MINNEAPOLIS – With GM nonetheless closely dedicated to electrification, the launch of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox comes at a clumsy time. To not be confused with the battery-powered and mechanically unrelated Equinox EV, the usual Equinox just isn’t solely not electrical, it’s not even obtainable as a hybrid. With the ranks of ICE-only compact SUVs quickly shrinking, one wonders how Chevy plans to maintain its mainstream people-mover related.
Contemplate this: The Equinox is Chevy’s second-best promoting mannequin. If this had been nearly every other producer, there wouldn’t be a Silverado-sized bogey hogging first place. That is as bread and butter as automobiles get today, and with the volumes Equinox enjoys, this isn’t a section the place Chevy can afford to be uncompetitive.
With that in thoughts, let’s minimize to the chase: The 2025 Equinox now seems to be nice in and out, however aside from inside passenger room, it’s objectively missing in comparison with nearly every thing in its class — and maybe extra obviously, has stagnated or regressed in comparison with the 2024 mannequin.
Lest you suppose me hyperbolic, let me paint you an image. The 2025 mannequin carries over the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder together with its rated output of 175 horsepower – a determine that was and can proceed to be among the many lowest within the section. The six-speed automated transmission from the 2024 is gone, changed right here by two completely different transmissions. Entrance-wheel drive fashions get a repeatedly variable transmission, whereas these geared up with all-wheel drive are paired with GM’s eight-speed automated.
Torque additionally differs by drivetrain. Whereas AWD fashions obtain the identical 203 pound-feet of torque as each 2024 Equinox produced, FWD fashions are actually restricted to only 184 lb-ft. Once more, that is the one engine supplied within the 2025 Equinox. There’s no hybrid as most others supply (Ford, Toyota, Honda, Kia, Hyundai and shortly Mazda and Subaru), no plug-in hybrid (Ford, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai) or perhaps a high-output turbo or different efficiency improve to be discovered. The Equinox EV exists, however that’s by advantage of promoting and never any type of mechanical relationship.
That is the half the place you in all probability anticipate us to let Chevy off the hook for the CVT on the grounds that it’ll be extra gasoline environment friendly, however that is maybe the place the Equinox has most importantly regressed. Each the front- and all-wheel-drive variants of the 2025 match their 2024 equivalents for metropolis gasoline economic system, however fare worse on the freeway within the EPA’s check. FWD mixed gasoline economic system is worse, too. You’ll be able to see a direct comparability of the 2024 and 2025 fashions within the following desk (straight from the EPA’s web site).
In order that’s the unhealthy information, however there’s no less than a really, genuinely, honestly-to-Godly, new-for-2025 Equinox: the Activ. We are able to’t assist however hear echoes of Bronco Sport on this butched-up compact crossover, however since Chevy has no Bronco equal on which to base a rugged runabout (it flushed that chance down the bathroom with the Blazer), GM’s product people needed to fabricate one thing on their very own. The result’s bizarre, however maybe in a great way?
Strictly talking, the Equinox Activ is an look package deal. It will get its personal nostril (with an admittedly questionable chrome insert), and “Activ” badges and embroidery. Just like the Equinox LT, it rides on 17-inch wheels, however somewhat than a set of Michelin all-seasons, you get some Basic Grabber A/Ts. Yep, precise all-terrains. Consider it or not, they’re cheaper than the Primacies supplied on the LT on the time of publication, so if you happen to spend extra up entrance for the off-roadier Activ, it might no less than pay some dividends in upkeep prices.
The 2025 Equinox is 2.5 inches wider, which helps with its way more assured stance, however with that dimension comes extra heft. The bottom 2WD LT is about 200 kilos heavier than the bottom 2024 LS (no such mannequin exists for ’25), checking in at 3,428 kilos. The additional width doesn’t, nevertheless, translate to extra passenger room or a bigger rear cargo space. Actually, the latter is a tenth of a cubic foot smaller than the 2024’s, which was already on the small dimension for the section.
However let’s follow the within, as a result of that’s a a lot better — however nonetheless not excellent — story. The 2024 Equinox’s cabin actually wasn’t dreary, however new 2025 inside is certainly extra engaging. The “Maple Sugar” tan and black combo (above) is particularly good to take a look at. Observe that there’s no leather-based possibility (which isn’t uncommon today), so these accented pleather and pretend suede combos symbolize the highest rung of the Equinox’s inside ladder.
The most important practical change inside is the relocation of the gear shifter. It’s now a stalk mounted on the steering column, as is trendy and never essentially with out benefit. Transferring it there opened up room on the middle console — the explanation Mercedes did so years in the past — however GM oddly crammed that vacated area with a huge drive mode dial. And talking of issues randomly relocated, the transmission’s “L” mode (itself such a relic that GM didn’t save room for it on the gear selector) is toggled through a conspicuously giant and out-of-place button on the steering wheel.
