An Affordable All-Electric SUV
After introducing the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Blazer EV this year, Chevrolet is continuing its roll-out of mainstream, high-volume electric vehicles for American buyers with the all-new 2024 Equinox EV. It is tailored specifically to help families make an easy transition from gasoline to electric driving, and it has impressive specifications and an excellent base price. In fact, with a starting MSRP of around $30,000 for the 1LT trim, the Equinox EV is expected to the most affordable SUV in its class.
The new electric Equinox will be an important member of Chevy’s lineup. The gasoline-powered Equinox is the second-most popular vehicle in the company’s lineup – only the Silverado pickup truck sells in higher numbers. So a lot is riding on the success of the new product, which will hit American showrooms in fall 2023. Because of its attractive price and impressive specs, Chevy feels that the Equinox EV is an EV for everyone – with great features but that won’t require families to change their daily routine — except never having to stop at the gas station.
Expressive, Impressive Design
The new Equinox EV is built on General Motors’ new Ultium platform, which was developed from the ground-up specifically for electric vehicles. As such, its packaging is not compromised by the need to accommodate a large gasoline engine. The wheelbase is long, helping to make the Equinox EV’s cabin very spacious for its footprint.
Thanks to its wide track and the battery set in the floor, the Equinox EV looks powerful and sporty as well, and it is accented by front and rear lights that provide an animated light show as you walk up to the vehicle. Standard wheels on the base 1LT model are 19-inch, while 20- and 21-inch wheels come on higher trim levels. Other cool touches include an available two-tone roof (white on LT models and black on sporty RS models) as well as a “presence based liftgate” that can open hands-free.
Inside, a clean and modern interior design gives families plenty of room for five, along with available personalized ambient lighting and a smart infotainment system with screens of up to 17.7 inches. There are numerous storage options inside the spacious cabin, and when the rear seats are folded, a whopping 57 cubic feet of cargo room. Available comfort and convenience features include heated front and rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel and even a heated windshield wiper park feature, which helps keep the area around the wipers clear of ice buildup.
Easy EV Technology
The entry-level Equinox will come equipped with 210 electric horsepower and 242 lb-ft of torque, driving through the front wheels. Electric all-wheel drive is an optional upgrade, and ups those numbers to 290 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque.
Similar to Tesla, the Equinox will feature one-pedal driving as its default, which extends the vehicle’s range. When the driver lifts off the throttle, regenerative braking converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle’s forward motion into electricity that is used to charge the battery. In fact, one-pedal driving will gradually bring the Equinox EV to a full stop without having to use the brake pedal.
Equinox EV’s on-board charging technology is also impressive. Standard on-board AC charging is 11.5 kW – better than most vehicles on the market currently; it adds up to 34 miles of range per hour according to the company’s estimates. 19.2-kW charging, which is available on eAWD models, can add up to 51 miles of range per hour, when paired with a sufficiently powerful charger. The Equinox EV can also DC fast charge at up to 150 kW, which will let it add up to 70 miles of range in 10 minutes on the right kind of charger.
Trim Levels and Availability
The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV will be available in fall 2023, starting with a limited edition 2RS trim. In front-wheel drive form, GM estimates a range of 300 miles, or 280 miles when equipped with eAWD.
Additional models in the lineup to follow will include the base 1LT, which offers 250 miles of estimated range with the standard battery, or 300 miles of estimated range with the long-range battery, or 280 miles in eAWD form (which only comes with the long range battery). There are 2LT and 3LT models with more standard equipment, both featuring a long-range battery, as well.
Chevrolet says that more details and ordering information will be available closer to the start of production. The Equinox EV will be produced at GM’s Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, production facility.
