Thanks to its affordable price, good looks and great range, the Chevrolet Equinox EV has been a hit in Canada so far. However, reduced or eliminated government incentives slowed down its sales momentum.
As unbelievable as it may sound, Tesla isn’t the best-selling EV automaker in Canada so far in 2025. That claim belongs to GM, who is finally hitting its stride with the introduction of EVs of all sizes and prices, including the most affordable of them all for the time being, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV.
The Equinox EV shares nothing with the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox aside from the name. It’s built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform called BEV3, which also underpins the Chevrolet Blazer EV, the Cadillac Optiq, the Cadillac Lyriq, the Cadillac Vistiq, the Cadillac Celestiq as well as the China-only Buick Electra E5. While the Equinox EV is currently the lowest-priced fully electric model at GM, that title will soon be handed over to the upcoming 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV.
In fact, over the six first months of 2025, 4,961 Chevrolet Equinox EV units were sold in the country, ahead of the Ford Mustang Mach-E (4,767), the Tesla Model Y (4,665), the Tesla Model 3 (3,971) and the Volkswagen ID.4 (3,105). In the Province of Quebec where consumers can still get a few thousand dollars off the purchase or lease of an EV, we can’t drive more than a minute or two without one crossing our path.
For the 2025 model year, the Equinox EV received a few changes compared to the introductory 2024 model. Motor output has been revised as single-motor FWD units now boast 220 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque, up from 213 hp and 236 pound-feet, while two-motor AWD variants now dish out 300 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque, up from 288 hp and 333 pound-feet. The Red Hot paint color has been replaced with Habanero Orange, and the crossover now offers vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging by way of an optional 19.2 kW on-board charger.
The lineup consists of the LT and RS trim levels, both with the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Here are the energy consumption and range figures:
| Trim Level | City/Highway/Combined (Le/100 km) | City/Highway/Combined (kWh/100 km) | Driving Range (km) |
| LT / RS FWD | 2.0 / 2.4 / 2.2 | 18.0 / 21.2 / 19.4 | 513 |
| LT / RS AWD with 11.5 kW Charger | 2.1 / 2.5 / 2.3 | 18.8 / 22.1 / 20.3 | 494 |
| LT / RS AWD with 19.2 kW Charger | 2.3 / 2.7 / 2.4 | 20.3 / 23.8 / 21.9 | 463 |
During our summer test of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV RS AWD, we maintained an efficiency average of 18.1 kWh/100 km (or 29.1 kWh/100 miles), beating the official combined rating.
Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, cloth upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 10-way power driver’s seat, an intelligent key, single-zone automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, an 11.0-inch digital driving instrument cluster, a 17.7-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Google built-in, a six-speaker stereo, SiriusXM with 360L compatibility with a trial period, a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot (data subscription required) as well as a slew of active safety features such as blind-spot monitoring and GM’s vibrating Safety Alert Seat.
Options include 21-inch wheels, roof rails, heated outside mirrors, ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, a hands-free power liftgate, a dual-panel power sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated wiper park, a rear camera mirror, Evotex simulated leather upholstery, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, head-up display and GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system.
In Canada, 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV pricing ranges from $47,599 to $71,274 with all factory option boxes checked, which includes the $2,600 destination and delivery charge. GM Canada also mentions $699 in dealer fees on its website. These prices do not factor in the EV purchase and lease rebates offered in certain provinces. In the U.S., the Equinox EV is priced between $34,995 and $59,755.
Compact electric crossover competition includes the Nissan Ariya, the Subaru Solterra, the Toyota bZ4X, the VinFast VF 8 and the Volkswagen ID.4. The subcompact Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV are also in the same price range as the Chevy. The Tesla Model Y is a popular EV that could rival the Equinox EV too, but as these lines are being written, only one configuration is offered and it costs more than $67k.
Why You Should Buy a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
- It looks fresh and modern, with big-for-a-compact proportions and oversized wheels that make it seem bigger than it really is. It also bears a more urban design than the rugged-looking gas-powered Equinox. That said, the appeal may wear off over time if it keeps selling as briskly as it is. As an example, the Tesla Model Y may now seem a little bland for some consumers, as there as so many units on Canadian roads now.
- As with most EVs, the electric Equinox is quick off the line, and punching the throttle provides instant torque to change lanes and pass slower moving traffic. Its road manners are also quite good, and the Chevy hides its near 2,300-kilogram or 5,000-pound-plus curb weight.
- The Equinox EV offers good range and decent energy efficiency. It can travel about 500 km in ideal conditions, which is plentiful for the daily commute without having to be plugged every night or resorting to costlier public charging stations. In addition, when we enter address of a DC fast charging station in the native navigation system, the battery pack pre-conditions itself for a quicker charge once we arrive at our destination and plug the vehicle in. For the record, we stopped at the exact same 180 kW charging station twice, with and without using the navigation system, and observed max charge speeds of 120 kW and 90 kW, respectively.
