2025 Chevy Equinox Better, Brawnier

Chevrolet later this year will launch an all-new ’25 internal-combustion-engine Equinox crossover-utility vehicle that attempts to add brawnier, more truck-like styling to the brand’s top-selling CUV.

Chevy has opted for a strategy with the ICE Equinox of selling a design different from that of the ’24 Equinox EV. Production of the electric version starts in the first quarter of this year at General Motors’ Ramos Arizpe facility in Mexico. The '25 ICE Equinox is assembled at the San Luis Potosí facility in Mexico.

The Equinox EV front-drive model has a range of 320 miles (515 km).

The Equinox carries through some of the latest exterior styling points of the Silverado fullsize pickup and ’24 Traverse CUV. One of the most notable features is the squared-off wheel wells, replacing the rounded wells of the previous model. Chevy Chief Designer Sam Bell says the mission of the project was to take Equinox from an expression of “velocity to one of strength.”

The powertrain is the 1.5L turbocharged 4-cyl. mated to a continuously variable transmission, in the front-drive configuration, or an 8-speed automatic transmission with available all-wheel drive. The electronic shifter has been moved to a stalk on the right side of the steering wheel, opening up space on the center console.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS Interior 3_3

Inside, Chevrolet is keeping with the trend to larger center screens, which has grown to 11.3 ins. (28.7 cm), and an 11-in. (28-cm) driver-information screen. The two screens stretch across the dash as one piece.

The safety features and packages include intersection-collision mitigation; reverse auto-braking, including pedestrian braking; rear-park assist; enhanced lane-keep assist; adaptive cruise control; enhanced automatic emergency braking; lane-change alert; rear cross-traffic alert with braking; side bicyclist alert; lateral-impact side collision avoidance; and rear seat reminder. Available safety options include HD surround vision; rear-camera mirror; rear pedestrian alert; traffic sign recognition; and speed limit assist.

The Equinox also offers GM’s Teen Driver feature, a built-in system that helps a parent coach a new driver virtually by way of setting a speed alert, a sound-system volume limit and more. The system generates a report card for the driver, making it easy to track a teen driver’s progress and performance.

There are three trims for the Equinox: the base LT, a performance sporty RS and the ACTIV “value” trim included on other recent Chevys. Chevrolet officials say they expect the LT to account for 60% of sales volume, with the RS and ACTIV splitting the remaining 40% share.

LT comes with body-color accents, chrome badging, 17-in. wheels and available Evotex seating. Evotex, similar to Toyota’s Softex material and Subaru’s StarTex upholstery, is leather-like but synthetic and designed to be pleasing to the touch, wear-resistant, stain- and spill-resistant, and easy to clean. The RS is distinguished by sporty mirrors and badging, standard 19-in. wheels or available 20-in. wheels, a unique fascia and grille, red and blue interior stitching on the upholstery; and Evotex seating. The ACTIV trim comes with 17-in. wheels, a unique, bolder-looking grille and lower fascia, Evotex or suede microfiber upholstery, with a 2-tone look featuring an available white roof.

The compact CUV market has displaced a lot of sedans in the marketplace and is a fierce battleground for automakers. Equinox sold nearly 213,000 units in 2023 and was the fourth-ranked CUV in its segment, per Wards Intelligence, behind the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue.