Currently, the Equinox is Chevrolet’s second-best-selling model, second only to the Silverado. If you held me hostage and told me my safe release depended on my ability to tell an Equinox from its bowtie-badged stablemates, I wouldn’t fancy my chances. Still, more than 200,000 families brought their Equinox home for the first time last year, even though the outgoing Equinox dates back to 2017. GM had no trouble getting rid of the old model, but from the first glance at the fourth-generation Equinox, it’s clear that it’s made an effort to make it stand out.
Looks: I’d never call the 2025 Equinox “ambitious.” (Name me one compact SUV that sells well.) But it’s definitely more youthful — cheery, even — than the crossover it replaces. The Equinox remains the budget-conscious buy this nameplate has always been, starting at $29,995 including delivery. It promises a hell of a lot of car for under $40,000 and, more importantly, one you might not choose just because the math works out.
The basics
As if its looks didn’t give enough away, the Equinox has been more than refreshed for 2025. It’s built on an updated version of GM’s D2XX platform that underpinned the last-generation SUV and has the same 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but the exterior has obviously been beefed up, and the interior is a lot better, too. The new Equinox looks sleeker and wider, partly because it takes cues from Chevy’s more rugged offerings, and partly because it’s literally wider, by 2.5 inches.
The hood is now more pronounced at the edges, giving the front fenders a muscular look. The tailgate is more upright, and the roof—now available in white or black regardless of body color, as with all outdoor SUVs—is supported by a floating C-pillar, like the big Traverse. Chevy affectionately calls this motif the “shark fin,” and it fits the profile well. The new, squared-off wheel arches are another key difference between this latest Equinox and the more egg-shaped people carrier it replaces. It’s a subtle touch, but once you notice it, it’s immediately clear how much heavy lifting it does for the vehicle’s overall appeal.
Of course, any implied on-road capability is just that; this is still the archetypal front-wheel-drive, optional all-wheel-drive crossover. Although only one engine will be offered for 2025, Chevy has complemented the “sporty” RS trim with a more adventurous Activ trim that adds Continental all-terrain tires (with appropriately tuned suspension), a unique front end, standard roof rails, and a few additional amenities for $34,395. The Activ also offers a unique “Maple Sugar” interior that looks simply outstanding.
More on the interior, because it’s such a big part of the new Equinox’s story. Gone are the curved dashboard and vertical air vents, which were outdated even by the standards of seven years ago. The dashboard is now dominated by two generously sized but not too large screens – an 11-inch screen for the instrument cluster and an 11.3-inch screen for the infotainment (yes, it has Apple CarPlay). They’re thankfully complemented by plenty of physical buttons for climate control, and flanked by large round air vents that wouldn’t look out of place in a Camaro.
The gearshift has now been moved to a PRNDL lever to the right of the steering wheel, which has also freed up a ton of storage space where the steering column would normally sit. Above that cubbyhole is a dial that lets you switch between Snow (standard on all but LT FWD) and Off-Road (AWD only) modes, which modulates power delivery to optimize traction on those surfaces. And in front of it, you’ll find an optional wireless charger that’s cleverly designed to drop your phone vertically into it. Unfortunately, it didn’t work so well on my iPhone 14 Pro without a case, but that might have something to do with the Pro’s huge camera bulge preventing it from sitting flush with the pad. Your experience may be different.
It all looks great, but what impressed me most were the materials. The Equinox RS has a subtle geometric pattern and red sheen for its hard plastic accents, while the Activ features GM’s Evotex synthetic leather upholstery in Maple Sugar suede that looks classy and feels rugged. Chevy says this is actually the first time it’s used Evotex in a microfiber style, and the company pulled it off perfectly. The rubbery, soft-touch treatment of the dashboard and armrests on the Activ is also unique, though I’m not a huge fan of the nylon-like material that usually covers those touchpoints on the LT and RS. It feels cheesy, probably at the expense of durability and ease of cleaning.
Any other comments? Rear legroom seems very adequate and GM’s Android-based infotainment system seems fairly easy to use. My only complaint about the latter is that Google Maps crashed during one of my drives and then was unavailable for another two minutes.
Driving experience
I spent about three hours behind the wheel in all three trim levels of the new Equinox. While the 175-hp four-cylinder is constant across all models, buyers must choose a drivetrain. Front-wheel-drive SUVs come with a continuously variable automatic transmission, while all-wheel-drive models get a conventional eight-speed Hydra-Matic 8T45 automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive option also increases peak torque from 350 Nm to 900 Nm. Maximum towing capacity is 680 kg.
Regardless of transmission and drive wheels, the Equinox handles predictably and comfortably. It handles as you’d expect from a crossover like this, and I was actually surprised by how intuitive the brake pedal calibration is. Not too sensitive, not too spongy; just right. The eight-speed transmission could be snappier when downshifting for overtaking – surprise, surprise – but the CVT is good by comparison, keeping the wheeze to a minimum. All in all, 175 horsepower feels plenty for the new Equinox, although I’d love to try a hybrid version with twice the power and instant torque. Maybe one day.
Fuel consumption
Fuel economy seems to lag behind rivals in the segment. Average fuel economy is 25 mpg in mostly city driving, which is in line with Chevy’s estimates. The Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue promise 27, 28 and 29 mpg in the city, respectively. However, the Equinox’s starting price is also lower than all three, and only the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson are cheaper. The Equinox also offers probably the most comprehensive standard suite of safety technologies in the segment, including Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking, which uses the vehicle’s cameras to look for cross traffic passing a light before you cross the street, and Side Bicyclist Alert.
The preliminary ruling
Comparing safety technologies across the board and splitting hairs over MSRP and MPG may not be the most emotional practices when buying a car, but in this most crowded of segments, where the overall performance level of the competition is higher than ever, it’s important. Will the 2025 Equinox be the best in its class? The answer to that question isn’t yet clear, but we do know what we can see: Chevy’s bread-and-butter compact SUV is finally showing signs of life. And if it sold pretty damn well before even without those features, you have to wonder what it’ll be capable of now.
| 2025 Chevrolet Equinox Specifications | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
|---|---|---|
| Base price (as tested) | $29,995 ($35,175 for the LT as tested) | $31,995 ($39,925 for Activ; $40,460 for RS as tested) |
| Drivetrain | 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder | continuously variable automatic transmission | front-wheel drive | 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder | 8-speed automatic | All-wheel drive |
| PS | 175 at 5,600 rpm | |
| Torque | 185 lb-ft at 2,000-4,800 rpm | 203 lb-ft at 2,000-4,000 rpm |
| Seating capacity | 5 | |
| Cargo volume | 29.8 cubic feet behind the second row | 63.5 cubic feet behind the first row | |
| Empty weight | 3,428 pounds | |
| Maximum towing capacity | 800 pounds | 1,500 pounds |
| EPA fuel economy | 26 mpg city | 28 highway | 27 combined | 24 mpg city | 29 highway | 26 combined |
| Summary | 8/10 | |
| Score | Possibly for the first time ever, the Equinox not only offers reasonable value for money, but is also an eye-catcher full of adventurous spirit. |
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