Chevrolet may be preparing to place a big bet on BEVs in the future but while the Equinox EV is just now beginning to make its way to dealerships, Chevy knows that not everyone is ready to make the switch to pure electrification just yet. These customers still crave an ICE alternative and the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox aims to keep these customers firmly in the fold
Equinox Activ Spearheads Revamp, Interior Gets New Infotainment System
Unlike the outgoing Equinox which had flowing lines and an aerodynamic look, the 2025 model appears to have taken inspiration from the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Traverse with the exterior featuring chunkier motifs and more rugged touches. The grille is much larger than before and the squared-off fenders and wheel arches aim to increase its trail-ready credentials. The roof adopts a floating look and the reworked liftgate features new taillights that angle downward towards the rear fenders.
Each trim level has a distinct theme with the sporty RS model getting blacked-out accents and other minor styling touches. The Activ model on the other hand is focused on being a light trail-runner and as a result, it gets chunky all-terrain tires mounted on 17-inch alloy wheels, a white-colored roof, and a larger front grille. Chevrolet claims that other minor Active exclusive touches further enhance its personality but look for this trim to be on par with rivals like the Subaru Forester.
Meanwhile, the interior has also been heavily reworked and while trim level will once again play a role in what kind of stylish frills are installed, the same core formula is carried over across all models. That includes a new 11-inch digital instrument cluster which is paired with a slightly bigger 11.3-inch infotainment system. Unlike Volkswagen, Chevrolet still maintained a healthy amount of buttons and knobs and has not embraced a fully haptic setup for the controls. The aforementioned infotainment system gets standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. Chevrolet even relocated the shifter and it is now mounted on the steering column.
Carryover Performance Soldiers On In Equinox For 2025
With all the changes that Chevy made to the Equinox (including a new platform) the one item that does carry over from the outgoing model is the powertrain with all models continuing to be powered by a 175-horsepower, 1.5-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder. Power here is up five horses when compared to last year’s model, but unless you’re really good at spotting this minor bump when accelerating we suspect most buyers will not notice.
They will however notice the new transmission options that Equinox will bring to the table for 2025 with the brand now offering a CVT and an eight-speed automatic. A prominent catch here is that drive layout will decide which one you get with front-wheel drive models getting the CVT and AWD models getting the eight-speed auto. The eight-speed replaces the outgoing six-speed and while Chevrolet didn’t reveal formal fuel economy numbers yet, we suspect the two extra gears will help bump up fuel economy somewhat.
Chevrolet also bundled in a laundry list of safety equipment to the 2025 Equinox including front and rear automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic warning. The lone options here are a 360-degree camera system, digital rearview mirror, traffic sign recognition, speed assist, and rear pedestrian detection.
When Can I Buy One?
Chevrolet didn’t reveal final pricing or a timeline for when the SUV will go on sale, but look for 2025 Equinox pricing to not stray too far from what we have seen on the 2024 model. Look for the LT to have a base price similar to the $30,890 figure that you see on a FWD 2024 LT model. With the utility market still being a key battleground for many automakers, we look forward to see how the new Nox does against rivals from Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda especially if rumors surrounding GM’s hybrid plans bear any fruit.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.