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1 speed, Continuously Variable Ratio, 8 speed, Automatic
Turbocharged Gas I4
All Wheel Drive, Front Wheel Drive
Chevrolet’s fourth-generation 2025 Equinox compact crossover SUV arrives at a fortuitous time. Chevy is dropping the Malibu midsize sedan from its lineup, and the new Equinox is the natural alternative for people who may have purchased the company’s last traditional family car. Not only that, but the Equinox is Chevy’s entry in one of the most competitive and popular vehicle segments in America, so the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox must be the best it can be.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
To that end, Chevrolet has redesigned the 2025 Equinox, not to be confused with the electric Equinox EV that shares a name but nothing else with the gas-powered subject of this review. Sticking to a proven recipe, the new Equinox is about the same size as the old one and uses a tried-and-true engine that breaks no new ground. The styling is more distinctive, the interior is more expressive, and the technology is more modern.
Chevy makes it easy to choose a new Equinox. It comes in base LT, sporty RS, and rugged Activ trim levels with your choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices range from $29,995 to $34,395, including the destination charge. The optional AWD system adds $2,000 to the bottom line.
For this review of the 2025 Equinox, Chevrolet provided a test vehicle equipped with RS trim and the following [significant] options:
The test vehicle’s price was $40,410, including the $1,395 destination charge to ship the SUV from the assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to your local dealership.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Walking up to and getting into the Equinox RS is rewarding. This compact crossover exudes personality, and Chevrolet has nailed the look and feel. Yes, there are some irritatingly inexpensive interior materials considering the test vehicle’s price, but that’s true of nearly every SUV in the segment. You can’t escape it, and the Equinox has more style than most of its rivals.
Equipped with two power-height-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation, heated rear seats, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports, the Equinox RS test vehicle made everyone in my family happy while riding in it. The seat cushions feel soft but are supportive, and the EvoTex artificial leather is agreeably convincing. A power panoramic sunroof lets in plenty of light.
Some of the controls are unusual. For example, you use a stalk on the steering column to shift the transmission, like in the good old days. But here, it’s electronic and operates similarly to what you’ll find in a Mercedes (but doesn’t feel nearly as robust when used). Also, Chevrolet places the hazard flasher button on the ceiling next to the OnStar emergency call button. Yep, I accidentally placed a call when reaching up to turn off the flashers.
Finding places to stash your stuff is easy because Chevrolet supplies plenty of storage locations in the Equinox’s cabin. The cargo area is practical too, and there is a roomy hidden compartment under the load floor.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Every 2025 Chevy Equinox has an 11-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 11.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Wireless smartphone charging is standard with RS and Activ trim levels.
Highlights of the infotainment system include:
If automakers wish to avoid customer complaints about infotainment systems, I think the Equinox is a great example for doing this technology right. Though Google Built-in technology isn’t flawless, it works extraordinarily well. The Google Assistant digital voice assistant responds quickly and, usually accurately, to commands, and Google Play Store allows you to customize the native system with your favorite apps.
If you’d rather not use the native Google technology, pairing an iPhone and wirelessly running Apple CarPlay is simple. Not an Apple geek? Use Android Auto instead. Subscription-based SiriusXM satellite radio and OnStar connected services are also standard, and the available 5G LTE Wi-fi hotspot is more advanced than what many Equinox alternatives offer.
Ultimately, this infotainment system gives every Equinox buyer access to their preferred platforms through an intuitive user experience. In addition, though Chevy doesn’t offer a premium sound system upgrade for the Equinox, the standard six-speaker stereo sounds good enough that you might not wish for something better.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
If there is a downside to the new 2025 Equinox, it relates to the driving experience. This SUV is boring to drive and isn’t fuel-efficient.
Chevrolet installs a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine in every Equinox. In FWD models, it makes 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm but less torque than last year at 184 pound-feet from 2,000 to 4,800 rpm. Choose AWD, and horsepower remains the same while torque measures 203 lb-ft from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm.
The front drivers get a new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which is why the engine makes less torque in 2025. The Equinox AWD benefits from a new eight-speed automatic, preserving its torque output. Last year, all Equinoxes had a six-speed automatic
Despite the drop in torque with FWD models, that should be enough power for a compact crossover with a base curb weight ranging from 3,428 to 3,629 pounds, depending on the drivetrain and trim level. But in the Equinox, it often doesn’t feel that way.
My RS AWD test vehicle was the heaviest Equinox, and while I learned how to surf that narrow window of torque, the second-to-third-gear upshift often tripped the SUV up. In some situations, it lets engine revs drop below the point where maximum torque is available, creating a pause in acceleration and making it feel like something is wrong with the SUV.
