Do you know that feeling when you meet someone new, you vibe so well that you become fast friends immediately? Suddenly, you look up and it’s been a year, and your new friend is a solid bestie. Well, that’s what happened with me and my Equinox EV.
I feel like it was only last week that I was agonizing over spending the cash, signing the lease, and then excitedly driving home in my shiny new Riptide Blue Equinox EV with a huge smile on my face and my favorite tunes cranked high. My new blue ride immediately received the moniker “Aquanox,” thanks to a witty friend, and then, it just melted into my life. Before I realized it, eight months had passed.
Now it’s such a quintessential part of my life, it’s hard to imagine how I got by without it. But, like any good relationship, there are a few cons that come with all the pros. I’ll explain.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Aquanox and I Met By Happy Circumstance
I had been driving a friend’s 2012 Nissan Leaf for a year and a half (nice friend, I know!). That rugged little bugger had been through the trenches, but it just kept on trucking (…or leafing?). Anyways, I got really used to only having 50 miles of range, and I realized that, for someone who drives 25 miles max a day running errands, then goes back home, that is more than enough range. When you have a charger at home, it makes it feel like your vehicle has unlimited range since you just plug it in at night and never worry about it. But, I digress.
Enter Aquanox. Single motor, front-wheel drive. My new bestie only has 213 horsepower (which is just fine by me), but she also happens to have a whopping 319 miles of range! That’s so much range that I don’t even know what to do with it. I’m rolling in the range! I’m all full of range! For someone like me who works remotely, 319 miles of range means I’m charging once every other week, and that’s a luxury I’ve gotten quite used to. I literally never think about charging or range, I just hop into Aquanox and silently zip off on errands.
When it does come time to charge, I pull out my level two charging cable from the garage where it lives near our Mustang Mach-E (that only has 260 miles of range) and I plug it in for a couple of hours during the day, feeding the sunlight captured by our home solar into my hungry car.
READ MORE: The Chevrolet Equinox EV Impressed Me So Much, I Bought It After Reviewing It
The Chevy Equinox EV’s Size is Deceptive, But in a Good Way
Aquanox is a far bigger car than I was expecting to have in my driveway. It’s even bigger than our Mustang Mach-E, and I say that as a person who prefers small cars. I thought I’d have Chevy’s petite little Bolt EV as my buddy, or even the slightly smaller Hyundai Ioniq 5, but the Equinox EV called to me (and my wallet) the most.
The thing is, it just doesn’t drive big. It FEELS like a much smaller, more nimble car, and that really contributes to how comfortable it is to drive. It definitely doesn’t feel like the teensy little Bolt, but it doesn’t feel BIG. The seating position, interior layout, dashboard design, and excellent visibility help make it feel just right.
READ MORE: Chevy Equinox EV vs. Chevy Blazer EV: How to Tell Which Electric Car Is Right For You
As a Bonus, the Chevy Equinox EV is Incredibly Accessible
Now, I have to preface some of this. I’m an adaptive driver. I was injured in a bombing, and I lost my right foot, and my left leg was damaged. I drive with my left leg crossed over, and it’s not always a given that I’ll be able to drive a vehicle comfortably, if at all.
The external door handles are ergonomically great. My left hand was also damaged, so I have limited dexterity, and I especially appreciate good design that allows for simple interactions. The door handles are a simple angled pop-out handle that you can open easily, even with one finger. The moment I hopped into the Equinox EV, it was easy to drive, and that’s truly saying something for me. Over the past eight months, that comfort has just continued. Every time I hop into Aquanox, it makes me smile. Every time is comfortable, and that’s a great feeling.
Back when I picked up my new bestie, I shared a lot about why I chose her, but I’ll rehash a couple of the things that make her such a great fit for me and my needs. Firstly, the brake and accelerator pedal feel, and the steering feel can be adjusted independently, so you can customize your perfect mode. I quite enjoy a sporty steering feel combined with a relaxed brake and pedal to give me the extra ease of use my left leg needs. Secondly, the powered driver’s seat adjustment on my trim allows for tilting, which is almost essential for me to find a good position for my prosthetic leg.
READ MORE: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV First Drive: There’s A Lot to Love In This Compact Electric SUV
Parking Assistance Features Boosted My Confidence, Too
One of the things I love about Aquanox is the 360 camera, and I honestly don’t know how I survived without it before. Not all trims get this, but on my 2024 2LT, the crystal clear 360 camera with guiding lines has been such a boon. Suddenly, I’m able to back into spots with the casual precision of a getaway driver in a blockbuster film.
Whereas previously, I NEVER had that confidence. Pulling into a handicapped spot, I can easily verify on the 360 camera that I’ve given myself enough room to open my door wide to swing out my prosthesis.
Thanks to a Google-Based Interface, The Lack of Android Auto Isn’t Too Bad
As an Android user, I don’t mind that Aquanox comes with Google Built-In and doesn’t allow for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but I really do wish we still had the option. I think it’s an important thing to keep in mind if you’re thinking about picking up an Equinox EV of your own. For me, living with a car with Google Built-in has actually been pretty awesome. I hop in, buckle up, press the brake, and the giant horizontal screen illuminates with my huge Google Maps view.
If you use Google Maps often, then this setup will be super familiar to you, if a whole lot bigger. My recent searches are right there, so when I’m indoors mapping directions to make sure I leave on time, I can just tap my destination easily as soon as I get in the car. All my saved locations are right there on my map, too, so it feels really personalized and ready for me.
I also absolutely love how I can customize the instrument cluster to have a close-up map mode, so I always have my next turn right there in my line of sight. If you’re an Apple user who uses Apple Maps, this will take some adjusting, but it’s not as bad as you’re probably thinking it would be.
Something else that’s cool about having Google Built-In instead of using my phone is that I get the whole Google Maps experience without having to burn through the battery on my phone. I just toss it into the center console and don’t even think about it, whereas with vehicles using my phone for Android Auto, I have to plug in and charge to avoid battery depletion.
All Around, the Chevy Equinox EV Fits Into My Life [Almost] Perfectly
There are a ton more things that I have been loving about my Equinox EV. First, lots of new cars come with ambient lighting settings, but the Equinox EV’s ambient lighting is one of my favorites that I’ve seen on any vehicle. I set mine to pink, which shows up as a pretty purple through the blue dash of my trim.
Secondly, the customizable top navigation bar and menu screen have allowed me to put the things I think are most important right within my reach. I chose the 360 camera, Google Maps, and YouTube Music, but you can choose whatever you use the most.
The only bad thing about the Equinox EV, in my opinion, is the dash glare. Due to the lines across the dash, when the sun hits it just right (which is often), the reflection can almost obliterate visibility. I knew about this before I picked up my lease, so I made sure to get an aftermarket dash pad to cancel out the glare.
Ultimately, though, these past 8 months with Aquanox have flown by, and I’ve had such a great time making memories with my new bestie. She just fit right in with my life perfectly, and it makes me happy to know she’s always there for me.
