2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV First Drive Review: Electrification For The Masses

When General Motors discontinued the Bolt, the US electric vehicle market lost ne of its most affordable options. Though it’s more expensive than the outgoing Bolt, the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV arrives with a sub-$35,000 starting price and full federal tax credit eligibility, making it one of the best value EVs on the market upon arrival. Finally, a new electric vehicle that isn’t targeted solely at the wealthy.

CarBuzz traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to sample the Equinox EV, and we quickly learned that this might be a game changer for Chevy, GM as a whole, and public perception of EVs. Though we loved the Bolt, its limited size, range, and basic interior prevented it from appealing to a wide audience. The Equinox EV picks up where that car left off, delivering everything lovable about the Bolt in a larger, more America-friendly crossover package. This might be GM’s best EV yet.

Exterior: Sharper E-quinox

Much like the Blazer EV and Silverado EV, the Equinox EV doesn’t share much in common with its gas-powered namesake. In fact, it rides on a completely different platform. It’s longer, lower, and wider than the standard Equinox, with a wheelbase that stretches nearly nine inches longer. If you didn’t see the badges, you might assume the EV is a completely different crossover. Here’s how it stacks up against the upcoming 2025 Equinox:

19-inch wheels come standard, giving the Equinox EV a premium look even in the base configuration. Stepping up to either of the RS trims or the 3LT bumps the wheels to 21 inches, dramatically improving the curb appeal. Those RS models get some other visual cues, including a black grille area instead of body color. Every trim except the base 1LT comes with a connected headlight bar that adds a futurist character to the front end design.

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Chevy brought out a nice selection of colors for us to drive, but we grabbed the keys to a Riptide Blue 2LT model with a contrasting Summit White roof and mirrors. This is a great combination that helps the Equinox EV stand out. One oddity involves the Equinox EV logo, which replaces the “E” with a blue Ultium symbol; when painted in Riptide Blue, the E becomes hard to read from far away, making it look like it says “Quinox.” This issue goes away if you select another exterior color. Some other great hues include Radiant Red Metallic, Red Hot, and Galaxy Gray Metallic, which appears purple from certain angles, depending on the light.

Interior: Tech For All

It’s easy for an automaker to brag about all of its available technology, but only offer it in upper trim levels. The Equinox bucks this trend with a standard 17.7-inch touchscreen, which is powered by built-in Google. This system works well, but lacks Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration similar to other recent GM EVs. Is it a dealbreaker? That depends how much you rely on the Apple ecosystem, but we do believe GM made a mistake with this move.

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We won’t go so far as to call the interior luxurious, but it’s more premium than you’d expect for a vehicle that wears an Equinox badge. Jet Black is the only option for the 1LT trim, and stepping up to the 2LT or 3LT opens up Jet Black Evotex with Blue accents or an available Sky Cool Gray scheme. The blue accents feel a bit cheap to our eyes, like the wrapping you get on a metal appliance that is supposed to be peeled off. Opting for the 2RS or 3RS swaps the blue accents for red ones and flips the gray interior to Adrenaline Red. These are even more gaudy, causing us to lean towards Sky Cool Gray as the more mature color.

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The 1LT is slightly spartan with manually-adjustable seats, though they are still Evotex; the 2LT and 2RS add an eight-way power driver seat and the 2LT and 3LT trims also get a six-way power passenger seat. Those front seats are heated on the 2LT and 2RS, while the 3LT and 3RS add ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard seats. A panoramic moonroof is available to let more light into the cabin.

Practicality: Adult Bolt

The Equinox EV manages its interior space differently than its gas-powered equivalent on account of its longer wheelbase. It has slightly more front legroom but a little less rear legroom. With the moonroof, headroom is fairly similar. Two adults will be comfortable in the Equinox EV’s rear seats, but three people might be a pinch in terms of width, which is expected for this size of crossover. Though it’s a larger vehicle, the Equinox EV’s interior dimensions look less impressive on paper compared to the outgoing Bolt EUV.

Behind the rear seats, there is 26.4 cubic feet of space with additional storage underneath the floor, including a special spot for the charging cable bag. Folding the rear seats opens up 57.2 cubes. For comparison, the ICE Equinox packs 29.8-63.5 cubic feet. There is no front trunk in the Equinox EV, an option that some of its competitors offer.

