Only a few electrical autos (EVs) are priced underneath $35,000, however the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV (beginning at $33,600) is one among them. This small SUV shares its nameplate with the gas-powered Equinox however runs on battery and has an EPA-estimated vary of 319 miles. We like its attractive exterior design, elegant and comfy inside, and outsized infotainment contact display screen. Additional, we recognize that the bottom mannequin is well-equipped and provides its restricted area of rivals a run for the cash. Although it does not embody Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, or a frunk, these are comparatively minor quibbles that do not stop the Equinox EV from incomes our Editors’ Alternative for small electrical SUVs.
Trims and Drives: A Multitude of Choices
The 2025 Chevy Equinox EV is available in two trim ranges—down considerably from 5 for the 2024 mannequin. Each trims come commonplace with a 220-horsepower (hp) electrical motor and front-wheel drive (FWD). Twin electrical motors that produce all-wheel drive (AWD) can be found as an choice and bump the output as much as 300hp. The Equinox’s 85-kWh battery offers a variety of 319 miles with FWD and 285 miles with AWD.
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The EPA charges the Equinox EV at 117 metropolis/99 freeway/108 MPGe mixed for the FWD mannequin and 101 metropolis/90 freeway/96 MPGe mixed for AWD. In response to GM, utilizing a Degree 3 DC quick charger working at as much as 150kW provides as much as 77 miles of vary in 10 minutes, whereas a Degree 2 charger working at 11.5kW provides as much as 34 miles of vary per hour of charging. The Equinox comes with a Degree 1 120/240-volt charging cable that provides as much as 25 miles an hour. The 2024 automobile I examined (similar to the 2025 RS mannequin) got here with an NACS adapter that permits the Equinox EV to cost at Tesla charging stations.
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Standout commonplace options on the $33,600 LT base trim embody an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch infotainment contact display screen, 19-inch wheels, a entrance LED mild bar, flush door handles, and LED headlights and taillights. It comes with a formidable array of normal driver assists, the highlights of which embody forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, front-pedestrian and bike owner braking, intersection automated braking, reverse automated braking, and aspect bike owner alert.
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The LT trim may be bundled with three packages. The Consolation and Energetic Security 2 Package deal (beginning at $36,995) provides an eight-way energy driver seat, heated entrance seats, a heated artificial leather-wrapped steering wheel, rear-pedestrian alert, and a surround-view digital camera system. Bundling within the Comfort Package deal I (beginning at $43,295) provides dual-zone automated local weather management, a hands-free liftgate, multi-color inside ambient lighting, artificial leather-based upholstery, and a wi-fi charging pad. Final, the Comfort Package deal II (beginning at $46,395) provides 21-inch black wheels, driver-seat reminiscence, a head-up show, heated rear seats, an influence entrance passenger seat, and ventilated entrance seats.
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The 2025 RS mannequin (beginning at $43,400) provides 21-inch aluminum wheels, black badging and exterior trim, black roof rails, heated outdoors mirrors, crimson inside accents, and the options of the LT’s Consolation and Energetic Security Package deal 2. My take a look at automobile included a $2,700 Tremendous Cruise bundle with GM’s hands-free freeway driving system and automatic parking and $3,300 for AWD. Lastly, a $1,395 vacation spot cost introduced the ultimate sticker worth for my take a look at automobile to $50,795.
Design: Extra Upmarket Than Opponents
Design-wise, Chevy hits it out of the park with the Equinox EV, and the outside appears to be like way more upmarket than many opponents. The automobile’s eye-catching look begins with a distinguished forehead line the place the hood meets the remainder of the entrance finish and is accentuated by a skinny LED mild bar. Small recessed LED headlights peer out from a mustache-shaped band under the sunshine bar, and a textured panel under it provides to the distinctive character of the entrance. Elongated A-pillars give the aspect profile a sweptback look, whereas crisp physique creases—one alongside the underside and one other larger up—and flush door handles add to the modern look.
