2025 Chevrolet Equinox First Drive Review: A Big Glow-Up For A Small Car

The Chevrolet Equinox has been round for nearly twenty years, and regardless of final 12 months’s model being slightly dated, it was nonetheless the second-best vendor within the Chevy steady. In 2023, greater than 212 000 Equinox fashions discovered new properties, and midway by means of 2024, gross sales have been on monitor to hit these numbers once more. So, it is thrilling that it lastly will get a major refresh for 2025 – one that may undoubtedly bolster these gross sales figures for the remainder of the 12 months.

The Equinox is a two-row compact SUV with seating for 5 folks and ample room for carrying cargo. It’s a preferred selection with over three million bought in its 20-year historical past. This 12 months marks the fourth era of this reasonably priced SUV with enhancements to its model and options. DrivingOnRoad had the prospect to test it out at a First Drive occasion not too long ago; here is what we discovered.

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a car in a restricted atmosphere underneath sure time constraints. Regulate DrivingOnRoad for our complete Check Drive evaluate which can comply with quickly.

What’s New

Essentially the most important modifications to the Equinox are aesthetic – each inside and outside. It has bolder exterior styling impressed by the newer pickup vans within the Chevy steady, a considerably revised inside, and a brand new, rugged Activ trim. It is also bigger than earlier than, growing in width, size, and peak over the outgoing mannequin.

Inside, there’s a bigger infotainment touchscreen as a regular characteristic, together with a digital instrument cluster and a extra eye-catching design. The engine will not be new, however the up to date model of the 1.5-liter turbo is paired to 2 new transmissions, and guarantees extra effectivity.

Inside Improve

Improved Supplies With Higher Fashion

The Equinox will get a major model improve with new supplies and new colours that make it a much more enticing SUV. The brand new Activ trim includes a black and light-weight brown suede microfiber inside, whereas the RS will get a black inside with pink accents on the seats, dashboard, and vents. It additionally has slightly little bit of blue stitching on the seats, making for a hanging look. Even the bottom LT is enticing, with both fabric or imitation leather-based in black and grey. The usage of textured supplies additional enhances the general look of the Equinox.

The gear shifter strikes from the middle console to the steering column, serving to the inside really feel extra open whereas creating extra storage. The infotainment system will get a bigger 11.3-inch touchscreen that’s simpler to make use of and makes the Equinox really feel extra fashionable. An 11-inch digital instrument cluster sits in entrance of the motive force, finishing the tech-focused inside.

Room for Cargo

Whereas the Equinox is a smaller choice than the Traverse and doesn’t have that sort of cargo capability, it nonetheless manages pretty nicely contemplating its measurement. There’s 29.8 cubic ft behind the rear seats with 63.5 cubic ft obtainable while you fold the seats down. Further storage is hidden beneath the cargo flooring. The Equinox may also tow with a ranking of 800 kilos with front-wheel drive or 1,500 lbs with all-wheel drive,

Exterior Refresh

Taking Its Cues From Vehicles

There’s a dramatic distinction within the look of the brand new Equinox. The final era was softer with extra curves, a shorter hood, and a extra modest, reserved design. The brand new Equinox borrows the model of the Chevy Silverado with an aggressive, squared off grille and three completely different entrance fascias. The wheel openings are additionally squared off and the Equinox is 2.5 inches wider, including to its presence.

Wheels in a wide range of designs vary from 17 inches as much as 20 inches on the RS trim. That trim additionally will get black accents with an obtainable black roof, whereas the Activ goes in the wrong way with an obtainable white roof and grey accents. Every Equinox has its personal distinctive model inside and outside, making for 3 distinctive personalities in a single versatile car.

Powertrain: One Engine With Two Transmissions

Energy for the Equinox comes from an up to date 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower. Entrance-wheel drive trims ship 184 lb-ft of torque with a constantly variable computerized transmission solely. All-wheel drive trims provide 203 lb-ft of torque and are mated completely to an eight-speed computerized. It’s not probably the most highly effective engine, however it does the job – the little crossover is not horribly heavy. The upside to this modest engine is sweet gasoline financial system: It will get an EPA-estimated 26/28/27 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed with front-wheel drive, and 24/29/26 mpg with all-wheel drive.

New this 12 months are drive modes for the RS and Activ trims. Driver can select from Regular or Snow mode on front-wheel drive trims, whereas all-wheel drive fashions additionally get an Off-Street mode. Though the latter suggests you possibly can tackle some rougher terrain – and the brand new Activ fashions include all-terrain tires and a rugged look – this is not a trail-rated off-roader. You’ll be able to sort out a regular dust highway or some gravel with ease, however we would not go any additional into the wild than that.

Driving Impressions: Snug Journey With Modest Energy

The Equinox doesn’t have an particularly highly effective engine, so this isn’t an ideal choose for many who are centered on efficiency. It’s responsive, however extra mild-mannered with good acceleration which is easy and quiet, even with a heavy foot on the gasoline. Steering is centered and exact, however not sporty. Once more, this isn’t a performance-focused automobile with tight, responsive steering, however that’s okay. That is an reasonably priced SUV extra prone to be a household automobile, and it delivers an acceptable drive for that sort of use.

In our expertise, the experience is quiet and comfy with out an excessive amount of highway or wind noise intruding into the cabin. It’s an ideal selection for longer drives with the household. Seating is supportive up entrance with good adjustability, and we liked the brand new supplies used all through the cabin. It makes this budget-friendly SUV look so significantly better, giving it character and persona. Even the plastic trims used on the dashboard characteristic colours and delicate patterns that take away the considerably ho-hum look of the final era. We can not overstate simply how a lot the inside of the Equinox has improved this 12 months.

Pricing and Verdict

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is obtainable in three trims, all with a selection of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The bottom LT is priced at $29,685, not together with $1,395 vacation spot, with the RS and Activ each coming in at $34,085. All-wheel drive will be added to any trim for a further $2,000. That places the total lineup nicely underneath $40,000, making this an ideal selection for households on a funds.

There’s additionally the Equinox EV for many who need to dip a toe into EV possession, however that is a completely separate car that does not share a lot with this one in addition to its title.

Though there’s not a variety of trims, every is distinct with the extra modest LT on the backside whereas the sporty RS and rugged Activ provide extra options and slicker styling. The brand new exterior styling on all three trims mixed with hanging inside parts make this a surprisingly interesting SUV regardless of its reasonably priced worth level. Mixed with good gasoline financial system, this can be a household automobile that’s straightforward on the funds over the long run.

The place it falls a bit brief is on efficiency, however that may solely be a difficulty for some. If efficiency is your precedence, then look elsewhere and contemplate the RAV4 or Kia Sportage if you’d like extra energy with out an enormous worth enhance. In any other case, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox delivers a pretty inside with cargo versatility and pricing that’s nice for households.

Sources: GoodCarBadCar.internet