- The Equinox EV impresses with its dazzling dashboard comprising an 11-inch digital driver instrument cluster and a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen. The system runs Google built-in, allowing owners to download apps and remain connected while on the go. It also includes OnStar services for a period of 8 years (a subscription will be required afterwards), with remote commands, built-in voice assistance, real-time traffic and navigation as well as automatic crash response. And yet, we still get physical climate control buttons, which is a nice ergonomic touch.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
- As impressive as the infotainment system is, GM decided to skip Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration in its new electric vehicles. This might be a dealbreaker for some potential buyers, especially if they’re used to an Apple-based software environment. At least we can download the Waze app in the Google built-in system, if that’s our preference.
- The deployable door handles aren’t the best of ideas. Sure, they look cool and seamlessly blend in with the bodywork, but they’re difficult to grab and in winter or freezing rain conditions, there’s always a chance they won’t work as they’re supposed to. While we’re on the subject of winter, the recessed headlights might get blocked by snow and ice accumulation while driving in a snowstorm, and the LED projectors don’t generate enough heat to melt it.
- As with all of GM’s new EVs, there’s a ton of software on board, which requires over the air updates and constant bug fixes. Some owners have complained about glitches and teething problems. These issues should be resolved over time, but this is only the second model year for the Equinox EV. Another early production problem is that tons of owners have complained about a nasty dashboard glare reflecting in the windshield, which can reduce visibility unless we wear polarized sunglasses. GM’s released a dealer bulleting instructing them to install a dashboard mat, which doesn’t look very stylish. We’ll see if the 2026 model will get a redesigned dashtop to solve the issue.
- We can expect the RS units to offer a somewhat stiff ride with its 21-inch wheels and 275/40R21 low-profile tires. Said tires will be costly to replace as well. If we’re hellbent on ride comfort, might as well stick to the LT trim level and its 19-inch wheels wrapped in 245/55R19 rubber.
Should You Buy a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV?
Chevy’s compact EV is stylish, comfortable and spacious while being relatively efficient and more than powerful enough for the daily grind. Its high-tech displays are most impressive and the overall owner experience is appreciable. The Equinox EV is also aggressively priced given its size and purpose, forcing other automakers to revise their own prices.
On the other hand, the absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a disappointment, at least until we get used to the on-board Google interface and embrace its functionalities. GM also seems to be improving the reliability of its over-the-air updates, all while improving the vehicle over time, but it’s still too early to tell if the software side of the vehicle is robust. We’re not big fans of the deployable door handles, but at least the charge port door isn’t as fragile as the one on the Chevrolet Blazer EV.
| Specifications | |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV | 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric | 2025 Nissan Ariya | 2025 Tesla Model Y | 2025 Toyota bZ4X | |
| Price Range Before Options ($CAD) | $47,599 to $56,099 | $48,499 to $57,199 | $52,168 to $68,368 | $67,490 | $48,445 to $61,759 |
| Drivetrain | FWD (Opt. AWD) | FWD | FWD (Opt. AWD) | AWD | FWD (Opt. AWD) |
| Base Output (hp) | 220 (Opt. 300) | 201 | 214 | 385 (est.) | 201 (Opt. 214) |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 243 (Opt. 355) | 188 | 221 | 375 (est.) | 196 (Opt. 248) |
| Base City/Highway/Combined (Le/100 km) | 2.0 / 2.4 / 2.2 | 1.8 / 2.3 / 2.0 | 2.2 / 2.5 / 2.3 | 1.9 / 2.1 / 2.0 | 1.8 / 2.2 / 2.0 |
| Base City/Highway/Combined (kWh/100 km) | 18.0 / 21.2 / 19.4 | 16.3 / 20.3 / 18.1 | 19.3 / 22.4 / 20.7 | 17.1 / 18.9 / 17.9 | 16.0 / 19.5 / 17.6 |
| Battery Capacity (kWh) | 85 | 64.8 | 66 (Opt. 91) | 75 (est.) | 71.4 (Opt. 72.8) |
| Base Driving Range (km) | 513 (Opt. 463 to 494) | 420 (Opt. 370) | 348 (Opt. 330 to 465) | 501 | 406 (Opt. 357 to 367) |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,954 | 2,660 | 2,775 | 2,890 | 2,850 |
| Length (mm) | 4,840 | 4,355 | 4,645 | 4,790 | 4,690 |
| Width (mm) | 1,954 | 1,825 | 1,900 | 1,982 | 1,860 |
| Height (mm) | 1,646 | 1,580 | 1,660 | 1,624 | 1,651 |
| Cargo Volume Min/Max (L) | 748 / 1,620 | 723 / 1,803 | 646 / 1,691 | 855 / 2,138 | 784 / 1,611 |
