2025 Chevrolet Equinox

The Activ model downsizes to 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires and gets its own front-end look with nostrils and a roof that can be painted white to contrast with blacked-out badges. The RS can get a black-painted roof to go with a smattering of high-gloss black trim, and 20-inch wheels hit its options list.

Inside, the Equinox sports a handsomely drawn dash filled with digital displays. There’s an 11.0-inch unit in front of the driver that renders the gauges, while an 11.3-inch touchscreen fits in the same trapezoidal frame, offering Google built-in services and, yes, still offering Apple CarPlay. It’s even wireless. Slim vents and climate controls finish off the center stack, while round vents flank the dash. It all looks similar to other recent Chevys and sits above the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Drive modes, controlled by a laughably oversized dial on the center console, also include Normal and Snow. Off-Road mode relaxes the stability control system and allows for more lateral yaw. But this isn’t a rally car and no one’s going to be going sideways in the Equinox.

How fast is the Chevrolet Equinox?

Every Equinox has a 1.5-liter turbo-4 rated at 175 hp under its hood rated. Front-wheel drive models get a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while all-wheel-drive models net an 8-speed automatic transmission. The CVT FWD models only have 185 lb-ft of torque while the AWD 8-speed models have 203 lb-ft.

No Equinox is going to qualify as quick, but FWD models are peppier off the line as the power is more at the ready. It’s not hard to spin the front tires while going around a corner. From a stop, there’s a minor tug of torque steer. The AWD models feel heavier, and the 8-speed’s shifts are lazy in the name of smoothness and fuel economy; this translates to a lull in power partly caused by turbo lag. It’s easy to catch the turbo-4 flat footed and off boost with the 8-speed, especially around town. 

The Equinox can tow up to 800 pounds in FWD form and 1,500 pounds with AWD. The towing package is a dealer-installed receiver and no extra cooling elements are added to the powertrain.

The Equinox’s ride is its best driving quality. It’s comfortable, composed, and isolating. Even the RS model on 20-inch wheels over cobblestone pavement is smooth and quiet. The ride might be the best in its class, and is head and shoulders above the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage in terms of refinement.

The steering is surprisingly well weighted with good on-center stability. No minor corrections are needed at highway speeds. The system doesn’t go too light at parking lot speeds. Asking for much feedback about what’s going on with the wheels is a request too far. There’s controlled body lean around corners and the soft-suspension that soaks up road imperfections with aplomb quickly puts things back in place. The Mazda CX-5 feels more athletic with less body roll and sharper steering than the Equinox.

Base models have manually adjustable seats, but RS and Activ models net the optional 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support. LTs have cloth seats that feel durable, while RS and Activ models get synthetic leather with suede inserts on the latter. No Equinox can be had with leather.

There’s plenty of space for four adults, though three across in back might be a little tight. The front seats are a tad narrow for wider occupants, and the outside seat bottom bolster rides higher than the inside bolster due to a plastic shroud it presses onto. The result is a slightly lopsided feeling if you pay attention. The front and rear seat bottoms are a little short, an issue we find in the Blazer as well.

Rear seat space is good with the ability for a 5-foot-10 adult to sit comfortably behind someone of the same build. The cargo hold can haul 29.8 cubic feet of goods with the second-row seat up and that space swells to 63.5 cubic feet of space. Both are generous measurements.

The Equinox is easy to see out of thanks to a low-set dashboard, large swaths of glass, and small blind spots.

How much is a fully loaded Chevrolet Equinox?

The Equinox RS and Activ run $36,395 with all-wheel drive. They add a black- or white-painted roof, 19-inch or 17-inch wheels respectively, synthetic leather heated and cooled seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control. 

Adding every option from a hands-free automatic tailgate and power-adjustable front passenger seat to the surround-view camera system and other niceties brings the price to $40,000. Even then, the Equinox is undercutting some rivals while delivering a stellar feature set.