Compact crossovers are the darling of the automotive trade proper now. Mainly each automaker has at the very least one, and a few have much more than that. Due to this reality, when a brand new entrant to the market comes out, it must be fairly spectacular to seize the eye of your common Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue purchaser. That’s precisely what Chevy is gunning for with the redesigned fourth-generation gas-powered Equinox.
To enchantment to a market that’s at the moment obsessive about boxy automobiles which have the looks of off-road potential, the Bowtie took the swoops and curves of the earlier ‘Nox and lower them down with an angle grinder. What you get now’s a extra truck-looking car, cosplaying as an off-roader even when it’s by no means meant to truly sort out an off-road path.
For essentially the most half, Chevy succeeded in its mission to construct a aggressive and compelling compact crossover, however in a world dominated by the trio of automobiles I discussed earlier than, it needs to be rattling good to win over the hearts and minds of a crossover-obsessed market. I believe Chevy was in a position to do exactly that with the 2025 Equinox.
Full Disclosure: Chevy flew me out to Minneapolis, fed me all kinds of scrumptious meals and put me up in a flowery Mariott all so I might drive the fourth-generation Equinox.
Chevy’s redesigned Equinox isn’t a automobile for automobile lovers, individuals who derive pleasure from driving or individuals who even actually like getting behind the wheel. It’s an equipment automobile, and there’s nothing improper with that. There are far more individuals who need an equipment automobile than lovers, and since Normal Motors is within the enterprise of being profitable, it is sensible it might cater the Equinox to these people.
So don’t anticipate an inspiring drive. The brand new Equinox is reasonably boring, however once more, that’s form of the purpose. It’s designed to ferry folks and issues from one place to a different with as few points as potential, and it’s so aggressively high-quality to drive you virtually overlook you’re doing it. The entire automobile — its steering, its engine and its transmission — falls to the wayside as you go down the highway. Meaning it’s a reasonably stress-free expertise, at the very least, which is what you need in a crossover like this.
Powering all three Equinox trims (LT, RS and Activ) is a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 that places out 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque for those who go for all-wheel drive, which makes use of an eight-speed computerized. Entrance-wheel-drive Equinoxes include 184 lb-ft of torque and a CVT. Neither of those are notably sturdy numbers, however you received’t actually miss the additional 19 lb-ft of the AWD automobile, so I’d in all probability skip it until you’re feeling you actually need AWD (you don’t). Steering and dealing with are additionally greater than ample. It’s not a sports activities automobile, so there’s some lean within the corners and the steering really feel is just about useless. Nonetheless, it’s weighted properly on and off-center, and there’s greater than sufficient grip from the all-season or all-terrain tires to deal with no matter form of mundane driving you throw on the Equinox.
To be truthful, none of that actually issues. Nobody has ever purchased a Chevy Equinox — or another compact crossover for that matter — based mostly on how properly it drove and the way fast it was. What truly issues is the inside area, consolation and refinement. I’ve pushed all the massive names within the compact crossover section, and the Equinox is among the many finest in terms of inside area and design. There’s loads of room in all places for you, your accomplice, your 2.2 youngsters and all of their shit. Head-, leg- and shoulder room can be greater than ample within the rear seats, even for me at 6-foot-1-inch.
If you happen to fold down the rear seats, you get an especially beneficiant 63.5 cubic ft of cargo room. By way of consolation, the Equinox ain’t too unhealthy. The seats are fairly properly bolstered and provide some lumbar help. One factor I actually recognize is that Chevy added a little bit of padding on the highest of the door on your elbow. I’m an enormous elbow-on-the-window-frame man, so this was actually welcome and one thing numerous OEMs overlook in cheaper automobiles.
Up entrance you get a cool but acquainted GM inside design with two screens, an 11-inch gauge cluster show and an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and each work properly and might be simply custom-made to your needs. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto followers will probably be completely happy to listen to that each methods nonetheless exist within the 2025 Equinox, regardless of GM shifting away from the methods. Moreover, button followers will rejoice as a result of the complete local weather management system makes use of exhausting buttons. Positive, you should utilize the display screen as a redundancy, however a piano black button within the heart stack can management something you wish to do. One downfall is that the lights are managed by way of the display screen like on another Chevys. No one’s good, I suppose.
Chevy determined to maneuver the gear selector from the middle console to the steering column, and that’s at all times a welcome determination in my e-book. There’s no want for an enormous shifter to be taking over useful actual property in a automobile like this. It frees up extra room for storage cubbies, cup holders and an obnoxiously giant drive mode selector.
Relying on what trim you go for, the Equinox’s interiors are barely totally different. The fundamental format is just about the identical, however materials decisions and colours differ relying on whether or not you go for the LT, RS or Activ. The Activ comes with the largest distinction, seats coated in Maple Sugar and suede microfiber upholstery. The LT and RS need to accept black and grey. No matter what trim you select, the Equinox’s cabin feels reasonably properly put collectively and durable. I might definitely see it holding up by way of years of day by day driving abuse. Piano black can be stored to a minimal, so for those who’re a hater, don’t be.
Whereas we’re with regards to trims, the three are just about the identical, simply look packages that add totally different options. The bottom LT will probably be the quantity vendor with a $29,995 base value (together with $1,395 for vacation spot) for a front-wheel-drive mannequin. The RS provides some sporty touches, barely larger wheels (20s are coming) and purple and blue inside trimmings, and it begins at $34,395. Lastly, you get the Equinox Activ, and regardless of its off-roadish seems to be you don’t get any mechanical upgrades, save for 17-inch wheels carrying Normal Grabber all-terrain tires. Floor clearance stays the identical, as does nearly all the things else. Chevy tells me the suspension has been calibrated for every mannequin, however all of them really feel the identical if I’m being trustworthy. Anyway, a FWD Activ begins at an similar $34,395. All three trims might be had with AWD and the eight-speed computerized for an additional $2,000.
The LT I drove got here in at $33,880, whereas the RS stickered at $39,065 and the big-dog Activ was $39,925, and that’s nearly as costly as the brand new Equinox might be. For the cash, it’s a reasonably strong worth. There’s a plethora of normal security gear and driver aids on each trim; stuff like adaptive cruise management and rear parking help are actually normal. There are, in fact, choices you may choose like a comfort package deal that will get you extra seat controls, twin local weather zones, an influence liftgate, a wi-fi charger, and a unique roof coloration with a panoramic sunroof. All of that stuff is out there from the bottom LT trim, so you may skip the RS and Activ trims altogether in the event that they aren’t chatting with you.
It’s as much as you whether or not or not the truck-ified 2025 Equinox suits your tastes. I believe it’s fairly good-looking, however among the design parts and sharp seems to be are writing checks its compact crossover underpinnings can’t actually money. It’s off-road cosplay, and if that’s what you’re into, who am I to say that you just’re improper? There are nonetheless loads of smoothed-out choices (together with Chevy’s personal Blazer) to select from.
As increasingly more corporations enter the compact crossover section, Chevy significantly wanted to do one thing particular with the fourth-generation Equinox, particularly on the heels of the wonderful Equinox EV’s launch (a automobile that’s wholly unrelated). I’m not right here to say the Equinox resets the compact crossover market, but it surely’s one other strong entrant into the sector with seems to be that’ll make it stand out amongst a really giant crowd and an inside that’ll isolate its occupants from Toyota RAV4 consumers bragging about reliability.
