition of SUVs and a recognizable title that’s been round for nearly 20 years at this level. With its extensive stance and lengthy, low roofline, the Equinox EV appears to be like sleeker than the final Bolt EV regardless of being a bigger car. However it should by no means be confused with a gasoline Equinox, as the newest model of that SUV goes for a extra rugged, truck-like look.

The Equinox EV appears to be like very a lot of the second, even in base type. The very first thing that struck me upon seeing this Equinox EV LT take a look at automobile was that it didn’t appear like a base mannequin. It sported 19-inch wheels that properly stuffed the wheel wells, intricate headlights and taillights, and a minimal of unpainted plastic. The second impression, nonetheless, was that the Equinox EV appears to be like extra like a hatchback than a real SUV — one thing that may also be mentioned of the Hyundai Ioniq 5. And just like the Hyundai, the Chevy’s ultra-long wheelbase provides it odd proportions in profile view.

That stretched wheelbase creates loads of passenger house, although. Entrance- and rear-seat headroom and legroom are aggressive with rival EVs just like the Ioniq 5. Headroom is especially spectacular given the Chevy’s glossy roofline, and regardless of the comparatively excessive, flat ground, second-row passengers don’t have to take a seat with their legs awkwardly elevated. The Equinox’s 26.4 cubic toes of cargo house with the rear seats in place and 57.2 cubic toes with the rear seats folded are additionally respectable, albeit not segment-leading.

Inside, Chevy did a superb job of balancing value and sophistication. Manually-adjusting entrance seats and material upholstery are giveaways that that is the bottom mannequin, however there’s nothing entry-level concerning the Equinox EV’s expansive digital dashboard show and funky design particulars like the massive spherical air vents that flank the dashboard. The inside was principally dark-colored plastic, however match and end had been glorious and Chevy largely prevented the shiny piano black and shoddy hard-and-grained plastics that make so many new-car interiors really feel cheaper than they’re. That is the uncommon entry-level cabin that doesn’t make you’re feeling dangerous for spending much less.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: specs

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: tech

The aforementioned dashboard show features a 17.7-inch touchscreen and 11.0-inch digital instrument cluster, each in the identical curved housing. A head-up show can be out there as a part of the optionally available Comfort Bundle, though there’s no choice for upgrading past the essential six-speaker audio system.

As a brand new GM EV, this Chevy doesn’t characteristic Apple CarPlay or standalone Android Auto. That’s because of the Google-intensive infotainment system that additionally makes Google Maps and Google Assistant the default apps for navigation and voice recognition, respectively. The Google Play Retailer can be constructed into the infotainment system, permitting third-party apps to be downloaded on to the automobile relatively than projected from a related smartphone.

The dearth of CarPlay will probably stay some extent of frustration for iPhone customers, nevertheless it was arduous to search out fault with the native interface. The touchscreen is properly positioned for simple swiping and responds shortly, whereas the reconfigurable instrument cluster affords loads of choices for paring down or build up displayed info, together with a map view.

That being mentioned, GM falls into the identical lure of touchscreen over-reliance as many different automakers. You shouldn’t have to make use of the touchscreen to activate the headlights, for instance, and even the massive quantity knob is simply too distant for the front-seat passenger to simply use.

This LT take a look at automobile got here customary with typical driver-assist options like computerized emergency braking, ahead collision warning, lane preserve help and lane departure warning, adaptive cruise management, and park-assist sensors.

A surround-view digital camera system and site visitors signal recognition can be found at further value, together with GM’s Tremendous Cruise hands-free driver help system. It will not be customary gear, however most automakers’ methods can’t match the aptitude of Tremendous Cruise, which permits for sustained hands-free driving on most U.S. highways. And it usually operates extra easily and predictably than the equal Blue Cruise system out there within the Ford Mustang Mach-E.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: driving expertise

The gasoline Chevy Equinox was by no means a efficiency automobile, and that’s additionally the case with the Equinox EV. A single-motor front-wheel drive powertrain is customary, providing a good, however not extreme, 220 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. Twin-motor all-wheel drive fashions bump output to 300 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque, however you get an 85-kilowatt-hour battery pack in both case.

