2025 Chevrolet Equinox

Pros 

• The seats are comfortable.
• Modern digital screens that look good.
• A number of driver assistance devices come as standard.

Cons

• Not enough engine power.
• Riding over bigger bumps might be painful and make you bounce.
• There isn’t a hybrid type that gets better gas mileage.

What about how the Equinox is driven? The Equinox’s flaw is that it’s hard to drive. Its small, supercharged engine is working hard, which makes it look weaker than it really is. We tried the Activ model with all-wheel drive, which has an engine paired with an automatic transmission with eight speeds. It took the Equinox 8.7 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph on our test track. That’s fine, but you’ll wish you had more power when you’re hauling something big or need to move quickly on the highway. Our testers found that the Equinox’s throttle was slow to respond at lower speeds.

The Equinox’s brakes work well on the road, even though they are a little soft.    The Activ grade’s all-terrain tires had bad stopping distances on our panic-braking test. The best distance they could get was 133 feet, which is about the same as a full-size truck. The foggy steering was set up for parking lots rather than tight turns or winding roads, and the handling was also very slow.

What level of relaxation does the Equinox offer? Most people should be able to get comfortable with the Equinox. The suspension handles bumps well, the seats are very comfortable and well-cushioned, and the noise level inside the car is not too high. The climate system also heats and cools very well, which we like.

The Equinox becomes less complex as it goes faster. It may bounce a few times after going over a bump or dip because the suspension lets it move around too much, making the ride bouncy.

How is the inside? At first look, the inside of the Equinox is very interesting.    The soft seats are comfortable for drivers of all sizes, and the driver has a lot of room to make changes once they’re in the car. The first and second rows have a lot of room, and the flat floor in the second row makes it easier to sit next to someone.

The 11.3-inch touchscreen has many hidden settings and choices, though. Sometimes, they are hard to find or not well organized, especially when driving. Equinox’s design affects vision; the strong roof pillars create a number of clear blind spots. The big tablet and camera are both very good and parking the Equinox is easy when the optional surround-view camera system is installed.

How does the tech work? Equinox’s two digital screens, which have clear images and Google integration, are, without a doubt, its most impressive interior features. The Equinox’s interior is a smooth mix of technology. Each passenger has their own set of USB-C ports, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be used electronically. We like that Google Maps can be shown in the instrument panel. This frees up the 11.3-inch tablet for other apps or music playback. We can only hope that the Equinox’s sound system will get better.

Many high-tech driving aids come standard with the Equinox, which is helpful if you don’t want to spend extra money on them. One of the extras that are offered is a surround-view camera system. Even though most of the features didn’t give us false alarms, the adaptive speed control and lane centering were a bit simple.

How are things with the storage? The Equinox has 29.8 cubic feet of cargo space, which is less than competing models like the Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4, which have 37.5 and 38.7 cubic feet of space, respectively. However, the Chevy is still a good choice. The Equinox’s cargo area is simple, with no odd angles or curves that make it hard to load bigger things. When the split-back seats that can be folded down are used, it is easy to fit at least one bike in the back.

Inside, there are many places to store things, such as a multi-level center desk, cupholders, and large door pockets. Car seats are easy to load and secure, but the headrests in the rear seats may make them too short for taller children.    With all-wheel drive, the Equinox can only pull 1,500 pounds. With front-wheel drive, it can pull 800 pounds. If you want to tow, look at another Chevy SUV.

How much fuel does it use? With all-wheel drive, the Chevy Equinox will get 26 mpg, and with front-wheel drive, it will get 27 mpg. For a small SUV, these numbers are standard. Still, our test Equinox didn’t live up to either its own or similar SUV estimates during our study. The Equinox needs a steady foot and light traffic to meet EPA standards. This is because its small engine has to work harder to keep up with traffic that moves faster.

Is there a good deal in the Equinox? The price of the Equinox is fair for a car in this class. It looks more expensive than most of its competitors because of its smooth sheet metal and more cohesive internal design. Chevrolet offers roadside help for five years or 60,000 miles and free maintenance for one year. Both of these features are above average for the class. The other warranties are normal. The powertrain warranty lasts five years and covers 60,000 miles, and the bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts three years and 36,000 miles.

The Equinox’s nice look, reliable technology inside, and stylish cabin make a good first impression. But over time, it becomes less strange and more harmless. It doesn’t have any features that stand out, but it’s big enough and comfy enough to do its job without much trouble.

The best deal is on the Equinox LT. With this trim, you can choose the style and features that fit your budget, or you can stick to the basic list of features and start out with a lower price. If you add all-wheel drive, the continuously variable automatic gear is swapped out for an eight-speed automatic that works better.