IS the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV the BEST Budget EV you can buy?

Описание: We drive the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV to see if it's the BEST Budget EV you can buy?

Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:23 Trims
0:46 Competitors
1:07 Exterior
1:55 Cargo Space
2:26 Wheels and Tires
2:49 Under The Hood
3:23 Battery And Charging
3:49 Driver Assistance
4:00 Pricing
4:25 Rear Seat
4:59 Interior And Tech
8:19 Driving
14:09 Verdict

Here’s the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV! With the Chevy Bolt currently out of production, this model stands as the most affordable electric vehicle from General Motors available today. I’m excited to take it for a test drive and see how it performs. This particular version is the LT model with front-wheel drive, which is the most budget-friendly option. We’ll dive into the pricing details shortly. Chevrolet has streamlined the trim options, offering just two choices now: the LT and the RS, both of which come in either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations.

Exterior

The Equinox boasts a sleek design, featuring a distinctive wide and narrow LED strip that is becoming synonymous with Chevy's electric lineup, including the Blazer EV and Silverado EV. Competing against models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Volkswagen ID.4, it stands out. Interestingly, despite being wider and longer than its competitors, it offers less interior space than most of them.

With its stylish and contemporary appearance, the Equinox avoids any odd or quirky features that might deter potential buyers. When you open the tailgate, you'll find a practical 26.4 ft³ of cargo space with the seats up, expanding to 57.2 ft³ when the second row is folded down.

Wheels and tires

This LT model comes equipped with standard 19-inch wheels, fitted with Michelin Primacy all-season tires. It features a strut suspension in the front and a multilink setup in the rear. The front brakes consist of 12.6-inch vented discs, while the rear has 12.4-inch vented discs.

Under The Hood

GM has increased the power for both models in 2025. My front-wheel-drive tester now boasts 220 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque, an upgrade from the previous 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft. The all-wheel-drive versions with the dual motor setup deliver an impressive 300 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. The front-wheel-drive model can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds, while the all-wheel-drive variant is expected to achieve this in around 5.5 seconds.

Battery and Charging

Every model is equipped with an 85 kWh Ultium battery, providing a range of 319 miles for the front-wheel drive version and 309 miles for the all-wheel drive variant. The charging capabilities reach up to 150 kWh, and it also features an 11.5 kWh onboard A/C charger. I think the charging speed should be quicker than this since I was parked alongside a Kia EV6 charging with 50% on the screen. The KIA plugged in at 20% and in only a few minutes has passed my charging level.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT Numbers

BASE PRICE: $33,600
PRICE AS TESTED: $34,995
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front motor, Front wheel drive, 5-passenger, SUV
FRONT MOTOR: Permanent-magnet AC
COMBINED POWER: 220 hp
COMBINED TORQUE: 243 lb-ft
TRANSMISSION: direct-drive
BATTERY PACK: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 85.0 kWh
ONBOARD CHARGER: 11.5 kW
PEAK DC FAST CHARGE RATE: 150 kW
RANGE: 319 Miles
CURB WEIGHT: 4,950 lb
0-60 MPH: 7.5 seconds (Estimated)
EPA CITY/HWY: 117/100/mpge
CARGO SPACE: 26.4 cubic feet, 57.2 cubic feet with rear seat folded
PROS: Surprisingly upscale interior, very inexpensive for what you get, smooth ride, good range
CONS: Charging speeds could be faster