The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox makes giant strides to the front of the brutally competitive compact SUV class. Value, comfort, design and appealing features lift the Equinox into the company of leaders like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.
The new Equinox’s only shortcoming is the lack of a gasoline-saving hybrid model, a mainstay of its competitors’ lineups.
Chevy might argue the Equinox overachieves even there. It’s the only one that offers an entirely electric model, the Equinox EV, which also just went on sale.
The internal combustion and electric Equinoxes don’t share much beyond name and some styling elements, but the EV’s price range overlaps with and extends above the gas-burner, mirroring the hybrids’ positioning.
Equinox prices run from $28,600 to about $40K, fully optioned. Equinox EV prices start at $33,600 and extend into the mid $40Ks. The range mirrors those of leading automakers’ combined gasoline and hybrid lineups.
All prices exclude destination charges.
The 2025 Equinox is in dealerships now.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox trim levels and prices
- LT: $28,600
- RS: $33,000
- Activ: $33,000
*AWD adds $2,000 to all models
Source: Edmunds. All prices exclude $1,395 destination charge.
Striking looks, upscale interior
The new Equinox borrows exterior design cues including an upright grille and high beltline from the bigger Chevy Traverse, also new this year. Standard LED lights, a rakish angled "shark fin" C-pillar behind the rear door, flared fenders and squared-off wheel openings complement a body that grew 2.5 inches wider with minimal changes to height and length. Body color or two-tone roofs — black or white, depending on trim level — are available.
Chevy increased visual differentiation among the three trim levels — LT, RS and Activ. RS has sporty touches, including black exterior mirrors, grille, 19-inch wheels and roof. The new Activ model goes for a more rugged look, with an available white roof, 17-inch all terrain tires and gray metallic accents in a slightly more upright grille.
I tested a well-equipped RS with the black roof and all-wheel drive. AWD is a $2,000 option on all three trim levels.
My test vehicle’s interior was a design symphony, combining red stitching and accent trim with soft, textured black materials on the dash, doors and armrests.
The detailing rivals vehicles that are priced considerably above the Equinox.
It’s proof once again that good design needn’t cost more, but it does require time, thought and attention to detail.
Select competitors
- Ford Escape
- Honda CR-V
- Hyundai Tucson
- Kia Sportage
- Nissan Rogue
- Subaru Forester
- Toyota RAV4
- Volkswagen Tiguan
Easy to use controls; I’d like more from Google
The dashboard features twin screens: 11 inches for the configurable instrument cluster and 11.3 for a touch screen. Both are clear and easy to read.
The steering column has a simple gear selector for park, reverse and drive. Twin paddle shifters are disabled until you press a button labeled “L” on the steering wheel. Even after pressing that button, the paddles are not terribly effective. The eight-speed’s electronic controls frequently override them, and, frankly, a good automatic transmission does a better job selecting gears for both efficiency and performance than nearly all drivers.
Other controls include Google-connected voice recognition for navigation and other features. It works fine, but I’d welcome the ability to vocally control more vehicle features — for instance asking to see the digital owner’s manual rather than sifting through multiple menu levels.
The infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay for iPhone users who want easy access to features.
There are also welcome physical switches and dials for most climate features and volume.
The roomy center console has a deep bin, two cup holders, available wireless charging and USB ports. A mode dial in the console offers settings for mild off-roading, normal driving and reduced traction.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox top features
- Eight-speed automatic transmission for AWD models
- Google built-in navigation and infotainment system
- 11.3-inch touch screen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wireless charging
- 17-, 19- and 20-inch wheels
Driving impressions: More power with AWD
The lack of a "sport" mode is a bit of a welcome acknowledgment of the reality that the Equinox is built for comfort and utility, not performance.
The AWD Equinox’s 175-horsepower 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides good power for acceleration around town, passing and highway entrance ramps.
Credit the satisfactory performance to the electronically controlled eight-speed automatic transmission, which adds more ratios than last year’s six-speed automatic, despite a small increase in curb weight.
There’s a bit more engine noise than ideal under acceleration, but not enough to be bothersome. There’s not much road or wind noise.
More: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox electric compact SUV sets the standard for price and range
More: 2025 Hyundai Tucson adds comfort, safety features for babies and pets
Front-drive Equinoxes get a continuously variable transmission. Their version of the 1.5L engine is derated to 184 pound-feet of torque, compared with 203 with AWD and the 8-speed.
The ride is comfortable. The front seat offers plenty of room and storage. Rear leg and head room are good, as is cargo space.
The six-speaker audio is surprisingly good.
Power and fuel economy
The Equinox’s EPA fuel economy rating is competitive with other gasoline-burning compact SUVs, but trails hybrids significantly.
My AWD Equinox scored 24 mpg in the city, 29 highway and 26 combined. The combined figure is unchanged from 2024 and competitive with other brands’ nonhybrid compact SUVs.
It trails hybrid competitors.
The presence of an electric Equinox where competitors offer hybrids that still burn some gasoline makes comparing for the most efficient models a fool's errand.
Fuel cost is easier to compare. Per EPA estimates, fueling a gasoline-powered 2025 Equinox will cost $550-$650 more annually than competitors’ hybrids. Conversely, EPA estimates say Equinox EV owners’ electric bill should come in $400-$600 below gasoline cost for a hybrid Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson over 15,000 miles a year.
Available safety and driver assist features
- Automatic high beams
- Blind spot and cross traffic alert
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision alert
- Safety alert driver’s seat
- Front pedestrian and bicyclist detection and braking
- Following distance indicator
- Lane keeping alert and assist
- Blind spot alert
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Side bicyclist alert
- Rear seat occupant reminder
- Teen driver settings
Why get a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox?
The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox delivers outstanding value, features and looks. Its only meaningful shortcoming versus other compact SUVs is the lack of a hybrid drivetrain, and that’s arguably offset by the existence of the Equinox EV, despite the fact that the electric SUV shares nothing but its name and a mild resemblance with the gasoline model.
Anybody in the market for a compact SUV should consider Chevy’s Equinox family.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox at a glance
- Front- or all-wheel drive five-seat compact SUV
- Base price: $28,600 (all prices exclude $1,395 destination charge)
- Model tested: Chevrolet Equinox RS AWD
- Price as tested: $37,480 (excluding destination charge)
Specifications as tested
- Powerplant: 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine
- Output: 175 hp @ 5,600 rpm; 203 pound-feet of torque @ 2,000-4,000 rpm
- Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
- EPA estimated fuel economy: 24 mpg city/29 highway/26 combined. Regular gasoline.
- Wheelbase: 107.5 inches
- Length: 183.2 inches
- Width: 74.9 inches
- Height: 65.6 inches
- Turning circle: 37.2 feet
- Passenger volume: 104.3 cubic feet (100.1 with sunroof)
- Cargo volume: 29.8 cubic feet behind rear seat; 63.5 seat folded
- Curb weight: 3,428 pounds (LT; RS AWD not available)
- Towing capacity: 1,500 pounds
- Assembled in San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @ mark_phelan . Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter . Become a subscriber .
(The headline was updated in this story.)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2025 Chevrolet Equinox’s value, features, style challenge leading compact SUVs
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