Powertrain: Go The Distance

Chevrolet doesn’t officially quote the Equinox EV’s battery size, but we can assume it’s around 85 kWh of usable capacity based on the GM-internal module measurement. That battery enables a stellar 319-mile range for front-wheel-drive models or a still-decent 285 miles on all-wheel-drive models.

All trims can charge at up to 150 kW speeds on a DC fast charger, adding approximately 77 miles of range in 10 minutes. It’s not the quickest charging EV on the market, but it’s around three times faster than the Bolt could charge, meaning the Equinox EV will be a far superior option for road trips. On a Level 2 home charger, it can recharge at up to 11.2 kW – enough to add 36 miles per hour – but that requires an optional accessory from Chevy (the included charger provides around 7 kW). The 3RS trim can charge even quicker at up to 19.2 kW, but you will need an independent 100-amp breaker in your home to do so, something very few Equinox EV owners will have.

In terms of specs, the FWD versions produce 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft from a single electric motor – still more than the ICE Equinox, which makes 175 hp and 184 lb-ft. That single motor in the Equinox EV should scoot the Equinox to 60 mph in just under eight seconds. Opting for the dual-motor AWD setup brings the output to 288 hp and 346 lb-ft, dropping the 0-60 mph time to 5.9 seconds.

• 

  Equinox EV Single Motor
  

  Engine

  Electric

  Drivetrain

  Front-Wheel Drive

  Horsepower

  213 hp

  Torque

  236 lb-ft

  0-60 MPH

  Est. 8 seconds

  Range

  319 miles

• 

  Equinox EV Dual Motor
  

  Engine

  Electric

  Drivetrain

  All-Wheel Drive

  Horsepower

  288 hp

  Torque

  333 lb-ft

  0-60 MPH

  6 seconds

  Range

  285 miles

Driving Impressions: Elevating the Equinox

No Equinox could ever be described as sporty, but electrifying it has improved every element of the driving experience. This is far from the quickest EV out there, but it feels eager off the line before the electric motor runs starts to trail off above 40 mph. Though it’s a bit more powerful than the Bolt, the added weight means the Equinox EV feels more like a mature crossover and less like a hot hatchback. Even full throttle off the line doesn’t chirp the tires, which is fine for this target customer. We imagine the AWD model will feel significantly quicker, but we only had a chance to sample the FWD model on this first drive.

Ride comfort is superb, as evidenced by the lack of vibration or crashiness over Detroit’s torn-up roads. The larger 21-inch wheels might hurt comfort a bit, but the 19-inch wheels deliver a cushy drive. Road noise is pretty low too, even on the highway. There’s nothing exciting about the steering, but it delivers enough feedback to keep the Equinox EV from feeling boring. All but the base trim can be equipped with GM’s hands-free Super Cruise technology, which is among our favorite driver assist systems.

Pricing & Verdict: Value Star

Buyers looking for a truly affordable EV will be thrilled by the Equinox EV’s $34,995 starting price for the 1LT trim, which includes destination. Not only is this the cheapest way to get over 300 miles of range, but it also qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit because the Equinox EV is built in Mexico. Now that the credit can be applied at the point of sale, the Equinox essentially starts at just $27,495, including the $1,395 destination fee. Unfortunately, the 1LT doesn’t go on sale until later this year.

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For now, the 2LT will be the cheapest trim, starting at $43,295 (destination included). The 2RS is slightly more expensive at $44,795 for similar content but a sportier appearance. If you want a loaded Equinox EV, the 3LT and 3RS start at $45,295 and $46,795, respectively. Here’s how the Equinox EV compares to rivals on affordability:

Comparable EVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6 all cost thousands more, and they don’t qualify for a tax credit. The Volkswagen ID.4 does get the credit, but still costs more and doesn’t match the Equinox on range. Even the Tesla Model Y, the most popular EV on sale today, starts significantly higher, though it is more powerful and beats the Chevy’s range by a single mile.

So long as the Equinox EV isn’t plagued by any early production issues, glitchy software, or stop sales – which is a big if – Chevy may have an instant hit on its hands. This is the EV we’ve been waiting to see; a vehicle that builds on the success of the Bolt with more space, more range, more tech, and a more premium feel. If you are a current Bolt owner or are in the market for your all-electric vehicle, the Equinox EV is now one of the best value buys available, and it’s a pretty darn good EV, regardless of the price.