Should you buy a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox?

The Chevrolet Equinox has long been a minor player in the compact SUV segment, not because it was particularly bad, but rather because it couldn’t stand out among a crowd of competitors that were prettier, more refined, more economical, more modern, and often more affordable.

For just over a year now, the gasoline-powered Equinox has even had to compete in the shadow of the Equinox EV, a small electric crossover that is very popular in some markets (such as Quebec) and with which it shares only its name.

In an attempt to reverse this trend, Chevrolet gave this model a complete overhaul in 2025, giving it a more rugged style inspired by the Traverse.

Key Points About the 2025 Equinox

Although the body is brand new, the mechanics remain largely unchanged. This means that the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is still powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 175 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque with standard front-wheel drive, or 203 lb-ft with available all-wheel drive. The former is paired with a CVT transmission, while the latter is paired with a new 8-speed automatic transmission.

Three trim levels are available on the Canadian market: LT, Activ, and RS.

The first, starting at $36,733, features a slightly conservative style, notably thanks to a chrome grille and 17-inch silver alloy wheels, in addition to relatively comprehensive equipment for an entry-level model.

The Activ and RS versions, both priced at $43,833, offer more comprehensive equipment (including all-wheel drive) and stand out for their appearance. The Activ plays the adventure card with its thicker tires and black grille that extends down the front fascia, while the RS is more dynamic and sophisticated, with more aggressive wheels and a redesigned bumper.

The model we tested was an RS equipped with several option packages that brought the price to just over $47,000.

Why You Should Buy a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox?

1-    A Successful Design

Of course, beauty is subjective, but it must be said that Chevrolet’s designers have done a good job with the new Equinox, which is much more attractive than its predecessor. Like its big brother, the Traverse, the 2025 Equinox features a boxier shape, separate headlights at the front, and taillights that curve downwards at the edge. This redesign clearly has had an impact, as I received positive comments from several people about the Equinox’s styling during my test week.

2-    A Contemporary Interior

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t just offer a revamped exterior; it also features a modern and welcoming interior. The 11-inch and 11.3-inch screens are well integrated into the dashboard, highly configurable, and feature high-quality graphics. The infotainment system comes with the Google built-in suite, including Google Maps, which can also be displayed in the instrument cluster. Another plus is the well-designed center console, which provides multiple storage spaces within easy reach. Our RS version adds a touch of life with its many contrasting red accents on the seats and dashboard.

3-    A High Level of Comfort

Another reason to choose the new Equinox is its overall comfort. While it doesn’t offer the best seats or suspension in the segment, their combination still manages to make daily commutes and long hours on the highway more enjoyable by absorbing road imperfections well. In addition, the floor and seats are at just the right height to allow me to slide in and out without having to bend or stretch.

4-    An Efficient Use of Space

Thanks to its boxy profile, the 2025 Equinox makes good use of interior space, especially in the rear, where the floor is completely flat, which is rare for a gas-powered vehicle. The luggage compartment is also very usable due to its regular shapes, although its dimensions are among the smallest in the segment, on paper.

5-    Comprehensively Equipped

As mentioned earlier, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox comes standard with a long list of features that are often optional on competitors. For example, all Equinox models include heated front seats and steering wheel, full LED exterior lighting, remote start, 5G connectivity with OnStar services, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the manufacturer’s suite of driver assistance features. Our test model added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, automatic windshield wipers, a power liftgate, a panoramic roof, and a digital rearview mirror, among other features.

Why You Should Not Buy a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox?

1-    An Outdated Powertrain

The biggest flaw of the 2025 Equinox is its powertrains, which are already outdated compared to virtually all of its competitors. Indeed, Chevrolet has kept the same 1.5L turbocharged engine that powered the previous generation. This small engine lacks refinement, as it whines and vibrates unpleasantly when pushed hard, which happens often given its modest performance. The new 8-speed automatic transmission generally does a good job, except when cold, where gear changes are often jerky. In addition, fuel consumption is not remarkable, as I averaged 8.5 L/100 km despite driving almost entirely on highways and country roads.

2-    Part Time All-Wheel Drive Only

General Motors continues to insist on offering an all-wheel drive system that must be manually engaged by the driver rather than an automatic system, like all its competitors. This can make driving unnecessarily hairy in winter if you forget to press the AWD button or select snow mode. Even on dry pavement, it’s surprisingly easy to spin the front wheels in 2WD mode. This is all the more annoying given that Chevrolet charges an extra $2,300 for this feature on the Equinox LT.

3-    Uninspiring Handling

Unfortunately, the Equinox’s plush ride comes at the expense of handling. While typical buyers of this model are not generally looking for sports car manners, other compact SUVs take corners with more confidence without sacrificing passenger comfort. Driving the Equinox is not unpleasant, but like the engine, the handling encourages a more sedate driving style.

4-    Not the Most User-Friendly Technology

While we appreciate the graphic quality and multiple settings of the screens, we would also like them to be easier to use while driving. For example, you have to dig through the menus on the center screen to change the trip computer display, and some of the icons are rather small. Although several physical controls remain, particularly for the climate control, some others have been inexplicably integrated into the touch panel, such as the one for the headlights.

5-    Not the Best Value

When you look at the price range, you realize that the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox isn’t necessarily a bargain. Its starting price of $36,733 seems in line with its rivals until you remember that it doesn’t include all-wheel drive, which is often standard elsewhere in the industry. Starting at $39,033, the Equinox LT AWD is therefore $2,000 to $3,000 more expensive than the base AWD versions of the Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, and Subaru Forester. As mentioned earlier, the Equinox LT partly justifies this higher price tag with its comprehensive equipment, but a less expensive version could still have attracted more buyers.

Conclusion

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is undoubtedly a better vehicle than the one it replaces, but that’s not enough to make it truly competitive with well-established rivals such as the Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, and Honda CR-V. While its weaknesses aren’t major, its high price makes them harder to forgive. So, if you love the style of the new Equinox and you enjoy a more relaxed driving experience, it could be a decent choice, but otherwise, you can find better elsewhere.