Electric vehicle advocates were dismayed when General Motors suspended production of Chevrolet’s popular Bolt models, but the 2025 Equinox has many of the same admirable qualities, and EV consumers have responded accordingly. When paired with the $7,500 federal tax credit, the base front-wheel-drive model delivers 319 miles of driving range for under $30,000. The winning combination of range and affordability is truly extraordinary for a fully electric crossover of this caliber, and Chevy’s Equinox has now overtaken Cadillac’s Lyriq as GM’s top-selling EV.
The 2025 Equinox EV comes in two trim packages, the standard LT that starts at $33,600 and the heavily upgraded RS that costs about $10,000 more. Both are available with dual-motor all-wheel-drive for an upcharge of $3,300. The additional motor driving the rear wheels increases horsepower from 220 to 300 but only causes a small worsening of efficiency. All Equinox EV models utilize the same 85.0 kWh battery pack, so variations in driving range are closely aligned with their electric fuel economy. The latest official figures for MPGe and driving range are available on the window stickers of newly arriving 2025 models. Front-wheel-drive models show a slightly improved combined MPGe rating of 109, getting 117 in the city and 100 on the highway. The MPGe rating exceeds the previous year’s 108 by one mile, while the impressive range figure of 319 remains the same. The all-wheel-drive models are considerably more efficient than they were in 2024, with combined MPGe improving from 96 to 103 and range increasing from 285 to 307 miles. In all other respects, the Equinox is a highly capable, handsome EV with strong charging capabilities and advanced technology inside the cabin. The price of the base model is kept low by forgoing some amenities, but these are readily available as optional convenience packages.
There are numerous electric crossovers available that provide over 300 miles of driving range, but none are as affordable as the Equinox LT FWD. General Motors has developed its EV lineup aggressively and has succeeded in qualifying the Lyriq, the Blazer EV, and the Equinox EV for the full $7,500 Clean Vehicle Tax Credit, which can now be applied at the point of sale. The Equinox has some strong competitors in its general price range, but many of the best are currently assembled outside of North America and do not qualify for the valuable incentive. Honda’s Prologue and Volkswagen’s ID.4 are similar to the Equinox and qualify for the full credit, but neither one starts below $39,000. Chevrolet has given consumers the opportunity to purchase a competent, long-range EV with no frills at an unbeatable price, with cash-on-the-hood from Uncle Sam sweetening the pot ever further.
On October 1st, GM reported a 60% year-over-year increase in EV sales during the third quarter of 2024, and the Equinox is leading the surge. 32,095 EV deliveries in Q3 represented a 46% increase over Q2, raising GM’s EV market share in the U.S. from 7.1% to 9.5%. It was the first full quarter that all Equinox models …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
