2025 Chevrolet Equinox LT. Photo: Courtesy of General Motors
General Motors gave the Chevrolet Equinox a makeover for 2025, and the transformation couldn't be more stark: The previously soft and dowdy compact SUV is now rugged and muscular, like a baby Chevy Traverse.
Why it matters: The head-turning redesign seems to have worked. Equinox sales are up 22% so far this year, in one of the industry's most competitive segments.
It's the second-best seller in Chevy's lineup, behind the Silverado pickup.
I test-drove the Equinox LT AWD, which starts at $30,600. With optional safety and convenience packages and the "Midnight Edition" appearance package, the final sticker price was $35,225.
Pros: The Equinox looks good, inside and out.
The redesigned interior has a pair of larger screens — an 11-inch gauge display behind the steering wheel and another that's home to the Google-based infotainment system.
Cons: The Equinox is powered by the same 1.5-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine in the previous model.
It doesn't have a hybrid option, which seems like a glaring omission in this segment, where hybrid sales are growing.
Virtually every other player, including the Toyota Rav4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage, has a hybrid offering.
Yes, but: Chevy does offer the Equinox EV, a fully electric model, which is fantastic, but looks different from its gasoline brother.
I test-drive vehicles in my role as a juror for the North American Car and Truck of the Year awards. Opinions are my own.
