The Chevrolet Equinox EV review

The Chevrolet Equinox EV is the latest SUV from General Motors. It ups the ante in the looks department, by getting rid of the tall, frumpy look of its predecessor. And that’s a good thing. The new Equinox EV has a lot going for it. But that doesn’t mean Napleton News came away gushing all peaches and cream for this new vehicle.

What’s the Equinox EV all about?

The Equinox EV is an all-electric compact SUV. It’s nothing like the model it replaces, which is a blessing and a curse in some corners. But more on that later.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV uses a single electric motor delivering 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. It’s pretty powerful, considering the heft it is moving. Zero to 60 mph in eight seconds and the torque delivery is instantaneous. The best part is its delivery is silent. Well, except for the road noise. Still, since our sample was the 2LT, it comes with smaller tires with larger sidewalls that soften the ride.

Our Equinox EV 2LT was not so equipped but buyers can select all-wheel drive as an available option. It adds a second motor and boosts power to 288 horsepower. Equipped this way, it makes a 0-60 sprint in 5.9 seconds. There is a downside though, in the sense that it carves off 34 miles of range.

Looks matter with the Equinox EV.

Unlike the petrol-burning Chevrolet Equinox, the Equinox EV is better looking overall. Start with a sleek, well-chiseled body that is not as tall and frumpy as the model it will share showroom space with. It’s actually seven inches longer than the gas-burner and better looking too.

There are tons of new details to get excited about with the new Equinox. Start with thinline LED headlights. This new technology allows designers to go with sleeker and more minimalistic designs that take the design in heretofore undiscovered territory. The look is modern and elegant.

How about inside the new EV?

The interior of the Equinox is a look at the new GM with better plastics than before. That’s a good thing because there was a certain “cheapness” that had worked its way into the various GM vehicles we have driven through the years. The Evotex synthetic seating surfaces are a step up from those of the past, and manage to impart a sense of quality to the passenger’s backside. The driver gets all the power while the front passenger gets many of the same features, just manually controlled.

Big Data = Big Money

We heard GM was dispensing with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with the next generation of their vehicles. Well, they have and they did. And we don’t like it. Our lives are complicated enough to go and sign up for the Google account that seems to operate GM’s connectivity suite of Apps. There is a gorgeous 17-inch touchscreen to operate everything but it’s still a strange new world.

Start by downloading a series of new apps, to accomplish what we could from the palm of our hand with our iPhone or Android. Where’s my Waze and iMessage text-to-speech? GM says its purpose is to provide a better user experience but the reality is they have discovered there is value in Data. This way, they control who gets your data and what they can do with it and pay for it.

It’s no substitute for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. If it makes any difference, customers are weighing in and saying the lack of smartphone mirroring (what CarPlay and Android Auto do) is a deal breaker in future vehicle purchases. Let’s just say they are being warned.

Besides the new GM connectivity issues, there appeared to be a ghost in our machine, too. Call it phantom volume randomizer. It’s a condition that would cause the radio to constantly adjust volume up or down whenever it pleased. It became rather annoying after a while and resulted in us keeping a finger on or near the volume control switch to counteract the random volume attack.

Behind the wheel of the Equinox EV.

Like a Tesla, drivers of the Equinox EV need only to step inside, buckle up and click it into drive or reverse, depending on which way you intend to go. Oh, that and remember to have the key fob on your person, too. Once you are situated, just click the gear selector into drive or reverse and be on your way. There is no ignition or starter button to push. It’s a little disconcerting at first but you’ll get used to it in short order.

Acceleration comes on smoothly, thanks to the electric motor on the front axle. Handling is quite good, thanks to the low center of gravity presented by the battery placement. The response is amazing, especially when leaving a stoplight. It is quite fun to leave a muscle car in the dust while behind the wheel of your compact electric SUV.

It’s a feeling no SUV driver should miss.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV Specifications