CHEVROLET Equinox EV 2025

Unless you've spent the last year or so curled up under a rock, you've probably seen Equinox EVs all over the place. According to a compilation by Automédia magazine, Chevrolet sold no fewer than 14,421 units of its compact battery-powered SUV last year in Quebec. This allowed it to more than double its electric vehicle (EV) sales in the province and, in the process, overtake Hyundai and Tesla.

EV purchase subsidies have certainly boosted the fortunes of almost all manufacturers, but the Equinox EV immediately ticked several boxes on drivers' lists. First, its advertised range, which exceeds 500km for the front-wheel drive version. Then, its size, which places it right in the heart of the ever-popular compact crossover segment.

But Chevrolet's ace up its sleeve was the Equinox EV's pricing. The defunct $12,000 government rebates—a third of which could be revived on April 1^st at the provincial level—allowed a base version to be purchased for under $40,000! That was cheaper than many similarly sized gas-powered SUVs, not to mention the substantial energy savings in daily use.

Even without any subsidies, a base Equinox EV still sells for less than a Hyundai Kona Electric or a Kia Niro EV, two models with less space and performance. That said, many manufacturers are currently (as of March 2025) discouting several thousand dollars on many popular electric SUVs (for example, $7,000 on the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and $9,000 on the Kia EV6). This doesn't even take into account the sums that some dealerships will undoubtedly allocate, eager to clear the generous inventory cluttering their lots.

The 2024-2025 winter season was just around the corner when we tested the two-wheel-drive Equinox EV RS. Scroll down to the Evaluation section to see how this newcomer fared in the cold!

You can also check out the results of the CAA EV Winter Test | 2025 to learn more about the real-world driving range and charging of this Mexican-built vehicle.

Despite the Equinox EV's attractive price tag, choosing this model doesn't only mean that you're "buying a price." Stable and fun to drive, Chevrolet's electric best-seller also stands out for its comfrotable, modern and welcoming cabin. The superb central display has likely won over many of the vehicle's current owners.

Undoubtedly, the Equinox EV's impressive range pretentions also explain a large part of its success. It was one of the first mass-market models to cross the 500km threshold, at least in theory. Unfortunately, as our video highlights, we fell far short of that mark during our test, conducted in a typical December, with temperatures fluctuating between -12°C and 5°C. Moreover, the CAA EV Winter Test confirmed our initial observations by showing a 34% range loss compared to the official Natural Resources Canada rating.

Even though few people drive 500km every day, it's important to keep in mind that a stop will most likely be necessary during a Montreal-Quebec trip in cold weather. Fortunately, during the CAA Winter Test, plugging into a high-speed charging station, starting at a 20% charge level, allowed us to gain around 130km in 15 minutes. This is truly a fast charge, relatively unaffected by the elements.

We can only hope that the initial problems that delayed the Equinox EV's launch—faulty batteries, erratic electronics—are a thing of the past. Neither GM nor its customers want to relive the saga of replacing the Chevrolet Bolt's battery packs a few years ago.

Watch our complete video review soon!

Safety features

• Antilock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist
• Stability and traction control
• Hill-start assist
• Front airbags
• Front knee airbags
• Font side airbags
• Side curtain airbags
• Front and rear outbord seats seatbelt pretensioners
• Five adjustable head restraints
• Rear passenger reminder
• Rearview camera
• Tire pressure monitor
• Forward collision alert
• Forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and cross-traffic detection
• Lane departure alert with steering assist
• Automatic high-beams
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring with automatic steering assist
• Rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking
• Rear automatic emergency braking
• Rear parking sensors
• Surround-view monitor
• Hands-free lane centering assist and driver distraction detection system with camera driver monitoring (optional on all trims)

Crash test results

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety