General Motors has given the popular compact crossover — Chevrolet Equinox — a full redo for the 2025 model year. It’s been gaining in sales and now it looks to take a few buyers from stalwarts Toyota and Honda.
A new tough and rugged, less car-like look sets it apart from the previous Equinox. It shares more styling with the upgraded three-row Traverse. The large blacked-out grill and slender LED lighting give the Equinox more curb appeal. No longer blending in with the crowd, the Equinox RS model stands out with large wheels and blacked-out trim pieces, which lead to a more upscale statement.
While the exterior might attract buyers, Chevy has also addressed many of the interior’s past shortcomings. There are big improvements to the look and feel of the materials used throughout. One of the strong points from previous Equinox continues with good front and rear seat space for both head and leg room. The heated and ventilated seats made it comfortable during my week of driving.
The 2025 Equinox has an improved driving experience, with a more hushed cabin than previous versions. And less tire and road noise mean that the highway experience is pleasant. The steering has a nice heavy feel, so it’s more stable than the 2023 version I drove back-to-back with the 2025. But the Equinox is pokey when it comes to acceleration. While the fuel economy is good, the small turbo four-cylinder engine feels sluggish with all the seats filled. Bonus: The AWD system goes from front-wheel drive to AWD with a simple touch of a button.
Cost: $35,000; as tested $38,380
MPG: 24 MPG City and 29 MPG Highway. I managed 28.8 MPG in 557 miles of mixed driving.
Options: $1,085 Safety and Technology package; $950 Convenience package 2; destination charge $1,395
Safety: front & rear park assist; adaptive cruise control; HD surround vision; teen driver mode; automatic emergency braking; lane change alert with side blind zone alert; forward collision alert; following distance indicator; IntelliBeam headlamp control; rear cross traffic alert; Chevy safety assist
Things to know: The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is more refined and better able to take on the competition with a better interior.
Pros:
- New, more modern and tough SUV styling.
- Better to drive than the previous generation.
- Interior finally sees the improvement to better match the competition.
Cons:
- Power is just adequate.
- No hybrid version as this point.
- Ride is improved but still is not as refined as some of the competition.