However let’s not dwell on anachronisms when there are futuristic delights to behold. The double-screen setup manages to look fleshed out and cohesive somewhat than busy and overwrought. Powered by GM’s newest Android-based infotainment software program, the system appears moderately aware of regular inputs and opposite to widespread expectations, does embrace each Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. Panic not, Jobsians. You needn’t go away your orchard.
We took time to pattern all three trim ranges of the 2025 Equinox — a front-wheel drive LT, an all-wheel drive RS and an all-wheel drive Activ (sure, you will get it in FWD). The 17-inch wheel and tire packages on the LT and Activ did a a lot better job absorbing the uneven surfaces of city Minneapolis, however the knobbier Generals on the latter grew to become audible (although not intrusive) at pace. As for the RS, we’d nudge you towards its customary 19-inch wheels, somewhat than the obtainable 20s. The Equinox’s comfort-tuned suspension matches up higher with the additional sidewall.
Regardless of being down on torque for 2025, the front-wheel-drive LT will nonetheless fortunately gentle up the usual Michelin all-seasons if you happen to’re captivated with pulling into visitors. The RS is extra composed off the road, whereas the Activ splits the distinction because of the A/Ts. You’ll be able to lean into {that a} bit extra with an AWD RS or Activ mannequin. Stick the drive mode selector in “Off Street” and the Equinox’s nannies will permit extra wheelspin earlier than pulling throttle. The engine could not excite, and the shortage of another limits the Equinox’s competitiveness, however it does carry out as anticipated.
Suffice it to say, these expectations weren’t excessive. The decrease torque output of the front-wheel drive mannequin is hidden behind the rubber-band impact of the CVT, whereas the eight-speed fades pleasantly into the background. Preserving the engine on the boil with the CVT in tight merges makes issues a bit noisy, however the little 1.5-liter can get it carried out — maybe not with the panache of a Honda four-cylinder, however adequately sufficient. On condition that neither variant is a mileage famous person, we’d be inclined to advocate all-wheel drive on spec even when foul-weather fortitude isn’t of a lot concern to you.
The Equinox just isn’t the type of automobile that should do any explicit factor nicely. Because it goes in regards to the somewhat mundane mission of conveying its residing payload in relative security and luxury, its major enchantment is its inoffensiveness. The journey received’t jostle you an excessive amount of; the acceleration received’t have you ever reaching for a seize deal with. It’s clean and compliant.
We did, nevertheless, observe points with the preinstalled navigation software program. Throughout one stretch of our drive, the navigation voice prompts had been delayed, coming after we’d fortunately made the right flip because of the display instructions working simply positive. One other check group reported a whole crash of the infotainment system throughout one leg of their drive, forcing them to tug over and restart the automobile with the intention to reboot the software program. In neither case was the automobile itself “bricked,” however we wouldn’t name it a tremendous search for a automobile that’s already on the market. That stated, we skilled no extra anomalies or deficiencies in our two days of driving that aren’t evident from a look on the Equinox’s spec sheet.
In all equity, Chevy just isn’t the one automaker whose core compact SUV mannequin is obtainable with just one engine. There are even some we advocate — together with the Mazda CX-50, Subaru Forester and Nissan Rogue. The Mazda and Subaru have hybrids on the way in which subsequent 12 months, although, and probably the most we (or anyone at GM, no less than publicly) can say a few potential battery-assisted Equinox is that CEO Mary Barra has promised buyers that the corporate may have a brand new plug-in hybrid in the marketplace by 2027.
Why can’t the corporate that virtually invented the plug-in hybrid give you one sooner? Effectively, as a result of it was by no means purported to occur in any respect. Actually, the ICE Equinox was engineered to play second fiddle to the EV. There’s a motive Tremendous Cruise is simply obtainable on the battery-powered mannequin, which is already 40% costlier than the usual Equinox earlier than you add Tremendous Cruise’s requisite Energetic Security package deal.
In case your chief grievance in regards to the outgoing Chevy Equinox was simply how insidiously boring it was to take a look at, the 2025 has you lined. It’s now good wanting in and out, and its Android infotainment is feature-rich, if a model or two away from being secure. We’d extra simply be capable of forgive the throwaway drive expertise and unremarkable dealing with if there was one thing extra fascinating and aggressive occurring beneath the hood, however it appears we’ll have to attend a few years for that. Within the meantime, the 2025 Equinox is a reliable however unengaging commuter.
