The Chevrolet Equinox EV is a game-changer in the electric vehicle market, bringing stylish design, practical space, and impressive range to a more affordable price point. It’s a clear signal from Chevrolet that electric cars are becoming accessible for a wider range of American buyers, offering a compelling alternative to gasoline-powered SUVs.
Sleek Design, Modern Comfort
The Equinox EV boasts a fresh, modern design that’s distinctly electric. It has smooth lines, a confident stance, and modern LED lighting that gives it a clean, futuristic look.
Inside, the cabin is designed to be spacious and user-friendly.
- Room for Everyone: The Equinox EV comfortably seats five passengers, with ample legroom and headroom in both the front and rear, thanks to its dedicated electric platform (GM’s Ultium platform). This means a flat floor, adding to the feeling of spaciousness.
- Intuitive Technology: A large, prominent touchscreen infotainment system dominates the dashboard, typically an 11.3-inch screen standard, with a larger 17.7-inch screen available on higher trims. It includes built-in Google services, wireless Apple CarPlay®, and Android Auto™, making it easy to connect your digital life. You’ll also find a digital driver information screen in front of the steering wheel.
- Practical Cargo Space: The Equinox EV offers good cargo capacity for a compact SUV. You can expect around 26.4 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to a generous 57.2 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down. This is plenty for daily errands, luggage, or gear for weekend trips.
- Comfort Features: Depending on the trim, you can enjoy features like heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing comfort in various climates.
Powerful Performance and Impressive Range
The Equinox EV delivers a smooth, quiet, and responsive driving experience, typical of electric vehicles.
- Electric Powertrain: It comes with different power configurations:
- Front-Wheel Drive (FWD): A single electric motor provides 220 horsepower and 242 lb-ft of torque.
- All-Wheel Drive (AWD): With dual motors, the eAWD system boosts output to a strong 300 horsepower and 348 lb-ft of torque, offering quicker acceleration and enhanced traction.
- Excellent Driving Range: Range is a major selling point for the Equinox EV.
- FWD models are EPA-estimated to achieve up to 319 miles on a full charge.
- AWD models provide an estimated range of up to 285-307 miles.
- Quick Acceleration: Even the FWD model feels peppy, while the AWD versions can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 6.0 seconds, making merging and passing effortless.
Charging Solutions for Every Lifestyle
Charging the Equinox EV is designed to be convenient, whether you’re at home or on the road.
- Level 1 (120V Home Outlet): This is the slowest option, typically adding about 3-5 miles of range per hour. It’s best for occasional top-ups or if you drive very few miles daily.
- Level 2 (240V Home or Public Charger): This is the most common home charging solution. The Equinox EV comes standard with an 11.5 kW onboard charger, which can add around 34 miles of range per hour. Higher trims can have an available 19.2 kW onboard charger, boosting this to about 51 miles of range per hour. A full charge from empty overnight (around 8-10 hours) is easily achievable with a Level 2 setup.
- DC Fast Charging (Public Stations): For quick charges on the go, the Equinox EV can handle DC Fast Charging at up to 150 kW. This can add approximately 70 miles of range in just 10 minutes, making road trips much more practical. GM EVs are also gaining access to the widespread Tesla Supercharger network, expanding charging options significantly.
Advanced Safety Features
Chevrolet equips the Equinox EV with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assist technologies known as Chevy Safety Assist, many of which are standard.
- Key Standard Safety Features: This suite includes:
- Automatic Emergency Braking: Helps prevent or reduce the severity of frontal collisions.
- Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning: Helps keep the vehicle in its lane.
- Forward Collision Alert: Warns the driver of potential front-end collisions.
- Following Distance Indicator: Shows the gap time between your vehicle and the one ahead.
- IntelliBeam (Auto High Beams): Automatically switches between high and low beams.
- Available Advanced Features: Higher trims can offer more sophisticated features like:
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a set speed and distance from the car ahead.
- HD Surround Vision: A 360-degree camera system for easier parking.
- Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist: Helps with parallel and perpendicular parking.
- Super Cruise™: GM’s hands-free driver-assistance technology for compatible highways.
Price (MSRP)
The Chevrolet Equinox EV is positioned to be one of the most affordable electric SUVs in the U.S. For the latest model year, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for a new Chevrolet Equinox EV typically starts around $34,995 for the base 1LT FWD trim. Prices will go up for higher trims (like the 2LT, 3LT, 2RS, and 3RS) and with the addition of AWD or other optional features, with top trims potentially reaching into the mid-$40,000s or more. Importantly, the Equinox EV is also expected to be eligible for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit for eligible buyers, which can significantly lower the effective purchase price.
The Chevrolet Equinox EV is a fantastic addition to the electric vehicle market in the U.S. It combines appealing style, practical space, long electric range, and a strong suite of technology and safety features, all at a competitive price point that makes EV ownership more accessible for everyday American drivers.