Yahoo Autos 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV quick take — sub $35,000 with 300+ miles of range
The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV is now open for orders, with GM touting it as the most affordable EV offering a range of over 315 miles. With a starting price of $34,995 for the base LT model, their claim holds up, as their closest price competitor is the $39,590 Nissan Ariya, with a 216-mile range.
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The Equinox EV LT and RS offer different driving experiences at different prices
The Equinox EV LT gets a total EPA-estimated range of 319 miles with a FWD configuration or 307 miles with an AWD configuration. Opting for AWD on the LT will also bump up the base price to $40,295. The interior here is more on the basic side with manual cloth seats that lack heating, a regular steering wheel, and a non-auto-dimming rearview mirror. The LT also sits on standard 19-inch wheels with all-season tires.
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The RS is where the more premium features kick in, with a $45,790 starting price to boot or $49,090 in AWD. Convenience features like heated and powered Evotex seats, a sunroof, and bigger 21-inch wheels with self-sealing tires. The interior can also be trimmed in an Adrenaline Red theme, bringing a touch of sportiness to your electric SUV.
Both models come equipped with a relatively large 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 11.0-inch instrument cluster display.
Plenty of power to get you around but comparatively slower charging
Power comes from an 85 kWh battery and a single motor putting out 220 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque on FWD models. AWD models make the experience much peppier with dual motors upping those numbers to 300 hp and 355 lb-ft. Car and Driver was able to achieve a 0-60 mph time of 7.7 seconds on the FWD and 5.8 seconds on the AWD.
Charging isn't as fast as its competitors given the 150 kilowatts peak rate. Chevy estimates that 10 minutes of DC fast charging should add around 70 miles of range, although that drops to 34 miles in an hour with Level 2 charging as expected.
Chevrolet
A plethora of optional packages to enhance your driving experience
Chevy did not hold back on the optional packages, with a total of 15 that customers can opt for. Some simply add more accessories to the cargo area, the Blackout Packages will darken any exterior details like badges and mirror caps, while the All-Weather packages add weatherproof liners to either the cabin, the cargo area, or both.
Some of the items included in these packages can also be added individually for more customization.
We'll focus on the major ones that add significant benefits to the Chevy Equinox EV experience, namely the Comfort Package, the two Convenience Packages, and the two Active Safety Packages.
Related: The Top Five Fastest Road Cars to Lap the Nürburgring
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The two convenience packages make the Equinox EV's cabin a plush abode
The regular $8,300 Convenience Package adds an 8-way power driver seat, a 6-way power front passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, an improved hitch view system, a power liftgate, and provisions for trailer wiring.
Choose the $11,400 Convenience Package II, and the features become decidedly more upscale. Both the 8-way power driver seat and 6-way power passenger seat are now ventilated, with heated rear seats for added comfort. A heads-up display, dual-zone climate control, and premium Evotex materials elevate the cabin's ambiance.
For the driver, heated wipers, a rear camera mirror with a washer, LED headlights and taillights, and 21" aluminum wheels enhance driving convenience and ease.
Related: Volvo's cheapest EV is already putting up red-hot sales numbers
Active safety packages bring the Equinox EV into the 21st century
The two Active Safety Packages are numbered 2 and 3, presumably the first one is what comes standard on the Equinox EV.
Active Safety Package 2 includes all of the standard, tech-focused features we've come to expect from modern cars for $545, including adaptive cruise control, surround cameras, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, side bicyclist alert, rear pedestrian alert, and traffic sign recognition. It should be noted that this package comes standard on the RS AWD.
The more exciting additions come from the $3,355 Active Safety Package 3 which adds parking assist and three years of GM's Super Cruise self-driving system.
Chevrolet
Exciting colors stand out in today's neutral-colored traffic
The 2025 Chevy Equinox EV thankfully comes in more than just black, white, and gray. Riptide Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Tintcoat are the two standout colors with an honorable mention to Galaxy Gray Metallic, which seemingly adds a tinge of pink to a darker gray.
For an additional $495, you can opt for a Summit White roof, offering two-tone color combinations. However, to choose this option, you must first add one of the two Convenience Packages, which raises the total cost of the white roof to around $8,800 at minimum.
Chevrolet
Final thoughts
At this price point, the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV beats out the competition. Sure it may not be as luxurious or fast-charging as other SUVs in its segment, but no other car on sale right now has this kind of range for sub-$35,000.
By bringing the Equinox EV to market, Chevy is undoubtedly spurring their competition to release competing EVs like the Equinox. This could very well usher in the era of the affordable and usable EV that we have been asking for, allowing the general populace to save on gas when commuting.
We're eager to see how other manufacturers respond and what features they'll be able to offer at this price point.
Related: 2025 Chevy Blazer EV debuts with $45,995 base price, FWD option, and powerful SS trim
