2025 Chevrolet Equinox Activ AWD
Price As Tested: $43,831 CAD
Colour: Cacti Green w/Summit White Roof
2025 gives us an all-new Equinox (gas version) from Chevrolet. Like me you can now breathe again since this hotly anticipated model has now arrived. Finally, we are freed of our burden of what to choose in the highly competitive 5-passenger SUV space. You could choose something like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4, Mazda CX-5, Sportage, Tucson etc etc… and well you should. To choose the Equinox over its competitors proves one very valuable thing – you care little about and/or know nothing about cars. To purchasers of vehicles like the Equinox a car is simply a tool to transport your dead soul from one place to another as you exhaust the remaining days of your life. It’s a commodity to be purchased, consumed and discarded when done.
Power & Performance
This may be an all-new generation of the Equinox but it’s still saddled with the same 1.5L turbocharged engine from the previous version. This isn’t a horrible powerplant despite being prone to the usual turbo failure issues and carbon buildup associated with designs like this one. It delivered its 175hp and 201 lb/ft of torque admirably enough and made the Equinox go when I asked it to. Chevy had the option to add a hybrid assist to take some of the pressure off that small displacement turbo set up but they opted not to (redesigns like that are expensive you see). It should be noted that if you get an AWD model, you’ll get an 8-speed automatic as opposed to the CVT on offer with the FWD option. That at least is worth the added expense.
One thing of note during my 700kms in the Equinox is the fuel economy. It delivered right around 10L/100kms no matter where I drove it. If this was the price to paid for a dead reliable naturally aspirated engine, I’d be fine with that. This isn’t the case however and we get another example of a big (ish) car being fitted with a small engine to which they glue a turbo to satisfy emissions laws. The result is that it struggles to move the vehicle and poor fuel economy is the result. The disappointment continues.
I feel compelled to mention something else that caught my eye while photographing the Equinox. There were severely rusted components in the engine bay. It was surface rust I’m sure, but regardless I found it unacceptable in a brand new car. There were several parts I saw that looked like they’d seen a decade of harsh winters on the unforgiving Canadian Prairie. Perhaps there’s a logical explanation for it, but I have to point it out. If I bought a new car and 2000kms later I saw that kind of rust I’d be lighting someone up over it.
Exterior
The new body on the Equinox is where things start to look up. Previous generations of this car have been as vanilla as the people who designed them. This new version though has taken on a chunky, rugged sort of look. It’s all preening of course as you’d never take this thing anywhere uncivilized but that doesn’t detract from a good-looking design. When you opt for the two-tone paint/roof wrap like this test model, it can actually be rather striking.
Interior
The interior of the Equinox is all new along with most everything else. It’s definitely from the current GM bin of interior parts but it mostly serves as a nice place to be. It doesn’t feel too cheap and some of the components feel solidly mid-market. The rear seats are heated and spacious for full-sized adults. The boxier exterior design means rear passengers also get very decent headroom as well.
The infotainment/dash cluster are all digital and do their jobs respectably. Carplay/Android Auto is on offer in this gas-powered version of the Equinox and it makes the good quality screen pop and feel more lux than it is. It must be noted the stereo attached to this infotainment screen was very lackluster. I’m by no means an audiophile and I generally find stock stereos (even basic ones) to be more than sufficient. The stereo in the Equinox was very thin and ran out of volume far earlier than I would have expected.
Rear cargo space is solid for a vehicle of this size. You need not fold down the rear seats should your wife go crazy on a Costco shop. In the upscale “Activ” trim you also get a powered lift gate.
Quality
Quality is the big one with the smaller lineup of vehicles from GM. Early rust issues aside it seems relatively well made. What will it look like in five years? I don’t know and it’s up to you if you want to find out.
CQI – 8.
Value
There is little value in a car like the Equinox. It’s too expensive and isn’t made as well as its competitors that are priced the same or even less. I’m not sure who would buy this car when presented with so many other better options.
Final Thoughts
As the title states, the (mostly) all-new 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is a proper swing and a miss. Another offering from one of the blandest badges in the business (the Corvette not withstanding). The Equinox is destined to live its sad existence on the rental lots of airports across North America where it will set about disappointing tourists and business travellers with its lackluster presentation. One day maybe GM will try real hard to compete in this segment before they get consumed by the inevitable onslaught of far superior foreign competitors. Only time will tell.
