Front storage seems adequate, as well, and the pass-through compartment below the center console is always welcome.īackseat passenger room also appeared adequate, and not having a driveline tunnel improves the space, especially for middle passengers. The optional 17.7-inch touchscreen display is enormous and modern-looking, and while I don’t like that it has touch-sensitive climate controls at the bottom of the screen, there are physical climate controls below the screen and a physical volume knob at its top left corner. Inside, the interior is plasticky and heavy on styling over materials, which isn’t unusual for even the nicer versions of a vehicle that starts at around $30,000. Sometimes I think futuristic works, as in the Hyundai Ioniq 5, and sometimes I’m less convinced, as with the Kia EV6. From the outside, the Equinox EV looks normal and not very futuristic at all: Chevrolet made some EV-based styling choices, certainly, especially up front, but it’s not overly futuristic. That means I could look inside but couldn’t sit in or poke and prod around it, so my impressions are limited. This was our first chance to see the Equinox EV in person, but unfortunately, it was still a pre-production prototype. It seems the Equinox EV could compete against gas-only and PHEV compact SUVs, but it’s at a disadvantage. But are shoppers in the market for roughly $30,000 SUVs best equipped to buy an EV? Do they have access to Level 2 home charging? Can they afford to have it installed? Are they even allowed to have it installed? We strongly recommend having home charging if an EV is your primary or even secondary transportation. The Equinox EV should be able to take advantage of some overlap among buyers of both of these types of EVs, but it’s not an apples-to-apples comparison.ĭoes the Equinox EV compete with gas-powered or plug-in hybrid compact SUVs? Maybe? Starting prices for the former - like the Toyota RAV4 or Mazda CX-5 - are in the $30,000 range, while plug-in hybrid versions are more expensive (again, before applicable tax credits). The Equinox EV can be used that way, but it’s big enough to be a primary vehicle.Īt the same time, EVs with this kind of range (250-300 miles) are larger and more expensive than the Equinox EV the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 start at more than $40,000, and the larger 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 is more expensive at $38,790 with destination despite a shorter range of 208 miles (pricing doesn’t include available federal and state tax credits). EVs at this price point are mostly meant to be second cars that appeal to city dwellers in need of an efficient runabout. Other EVs with prices around $30,000 are usually smaller and with much shorter maximum ranges - think the Mini Cooper Electric or Mazda MX-30. This is a much more difficult question to answer in part because there hasn’t really been a car like the Equinox occupying this space before. Related Video: What Does the Equinox EV Compete With? It’s actually nothing new in the automotive industry of late newer, slightly pricier SUVs have been replacing hatchbacks for a while now. Given all that, it’s likely the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV will be discontinued sooner rather than later and the Equinox EV will be an able alternative with a higher base price. Both versions of the Bolt use older, outdated battery technology and, while it appears the fire-related recall has been resolved, their names are tarnished. Let’s start with the easiest question to answer: It means Chevy’s two older EVs are not long for this world. Related: More Detroit Auto Show Coverage What Does the Equinox EV Mean for the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV?
What does an all-electric compact SUV with 250 miles of range and a planned starting price of $30,000 compete with? What does its impending arrival mean for the other small Chevrolet EVs? Let’s take a look. The latest electric vehicle to join Chevrolet’s expanding all-electric lineup is the 2024 Equinox EV, appearing at the 2022 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, and it occupies an interesting position among Chevrolet’s products as well as in the car market at large.
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