Furthermore, torque steer is evident when driving the Equinox AWD in FWD mode. You feel it when accelerating hard, such as after turning onto a fast-flowing boulevard or highway from a side street. You can resolve that by pushing the AWD button on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel. I recommend that because the Equinox is more enjoyable to drive in AWD mode.
The Equinox has a soft, absorbent ride. That’s fine, but the MacPherson strut front and four-link rear independent suspension doesn’t quell unwanted body motions, so the SUV frequently feels unsettled. That’s particularly true when traveling on an undulating mountain road like Encinal Canyon Road near Malibu, California, where the bouncing and wallowing might cause motion sickness in passengers.
My test vehicle also displayed an unusual thrum when driving on the grooved concrete freeways across the Los Angeles region, as though the tires followed the grooves instead of ignoring them. Generally, though, the Equinox was agreeably quiet inside at highway speeds.
Chevy equips the Equinox RS with a fat steering wheel rim that is pleasing to hold, but it’s connected to a lifeless dual-pinion, rack-mounted electric steering system. Nothing about the steering response and feel makes this SUV engaging to drive. The brakes, equipped with long-lasting Duralife rotors, experienced a hint of fade during a long mountain descent but proved trustworthy under duress.
Overall, the new Equinox isn’t any fun to drive. Does that matter? It might not. However, I’d wager that while most people buying Honda CR-Vs don’t choose it for its rewarding driving dynamics, they are undoubtedly surprised and delighted that it has them.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Chevrolet equips the 2025 Equinox with a long list of standard safety features, several of which are part of the Chevy Safety Assist package:
In addition, the Equinox includes the following standard advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS):
Chevrolet does not offer lane-centering assistance for the new Equinox. However, if you get the Safety and Technology Package, the SUV provides rear pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, an impressive surround-view camera system, and a rear camera mirror.
On the road, Chevy Safety Assist and the additional ADAS work well. When using the adaptive cruise and changing lanes to get around slower traffic, the transmission wastes no time kicking down a gear or two and attempting to pass. Also, the vibrating Safety Alert Seat does a great job directing your attention to situations that may require it. I found the sophisticated surround-view camera particularly helpful when parking in tight spaces.
Like in most vehicles, the lane-keeping assistance system is a source of irritation. Turning it off is as easy as finding the right menu. Unfortunately, Chevy puts the setting in the Controls menu instead of the Collision/Detection Systems menu.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Compared to the three best-selling models in the compact crossover SUV segment, the new Equinox falls short regarding cargo space. It offers 29.8 cubic feet of space behind the back seat and 63.5 cu-ft with the rear seat folded flat. Compare those numbers to the Honda CR-V (39.3 to 76.5), Nissan Rogue (31.6 to 74.1), and Toyota RAV4 (37.5 to 69.8).
Not in the real world. I averaged 22.9 mpg on my evaluation loop, coming up 3.1 mpg short of the Equinox AWD model’s official EPA rating of 26 mpg in combined driving. With the AWD model’s slightly larger 15.6-gallon tank (up from 14.8 with FWD), and based on my testing, you can expect 357 miles of maximum range. Plan to stop for refueling every 310 miles or so.
The new Equinox has plenty of standard safety features, but as of this writing, the jury remains out regarding crash-test ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) haven’t conducted their evaluations yet, so check in with those organizations throughout the year. They typically prioritize testing popular models like the Equinox.
Across the entire lineup, 2025 Equinox prices range from $29,995 for the LT FWD to $36,395 for the RS AWD and Activ AWD. Those values include the $1,395 destination charge.
In the JD Power 2024 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the previous-generation Chevrolet Equinox ranked highest in the Compact SUV segment. The previous-generation GMC Terrain and the Hyundai Tucson were the next highest-ranked models.
In the JD Power 2024 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Kia EV6 ranked highest in the Compact SUV segment. The Mitsubishi Outlander and the Kia Sportage were the next highest-ranked models.
Other 2025 Chevrolet Equinox competitors include the Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Toyota RAV4.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
With the new 2025 Equinox, Chevrolet gets so many things exactly right. However, the company has stumbled regarding the driving dynamics and real-world fuel economy. That’s a shame because with a more powerful and efficient hybrid powertrain, some steering and suspension changes, and a few other minor tweaks, it could become a leader instead of a follower in the compact crossover SUV segment.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with 30 years of experience in the field and has held automotive editorial leadership positions at Edmunds, JD Power, and The New York Daily News. Today, Chris owns a content agency called Speedy Daddy Media, and in addition to JDPower.com, his work appears on Capital One Auto Navigator, CarGurus, and Edmunds.
