If you’re shopping for a new Chevy Equinox, there’s a new gas version as well as this EV.
Right off the bat, General Motors pitched the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV as the great equalizer for those looking to move away from internal combustion. It’s the right form factor and the right size, at the right time and — most critically for mass market adopters — at the right price. Ironically enough, as (full disclosure) the automaker brought Andre and TFL’s senior videographer out to Michigan to check out the $96,495 Silverado EV RST, the guys also had a chance to check out the electric Equinox, which starts at a far more palatable $43,295 before federal and state tax incentives.
Here’s the thrust of GM’s pitch: Crossovers are king, the Equinox is its best-selling crossover nameplate, and this vehicle can seat five while also achieving a claimed range of up to 319 miles of range. What’s more, it can also charge up to 77 miles in 10 minutes on a 150-kW DC fast-charger, and the front-wheel drive version offers up 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. That level of performance puts it in the same league as a lot of its gas and hybrid competition, though an all-wheel drive version offers up to 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque, with a slight hit to the overall driving range (285 miles). For reference, the eAWD’s output is identical to the similarly equipped Blazer EV, which is larger and heavier than this Equinox EV, obviously.
Adding all-wheel drive to the mix bumps the price up by $3,300, though the other main price driver if you’re in the market will be the trim offerings. The 2LT model is the least expensive (and even that car offers up a 17.7-inch center display and 11-inch digital gauge cluster, for what it’s worth), while the 3LT adds on features for a higher $45,295 price tag (again, before incentives and without adding in AWD). You’ll also have the choice to go with an RS model instead, which in modern Chevy-speak offers up a sportier look with fairly similar equipment across the 2RS and 3RS trims. The most expensive model is indeed the 3RS eAWD, which starts at $50,095.
Against contemporary rivals including the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Ariya, Kia EV6 and most critically, the Tesla Model Y), the Chevy Equinox EV is one of the brand’s most important cars of the year, as this is a ferociously competitive segment.
Is the Equinox EV any good though?
Andre offers up his full impressions of the Chevy Equinox EV in the review video below. The guys start out on the highways outside Detroit, where we do have an opportunity to test out Super Cruise. GM’s semi-autonomous driving feature is an option on the Equinox EV, and that is a feather in its cap against other well-known systems like Ford’s BlueCruise and Tesla’s Autopilot. Not only does having the feature broaden its feature set in the EV space, but it also continues to improve in terms of its actual performance and where it’s available (keep in mind, you can only activate Super Cruise on divided highways) each year.
Granted, the $41,000 to $50,000-ish price tag does smack on the high side, especially for an “everyperson” crossover. Once you factor in a $7,500 federal tax credit taken at point-of-sale and potential state incentives, that price does come down closer to the $30,000 starting point that Chevrolet’s been marketing. In Colorado, for example, you can currently get a $5,000 state incentive, bringing the total savings to $12,500 off that original price tag.
Will that be enough to pull folks away from gas-powered crossovers? Well, it’s always good to have more options if your head is in the EV market. And if it isn’t, it’s worth noting that there is a new gas-powered Equinox on the horizon as well.
