2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV RS Review: The EV That Just Makes Sense

• Smart pricing, strong range, and generous equipment make the Equinox EV a standout option.

• Ride comfort, quiet operation, and storage solutions elevate daily driving in every season.

• One-pedal driving, balanced power, and long-range capability create an easy, enjoyable EV transition.

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I picked up the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV, and in true November fashion, winter didn’t waste any time showing up. A snowstorm rolled in, the roads turned ugly, and everything was damp, grey, and generally unpleasant.

Yet somehow, none of that mattered. Maybe it’s the Habanero Orange paint, which injects life into even the most miserable weather. Maybe it’s because I’m tired of grey and black vehicles. Or maybe, and this is the real reason, this SUV clicked with me within minutes of driving away. I finally understood why it’s exploding in popularity.

In the first half of 2025, nearly one out of every four EVs sold in Canada was a GM vehicle – this is HUGE, almost unbelievable. And the Equinox EV? Second only to the Tesla Model Y nationwide. In Quebec, where I live, they’re everywhere. At one intersection, I faced two other Equinox EVs in different trims. Colour choices were, disappointingly, mostly greys and blacks, but Chevrolet offers great options, including this striking orange shade.

And here’s the thing: the popularity isn’t hype. I’d only used the turn-signal stalk twice, and already the product’s brilliance washed over me. Ride comfort, quality impressions, equipment levels, sizing, styling, and price all land exactly where consumers want them. It reminded me of those rare vehicles, like an ‘80s Corolla, the ‘90s Civic, the early Ford Escape, vehicles that simply nailed what the market needed at the right moment.

After a week of winter roads and cold temperatures, that impression hasn’t faded.

Styling and Pricing

I’ll admit that at first, I wasn’t completely sold on the front-end styling. Chevrolet pushed the design a little harder than I would have, chiefly with the lighting signatures and busy surfaces. But, as we know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that hesitation disappeared quickly. The Equinox EV looks unique without drifting into oddball territory, and the SUV stance works well, especially in the RS trim, which gets all-blacked-out accents.

Pricing starts with the LT FWD at $49,633 with fees. You get a massive 17.7-inch touchscreen, an 11-inch digital cluster, adaptive cruise, heated seats and wheel, 19-inch wheels, and Google built-in. AWD adds $3,500.

My RS tester is $54,633 in FWD or $58,133 with AWD. With it comes 21-inch wheels, a power tailgate, and the EvoTex seats seen here. Add a few option packages, such as the Convenience Package 2, cooled seats, and Super Cruise, and this RS is flirting with $68,000. Honestly, you don’t need to go that high. The value baked into the LT is already strong, though a standard RS does it for me.

Cabin and Tech

Slide inside, and the Equinox EV presents extremely well. The large displays look crisp, Google built-in works smoothly, and physical controls remain for key functions. Storage is excellent, including a centre console deep enough to swallow anything short of a small pet, and a tray beneath ideal for often cumbersome object like hair clips – I think…

The only sticking point is the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. GM says it’s sticking with Google built-in for EVs. I’m not convinced most buyers are ready to part ways with CarPlay, but if you can move past that, the tech experience is solid.

The AutoSense tailgate reveals 748 litres of cargo space plus generous underfloor storage. The long wheelbase, short overhangs, and clever packaging give passengers a huge amount of room, I’d say shockingly so for a not-so-compact compact SUV.

Range, Power, and Driving Experience

Both the FWD and AWD versions use the same 85-kWh battery, with the FWD delivering 220 hp, 243 lb-ft of torque, and up to 513 km of range, while the AWD boosts output to 300 hp and 355 lb-ft with a still excellent 494 km rating. I averaged a satisfying 17kWh/100km.

Recharging tops out at 150 kW, which suits the battery size and expected usage perfectly. That is if it works. Chevy Equinox EV charging problems are often linked to the model’s lower battery voltage, which limits DC fast-charging performance, sometimes to less than a third of its projected capacity. The so-called “GM dip” is a familiar issue in which DC fast-charging speeds drop sharply, especially as the battery’s state of charge rises.

Those numbers are genuinely impressive and more than enough for everyday use. Best of all, even though cold-weather commuting, the real-world difference between the two powertrain options is minimal. Acceleration is strong enough to surprise anyone coming out of a gasoline-powered compact SUV; it’s not a performance model, but it strikes the right balance for daily driving. If you want more punch, consider the Ioniq 5 AWD.

One-pedal driving is excellent and brings the vehicle to a complete stop. A steering-wheel paddle offers a regen-brake override. It operates as a switch, on or off, which requires the right touch. GM offers a progressive paddle in higher-end models.

But the real magic here is the ride. The suspension’s travel and forgiveness over Montreal’s cratered winter roads are remarkable. Even on 21-inch wheels, the Equinox EV soaks up bumps beautifully. Push the SUV harder, and it becomes mildly unsettled, but that’s not how most owners will drive it. 99% of the time, it’s quiet, composed, and stress-free.

Final Thoughts

The compact EV segment is full of strong players: Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Nissan’s new Leaf, and soon Kia’s EV5. Yet the Equinox EV lands in a special spot combining value, drivability, range, and comfort in a way that just works.

I don’t know if Chevrolet realized exactly what they had when they put this together, but the formula lands. It’s one of those rare models that seems built around everyday reality rather than chasing numbers or flash.

For my family, it’s slightly too small. But if that weren’t the case? I’d seriously consider keeping one. It’s that impressive.