Automakers like Hyundai and Volkswagen opted for rear-wheel drive for his or her EVs regardless of usually going for front-wheel drive with their inner combustion fashions, however Chevy stored issues constant. Rear-wheel drive often affords the sting in driving dynamics as a result of it extra evenly divides labor between the back and front wheels, however nothing about the best way the Equinox EV deployed its horsepower had me wishing for a swap. With the usual all-season tires, traction was a bit restricted on chilly and mildly damp pavement, although, so there’s nonetheless a case to be made for all-wheel drive.

From behind the wheel, it felt like Chevy’s engineers paid extra consideration to experience high quality and dealing with than they did with the Chevy Blazer EV. An underwhelming expertise with that bigger SUV left me with low expectations for this entry-level mannequin, however the Equinox EV pleasantly shocked with glorious suspension that allowed it to easily change instructions with no fuss. And whereas this EV’s substantial weight made itself obvious at instances, mushy damping and competent physique management made for a way more polished driving expertise than the Equinox EV’s dearer sibling — and one much less prone to make passengers uncomfortable.

GM additionally prevented messing with an excellent factor in the case of regenerative braking. It included a steering-wheel paddle for calling up extra deceleration within the Chevy Bolt EV, and fortunately, that’s nonetheless the case with the Equinox EV. This can be a helpful technique to maximize using one-pedal driving with out having to toggle between modes, though the Equinox EV has these, too. The default one-pedal mode labored properly in most conditions, though I did flip it off on longer freeway stints to avoid wasting power by coasting when potential. Switching modes is completed by way of a easy icon on the touchscreen, so that you don’t must go digging round for that perform.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: vary and charging

Along with punching above its weight on design, tech, and the driving expertise, the Equinox EV base mannequin avoids a spread penalty. No matter trim degree, all front-wheel drive 2025 Equinox EV fashions are rated at 319 miles. For 2025, all-wheel drive fashions additionally handle 307 miles, up from 285 miles for the 2024 mannequin yr.

This provides the entry-level model of the Equinox EV extra vary than the Kia Niro EV, Toyota bZ4X, and Volkswagen ID.4 supply in any configuration. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 supply 318 miles and 310 miles, respectively, however provided that you spring for bigger battery packs that inflate the worth past the Chevy’s. The Tesla Mannequin Y will get 337 miles in its least-expensive Lengthy Vary rear-wheel drive type, however at press time, it was simply over $11,000 dearer than the bottom Equinox EV LT.

Chevy didn’t pull off the identical trick with charging, however the Equinox EV ought to nonetheless be simple to stay with. It may DC quick cost at as much as 150 kilowatts, which ought to permit for a ten% to 80% cost within the roughly half-hour wanted to make this worthwhile, nevertheless it means the Equinox EV can’t make the most of higher-power 350 kW public quick chargers. The usual 11.5 kW AC onboard charger may simply accommodate in a single day residence charging, and a extra highly effective 19.2 kW unit can be out there.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV: How DT would configure this automobile

The Equinox EV is at its greatest in its most simple type. At $34,995, the front-wheel drive Equinox EV LT undercuts its rivals whereas providing over 300 miles of vary and no drawbacks. Some would possibly need to contemplate the optionally available dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain or Tremendous Cruise, however the base mannequin stands out as a compelling worth.

Standing out isn’t simple contemplating the variety of small electrical SUVs now crowding dealership tons. From the glossy and sporty Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6 to the retro Hyundai Ioniq 5 and completely trendy Volkswagen ID.4, that is one section of the EV market that’s actually fleshed out.

These are all competent EVs with their very own plus factors. The Ioniq 5 and EV6 supply higher charging efficiency, whereas the Mach-E is extra entertaining to drive. However getting the most effective model of those automobiles requires a more in-depth perusal of the spec sheet and a few sticker worth inflation. By providing its most vary at its base worth, with design, driving dynamics, and an inside that don’t really feel entry-level, the Equinox EV takes the guesswork out of shopping for a brand new EV.