2025 Chevy Equinox

Overview

While the Silverado moves a half-million units per year and the high-octane Corvette garners the headlines, it's the humble Equinox that is one of the most important Chevrolets in the automaker's arsenal. It was the second best-selling Chevy in 2023, but even with that success, the Bowtie knows it can't rest on its laurels forever. That's why the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is fully overhauled, with a new exterior design that invokes the recently updated Traverse and Trax SUVs, along with a spiffy new cabin that makes the current model look downright dowdy.

What's under the Equinox's hood?

The Equinox comes with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. When paired with front-wheel drive, it produces 175 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. An Equinox with all-wheel drive gets a slight bump in torque to 203 lb-ft. Either way, you're looking at an average amount of power for a small crossover SUV. But unlike some rivals, the Equinox does not offer a hybrid version.

The engine is matched to a new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with front-wheel drive or a more traditional eight-speed auto with all-wheel drive. The gear selector is now a stalk on the right side of the steering wheel, freeing up valuable center console space.

The motor underhood might not be the most exciting aspect of the redesigned Equinox, but we are intrigued by the new Activ model. It's primarily an appearance package (peep the front air dam, which gives the illusion of the Activ having skid plates), but the all-terrain tires add a bit of off-road performance.

How does the Equinox drive?

The Equinox has enough power to comfortably cruise around town and get up to speed on the highway. We've tested both transmissions and think power delivery is smoother with the eight-speed automatic. With the CVT, stepping on the gas pedal for a burst of speed results in a bit of a delay as the engine revs up, followed by noticeable engine noise as the engine stays at high rpm.

The suspension tuning for both LT and RS trims is the same. The Activ has softer suspension tuning and feels bouncier when driving over road imperfections. The all-terrain tires also contribute to a spongier ride and more tire noise. None of this is out of character for the Activ, but it's something to note if you're buying it based on looks alone.

How's the Equinox's interior?

We're happy to report that the new interior design that debuted in the Blazer EV and related-in-name-only Equinox EV carries over to the gas-powered Equinox. This is a huge step forward, as the cabin of the 2024 Equinox is ho-hum in upper trims but borders on depressing in the wallet-friendly versions. The new Equinox features an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch touchscreen housed in a single frame, with physical climate controls below the center display. Say goodbye to the elephant ear air vents — they're replaced by cool-looking turbine-style vents. The style-forward RS trim also has contrasting red and blue stitching.

The Equinox is roughly the same size year over year, though an extra inch of rear headroom means it's slightly more accommodating to taller backseat passengers. Cargo figures also remain the same, so the Equinox will offer an adequate, but not class-leading, amount of room behind the rear seat.

How's the Equinox's tech?

The 2025 Equinox comes standard with a generous set of advanced safety features. Adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot warning system, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking were all optional last year but are now included on every Equinox.

Chevrolet doesn't include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its new electric vehicles, but the Equinox uses gas, so wireless smartphone compatibility is standard across the board. The only downside to the Equinox's tech offerings is that the automaker's excellent Super Cruise hands-free driving system is not available on any trim level. To get Super Cruise, you'll have to go electric with the Equinox EV or upgrade to the gas-powered three-row Traverse.

Competitors to consider

There is no shortage of worthy alternatives in the compact crossover segment. At the time of publication, the Mazda CX-50 and Honda CR-V are near the top of our ranking of small SUVs. The Subaru Forester, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson are also in the mix, with the Toyota RAV4 not terribly far behind. Many of these top-tier rivals offer hybrid or more potent powertrains, so you don't have to stick with the Equinox's one-size-fits-all strategy.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is updated to reflect a style-forward and more tech-centric compact SUV class. These changes appear to make the Equinox more competitive, but we'll reserve judgment until we can get behind the wheel ourselves.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox is a compact SUV that sits between the company's smaller Trax and midsize Blazer and Traverse. The third-generation Equinox debuted in 2018 and was held back by limited cargo space, subpar interior materials and weak performance. That may all change if industry buzz proves correct and there's a full redesign in store for 2025. In the meantime, there's a new all-electric Equinox EV that debuts for 2024 and may hint at what we should expect for the next-generation Equinox.

Edmunds spotlight: What to expect in 2025

If we do indeed get an all-new Equinox in 2025, we expect it to adopt Chevy's current styling language that draws heavily from the sporty but discontinued Camaro. This is bolstered by images of the Chinese-market Equinox that surfaced recently. We also expect a new model to address the previous generation's shortcomings with more power, a more refined interior and a larger cargo space.

Competitors to consider

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox has an uphill battle in front of it since the compact SUV class is packed with excellent choices. We count the sporty and off-road-capable Mazda CX-50 as one of the best, along with the well-rounded and family-friendly Honda CR-V. Other great choices include the adventure-bound Subaru Forester and Kia Sportage that delivers the most bang for the buck.