Chevrolet makes its bid to take electric vehicles mainstream with the 2024 Equinox EV, a compact SUV that’ll be priced around $30,000 and compete in one of America’s best-selling vehicle segments when sales begin next fall.
Sleek and unmistakably new, offering features like flush door handles, full-width front and rear LED light bars and two-tone paint, the Equinox EV bears an intentional resemblance to the current gasoline-powered Equinox, which is Chevy’s second-best selling vehicle behind the Silverado full-size pickup.
It’s all new, though, 7.5 inches longer, 3 inches wider, and lower than the current model. GM’s Ultium batteries lie under its floor, along with Ultium electric motors attached to the front or front and rear axles to provide front- or all-wheel drive, respectively.
With electric versions of the Silverado and the Blazer midsize SUV also going on sale in 2023, Chevrolet will offer electric vehicles in Americas three biggest segments, Chevrolet vice president Scott Bell said in a briefing. The current models of all three will remain in production after the EVs debut.
Long range, fast charging, one-step payment
The Equinox will offer up to 300 miles range on a charge in front-wheel-drive trim. AWD models will be able to go 280 miles, according to GM estimates based on the EPA test cycle. The base model, available only with FWD, will have a 250-mile range. For fast charging on the road, the Equinox will be able to accept up to 150 kW DC power, in addition to the 240-volt power most EV owners use to charge at home.
The standard 11.2 kW 240v charger will add 34 miles an hour, while a 19.2 kW unit on the AWD RS model can charge at 51 miles an hour at home, quicker than most competitors.
GM estimates a 150k W DC fast charger will give the Equinox 70 miles range in 10 minutes.
Official charging times will be available closer to sale.
GM will debut a new charging service with its three EVs next year.
Called Ultium Charge 360, it will include one-step payment at 11 different charging networks – no need to download a separate smartphone app for each network.
The network will consist of more than 100,000 charging points in the U.S. and Canada. GM’s Ultium app and the Equinox’s resident navigation system will also allow drivers to reserve a charger from the road and order food to be delivered while their vehicle charges.
Battery range
| Trim | Drive System | GM-Estimated Range |
| 1LT | FWD (standard) FWD (available) eAWD (available) | 250 miles 300 miles 280 miles |
| 2LT & 3LT | FWD (standard) eAWD (available) | 300 miles 280 miles |
| 2RS & 3RS | FWD (standard) eAWD (available) | 300 miles 280 miles |
Loaded with goodies
Features available on the Equinox EV will include the Super Cruise hands-free driving assistant.
The interior will offer a standard 11-inch or expansive 17.7-inch touch screen
The controls appear intuitive, with dials available for volume and cabin temperature and switches for fan speed and defrost.
Passenger and cargo space will be similar to the current model, despite the EV’s 7.5-inch-longer wheelbase. There’s the usual SUV cargo bay behind the rear seat, no front trunk.
The Equinox will be able to receive over-the-air updates and new features.
Two-tone paint will be available, with either a black or white roof, depending on the model.
Standard safety features:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Following distance indicator
- Forward collision alert
- Front pedestrian braking
- Lane keeping alert and assist
- Automatic high beams
- Rear park assist
- Reverse automatic braking
- Safety Alert Seat
- Rear cross traffic alert and braking
- Blind zone alert and steering assist
| Trim | Selected features |
| 1LT | Manual-adjust front seats11-inch-diagonal infotainment screen11-inch-diagonal driver information center19-inch machine-face aluminum wheels |
| 2LT | 8-way power-adjustable driver seatHeated front seats and heated steering wheelAvailable black with blue accents interior or Sky Cool Gray interiorAvailable 17.7-inch-diagonal infotainment screen11-inch-diagonal driver information center19-inch machine-face aluminum wheelFront LED light barRoof railsHeated outside mirrorsAvailable presence-based power liftgateAvailable adaptive cruise controlAvailable HD surround visionAvailable Super Cruise driver assistance technologyAvailable white roof with blue exteriorAvailable sunroof |
| 2RS | 8-way power-adjustable driver seatHeated front seats and heated steering flat-bottom wheelAvailable black with red accent interior or Adrenaline Red interiorAvailable 17.7-inch-diagonal infotainment screen11-inch-diagonal driver information center20-inch dark aluminum wheelsFront LED light barRoof railsHeated outside mirrorsAvailable presence-based power liftgateAvailable adaptive cruise controlAvailable HD surround visionAvailable Super Cruise driver assistance technologyAvailable Black roofAvailable sunroof |
| 3LT | 8-way power-adjustable driver seat and 6-way power-adjustable front passenger seatFront heated/ventilated seats and rear outboard heated seatsAvailable black with blue Accents interior or Sky Cool Gray interiorHeated steering wheelDual-zone climate controlHeated wiper park17.7-inch-diagonal infotainment screen11-inch-diagonal driver information centerAvailable head-up display and full-display camera mirror (with rear washer)Available Bose audio systemAvailable sunroof21-inch aluminum wheelsFront LED light barRoof railsHeated outside mirrorsStandard presence-based power liftgateStandard adaptive cruise control and HD surround visionAvailable head-up display and rear camera mirrorAvailable Super Cruise driver assistance technology |
| 3RS | 8-way power-adjustable driver seat and 6-way power-adjustable front passenger seatFront heated/ventilated seats and rear outboard heated seatsAvailable black with red accents interior or Adrenaline Red interiorHeated flat-bottom steering wheelDual-zone climate controlHeated wiper park17.7-inch-diagonal infotainmentscreen11-inch-diagonal driver information centerAvailable head-up display and rear camera mirror (with rear washer)Available Bose audio systemAvailable sunroof21-inch aluminum wheelsFront LED light barRoof railsHeated outside mirrorsStandard presence-based power liftgateStandard adaptive cruise control and HD surround visionAvailable Super Cruise driver assistance technologyAvailable 19.2 kW Level 2 (AC) charging module |
Tax credit, battery sourcing TBD
The full Equinox EV model range will undoubtedly include models priced well into the $40s, but Chevy promised the circa-$30,000 base model will be in production in the 2024 model year, so by the end of calendar 2024 at the latest.
GM doesn’t yet know how much federal tax credit the Equinox EV will receive under the Inflation Reduction Act. Built in North America, it’s virtually certain to get the $3,750 assembly credit. It’s unclear how much of the available $3,750 battery credit it will receive. The Equinox’s batteries will almost certainly be produced in one of GM’s North American joint ventures soon, if not from the start of production. It’s less clear if the materials in those batteries will initially qualify as having been extracted or processed in a qualifying country.
The 2024 Equinox, Blazer and Silverado EVs will be on display at the Detroit auto show Sept. 17-25.
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV at a glance
Base price: Around $30,000 (including destination charge)
Federal tax credit: TBD
Front- or all-wheel drive 5-passenger compact electric SUV
On sale fall, 2023
Specifications as tested:
Power for FWD: Motor on front axle;
Power for AWD: Motors on both axles
Output: FWD: 210 hp, 242 pound-feet of torque; AWD: 290 hp, 346 pound-feet of torque
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
EPA fuel economy estimate: TBD
EPA estimated annual fuel cost: TBD
0-60 time: TBD
Top speed: TBD
Charging time: TBD
Wheelbase: Approximately 110.8 inches
Length: Approximately 192 inches
Width: Approximately 75.6 inches
Height: TBA
Passenger volume: TBA
Cargo volume: TBA
Curb Weight: TBA
Weight distribution: TBA
Towing capacity: TBA
Assembled in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
Contact Mark Phelan at 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan.
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