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With the red-accented upholstery included in my take a look at automobile, the inside is equally putting, particularly at this worth. The adjustable multi-color ambient lighting that illuminates components of the dashboard is a characteristic normally discovered solely in luxurious autos. Different inside highlights are the massive, retro air vents that carry over the cabin’s crimson accents and beneficiant storage cubbies each above and under the middle console. The cabin feels snug and spacious and has a beneficiant 57.2 cubic ft of cargo room with the rear seat folded.
Efficiency: Loads of Energy for Fast Sprints
The twin-motor setup that delivers 288hp to the Equinox EV’s 4 wheels is lots to get the small SUV transferring shortly when in Sport mode, even when it doesn’t have the bracing acceleration of some EVs. Efficiency is spectacular in Regular mode, and the AWD mannequin’s 300hp provides the Equinox EV much more pep. There’s additionally a My Mode setting that permits dialing in acceleration, braking and steering really feel, and the imitation engine sound. I didn’t get to strive the Snow/Ice mode whereas testing the automobile in sunny Southern California.
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The Equinox EV handles exceptionally effectively and is a smooth-riding automobile. Brake regen is precisely known as One-Pedal Driving. As soon as I bought used to driving the automobile, I used the brakes just for sudden stops, all within the Regular setting. Brake regen may be set to excessive or off and adjusted on the fly with a paddle on the left spoke of the steering wheel.
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The EPA charges the 2024 Equinox EV AWD at 285 miles of most vary. After I depleted the totally charged battery to 16% and 48 miles, I charged it for 12 hours at a Degree 2 public charger working at 7.7kWh. Afterward, the instrument cluster confirmed a variety of 301 miles, or about 21 miles of vary added per hour. The Equinox is the primary EV I’ve examined to return with a NACS adapter to be used at Tesla Supercharger stations. The method is straightforward: I clicked the adapter onto the tip of the Tesla NACS cost plug, initiated charging by the Tesla app, and topped the battery off from 86% in about 20 minutes.
Infotainment: Chevy Strikes to Google
GM has totally adopted Google’s built-in platform that embeds Google apps comparable to Assistant, Maps, the Play Retailer, Waze, and YouTube Music, in addition to third-party apps like Alexa and Spotify. Google Maps is fast and seamless, and when signed into your Google account, Maps vacation spot searches and historical past out of your cellphone present up on the show immediately.
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Due to the 17.7-inch infotainment display screen, all the pieces is simple to see and entry. I like you can simply rearrange the on-screen icons with the identical tap-and-hold gesture we already use on our telephones. The 11-inch digital instrument cluster is equally simple to make use of, however it is not as customizable as these of opponents. In case you thought the Google platform meant seamless entry to Android Auto, you would be mistaken. Each that and Apple CarPlay are disappointingly absent.
(Credit score: Doug Newcomb)
The Equinox EV comes with driver assists which are desk stakes for many new autos, comparable to intersection automated braking and side-cyclist alert. My take a look at automobile additionally got here with GM’s glorious Tremendous Cruise. It is a part of a $2,700 add-on bundle and consists of automated parking. The characteristic works impeccably on most highways—day or evening—for hands-off, eyes-on-the-road driving. It even routinely modifications lanes when it senses a slower automobile forward and the adjoining lane is evident. But it surely comes at a steep worth, and after the primary three years of possession, it requires a $25-per-month subscription.
Verdict: A Small SUV With Massive Worth
The 2025 Chevy Equinox EV provides extra bang for the buck than practically each different small electrical SUV out there. The $33,600 base mannequin consists of a variety of options sometimes reserved for pricier fashions, comparable to front-collision warning and automated bike owner braking. It provides greater than 315 miles of vary and is accessible with a very good mixture of trims, motors, and drivetrains that present pleasing, if not pulse-quickening, efficiency. Add within the trendy exterior styling, snug inside, and big Google-powered infotainment system—whereas nonetheless qualifying for the $7,500 federal tax credit score—and you’ve got a bona fide hit. It might not be as enjoyable to drive because the $41,450 Hyundai Ioniq 5, however it provides extra for much less and earns our Editors’ Alternative award.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
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The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV is a compelling small electrical SUV with greater than 300 miles of vary, a classy exterior and inside, an easy Google infotainment system, and good driving dynamics, all for a rock-bottom worth.
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