The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox Is Quite Functional

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is aimed at someone like me: A dad with a growing child who will soon be able to drive. The Equinox isn’t trying to be all things to all people. Instead, Chevrolet is looking to broaden the SUV’s appeal with a rugged new Activ trim and a fresh design.

The updated Equinox is just enough—practical enough, safe enough, and powerful enough for parents to feel comfortable dropping their kids off at school before they’re old enough to do it themselves, all without breaking the bank. What it lacks in performance (what do you expect from a 175-horsepower, 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder?) the Equinox makes up for in safety and technology.

Chevy Safety Assist, which includes enhanced automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian and bicycle braking, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist with lane departure warning, and more, is standard along with a host of other safety technologies. Rear park assist, adaptive cruise control, and reverse automatic braking are just a few of the other cool features you get on the entry-level LT trim that starts at $29,995 (including a $1,395 destination charge).

The RS and Activ trims start at $34,395. All three trims are available with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission, or all-wheel drive and a new eight-speed automatic. The Activ, with its 17-inch Continental all-terrain tires, felt the most adept at soaking up the bumps and potholes that littered Minneapolis streets when I drove the RS last week.

I thought the bigger tires would produce more cabin noise, but there’s no discernible difference between the Activ and RS models. The 1.5-liter engine is the same as before, capable of getting you through traffic or past lorries without hesitation, but don’t expect a kick in the arse when you mash the accelerator. You know when the engine is working—just give it time to do its thing.

Anthony Alaniz / Motor1

Pros: Lots of Standard Security Technologies, Value-Oriented, Better Style

The transmission has no trouble selecting gears despite the two extra forward gears, but the 'box feels like it takes a moment to do the necessary calculations before shifting. It's like Chevy programmed the computer to measure twice and shift once. But once the ECU decides what the transmission should do, it shifts quickly.

All-wheel-drive Equinox models get the added benefit of a new Off-Road mode, in addition to Normal and Snow. Off-Road mode allows for faster wheel spin and acceleration, but the dirt road Chevy chose for us, with a posted speed limit of 20 mph, didn’t really allow for that claim. Not that I was expecting to be climbing mountains in rural Minnesota.

Anthony Alaniz / Motor1

Anthony Alaniz / Motor1

The Equinox’s wider platform and all-new exterior design help give it a more professional look, borrowing square wheel wells from the Silverado and Colorado. It also makes the rear hatch slightly larger. Each trim has a unique fascia and bumper, with the Activ having the widest. A two-tone white roof is available on the LT and Activ, while a black roof is optional on the LT and RS.

Inside, the Equinox Activ features Evotex faux leather and suede microfiber upholstery that feels pretty premium for the price. The seats are soft and supple, as are most of the key touch points in the cabin. However, there’s also a lot of hard plastic on the front doors, pillars and everywhere else you’d expect from a carmaker like Chevy to save a few bucks. Only the driver’s seat has a height-adjustable seatbelt.

Anthony Alaniz / Motor1

Cons: Underpowered powertrain, Cheap plastics in places, Less appealing off-road trim

Chevrolet moved the gear lever to the steering column, freeing up space on the center console for a large drive mode selector that now sits behind a cumbersome wireless charging pad. Its upright and horizontal orientation makes it difficult to place your phone in the right place, which hinders charging.

The 11.0-inch driver's display and 11.3-inch infotainment screen are large and easy to read, and the tactile HVAC controls below the center display are easy to use. It's easy to activate the optional ventilated seats and keep the automatic climate control in the Low position without taking your eyes off the road.

The RS is the sportier of the two I drove, but only if you count the looks. The flat-bottomed steering wheel, red trim, and red and blue accent stitching evoke a sportier aesthetic that doesn’t detract from the driving experience. The ride is basic, but maybe that’s the point.

Anthony Alaniz / Motor1

The new Equinox doesn’t get in the way of what you need. It’s a completely new design inside and out, but Chevy doesn’t want to alienate the buyers who have made the Equinox the brand’s best-selling SUV. It’s sold three million Equinoxes in 20 years, and I can’t imagine buyers will shy away from the new car—they’ll just have to pick the trim they like best.

It may come in new packaging, but underneath it's still the familiar Equinox, and that's reassuring for many shoppers.