2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV combines a low starting price with the excellent range of pricier EVs. It also has a spacious cabin, plenty of standard safety tech, decent power, and an up-to-the-minute infotainment system, making Chevy’s newest electric vehicle one of the more intriguing contenders in this expanding class.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric SUVs, including the Chevrolet Equinox EV.

The Chevy Equinox EV all-electric compact SUV is completely new. Although it shares its name with the gas-fueled Equinox, the two have little else in common.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV starts at $34,995, although the first versions to roll off the assembly line are pricier, better-equipped models. Pricing for the 2024 Equinox EV overlaps with a range of electric SUVs, from the smaller Hyundai Kona EV to the popular Ford Mustang Mach-E. Before buying a Chevrolet Equinox EV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Our pricing and valuation experts expect Equinox EV resale values to be about average among electric vehicles. Remember, recouping more money when you sell a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on your next one.

With a single electric motor, the 2024 Equinox EV sends 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. That’s enough power to allow for quick acceleration, taking about 8 seconds to reach 60 mph, right in line with acceleration times for the average gas-powered compact SUV. With the Equinox EV, however, there’s no raucous engine noise, transmission whine, or vibration — just quick, quiet, smooth transport.

Over long stretches of highway, we found the Equinox EV’s ride to be smooth and comfortable. Due to the added weight of the large battery pack, however, the Equinox requires a more robust suspension that can be less forgiving when encountering rough or pot-hole-strewn pavement. But not so much that it rattled anyone’s teeth. We think the Equinox RS and 3LT’s big 21-inch wheel and tire combo also contributes to the SUVs firm ride. Opting for the entry-level 1LT or 2LT brings smaller wheels with taller tires, a combination that usually returns a softer ride.

The Equinox EV’s low center of gravity, heavy battery pack, and wide platform all contribute to a feeling of stability. We found the steering feel to be light with communicative feedback.

One-pedal driving is unique to EVs, and Equinox’s system works seamlessly. Getting used to trusting the system takes some time, but if you feel deceleration isn’t happening fast enough, you can increase brake force pressure via a steering wheel-mounted paddle. And, of course, there’s always the traditional brake pedal.

For those who desire quicker acceleration and better grip, the all-wheel-drive option adds an extra electric motor, increasing output to 288 horsepower but reducing range by about 34 miles. Chevy estimates the all-wheel-drive Equinox EV can do the 0-60 mph dash in just 5.9 seconds.

Chevrolet describes the interior of the Equinox EV as “streamlined.” We’d call it neatly contemporary. The most impressive feature is the massive 17.7-inch touchscreen, the same one found in the big Chevy Silverado EV. The screen graphics are clear and easy to decipher, and the menus are simple without too many layers. We also love how quickly the touchscreen responds when prompted. Accompanying the infotainment system is Google built-in, which handles all your navigation, texting, apps, and voice control needs. Oddly, GM locks out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for EVs with this system, a decision that doesn’t apply to its gas-fueled models. We do applaud GM for retaining a redundant set of hard buttons and knobs for the climate controls.

Come nighttime, we were pleasantly surprised by GM’s clever use of light as a design element, most notably in the multi-colored ambient panels above the glovebox and behind the door panels.

We found much to like inside the Equinox EV’s roomy cabin. There’s 38-inches of legroom in the rear seat, which is comparable to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 but not quite as generous as in the Tesla Model Y. With the rear seats folded down, there’s a maximum of 57 cubic feet of cargo volume, on par with the Ioniq 5, but way short of the Model Y’s 72 cubic feet.

LED technology has allowed car designers to use thinner and thinner headlights. The ones on the new Equinox EV have merely become each end of an across-the-nose strip. We think this gives the front a certain attitude that makes the SUV profile and tail a little more interesting. LT models offer the option of a contrasting white roof, the RS versions can be ordered with a black roof.

Although there’s also a Chevy Equinox SUV with a combustion engine, it’s not built on the same platform as this Equinox EV. The Equinox EV is about 7 inches longer and 3 inches wider than its gasoline-powered namesake.

Infotainment system
This Google-based system includes a massive 17.7-inch touchscreen as standard, which dwarfs some luxury brand screen sizes.

Super Cruise
This is one of the best (of only a few, admittedly) hands-free partial self-driving systems we’ve come across. It works on more than 400,000 miles of North American roads preprogrammed into the navigation system. It’s optional beginning in the 2LT trim.

Safety Alert Seat
We all use our eyes and ears to perceive possible hazards, but Chevrolet’s standard Safety Alert Seat recruits the driver’s nether regions by vibrating the lower cushion whenever the vehicle’s sensors pick up on impending peril.

One-pedal driving
Many electric vehicles have this feature where speeding up or slowing to a complete stop can be accomplished by varying the pressure on the accelerator pedal. It’s achieved by setting brake energy regeneration levels to maximum. Negotiating city traffic becomes less tiring — only urgent stops necessitate stepping on the brake pedal. It’s another standard feature in the 2024 Equinox EV.

Hands-free tailgate operation
It is not at the cutting edge of electric vehicle tech, but it is wonderfully convenient, nevertheless. This is standard at the 2LT level.

Rear camera mirror
It looks like a regular rearview mirror, but this option can also show the feed from a wide-angle camera, so drivers can see what’s behind without the clutter of cargo, passengers, or bodywork.

Front-wheel-drive versions of the Equinox EV feature a single electric motor producing 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel-drive versions feature a second motor, generating a total of 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque.

The maximum range of front-drive models is 319 miles, with all-wheel-drive models rated for around 285 miles. These figures rival those of some high-end EVs, bolstering the Equinox’s value proposition.

For comparison, the Ford Mustang Mach-E will do 320 miles, the Nissan Ariya up to 304 miles, and the Volkswagen ID.4 up to 291 miles.

Using a DC fast charger, the Equinox EV can take on 70 miles of range in 10 minutes. A Level 2 home charger supplies the Equinox EV with up to 34 miles of range every hour, or about 9 hours to reach full charge.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Chevrolet’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical among mainstream manufacturers, although Hyundai and Kia offer better terms. The battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. Chevrolet includes five years or 60,000 miles or roadside assistance, plus a free first service within one year or 12,000 miles.

Safety

Standard safety features in the new Equinox EV include forward collision with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, plus lane-keeping assistance and Blind Zone Steering Assist.