The 2025 Chevy Equinox Dazzles with Looks, Tech and Trim
Jana Askeland
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Chevy Freshens the Game with the Redesign of their Best-Selling SUV, the 2025 Chevy Equinox
This week, Chevrolet continued their streak of redesigns with the unveiling of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. In the past 18 months Chevy has refreshed their entire SUV lineup. All of which have been met with positive reviews. Especially the 2024 Traverse – which consumers are still waiting for.
I was skeptical about how “refreshed” the Equinox would look. The previous gen isn’t my favorite in exterior styling, and the interior seemed a bit out of date for my taste, especially compared to some of the competitors in this segment, like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Santa Fe that offer vehicles with more power and fuel economy.
Imagine my surprise when I walked into a staged space and saw a “Baby Traverse” with a bold new look that immediately caught the eye.
It’s safe to say this two-row SUV has received a major glow-up for the 2025 model year. At this point, it’s unknown if the price will be comparable to the 2024 Equinox. (Chevrolet will release pricing as they get closer to production.)
The redesign has new tech, a fresh new design, AND an all-new trim level called Activ, and I’m going to tell you all about it.
Related: 2024 Chevy Trax: There’s a Possibility that this May be Your Last Car
New tech in the 2025 Chevy Equinox includes an 11-inch driver info center and an 11.3-inch color touchscreen. Photo: Jana Askeland
Let’s Start with the Trim
The first-ever Equinox Activ trim level is inspired by drivers whose journeys don’t stop just because the pavement ends. The Activ trim has a unique front end with styling that has an “off-road look.” The 2025 Equinox Activ comes with all-terrain tires on 17” aluminum wheels. The interior is sporty and comfortable, with seats covered in Evotex and sueded microfiber, which feels more comfortable than expected. Notably, drivers will have the option to upgrade to a two-tone finish with an available white roof.
There will also be two additional trim levels offered: LT (entry-level trim with mainstream comfort and convenience) and RS (featuring sportier mirrors and badging, 19” wheels with the option to upgrade to 20” wheels, and two-tone red and blue interior stitching.)
Related: The Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison and Silverado Gave this Off-Road Novice Confidence
The 2025 Chevy Equinox with ACTIV trim. Photo: Chevrolet
Equinox Will Have More Standard Safety Features than Ever Before
This (4th) generation of Equinox will have more standard safety tech with Chevy Safety Assist, Teen Driver, and Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking across ALL trim levels. (Teen Driver3 is a technology that allows parents to activate customizable vehicle settings and view their teen’s driving performance through a new Connected Teen Driver feature in the myChevrolet mobile app.)
Additional standard safety features include a side bicyclist alert, a rear vision camera, a rear cross-traffic alert with braking, a rear seat reminder, park assist, and enhanced lane keep assistance. It also included adaptive cruise control and a lane change alert with a blind-spot monitor.
Refreshed tech feels more current to competitor’s standards.
There’s an upgraded 11-inch driver information center (the place where you see your gauges and MPH) and an 11.3-inch color touchscreen (also known as the multimedia area) that offers wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.
Chevy emphasized that the new screen is very intuitive and easy to use.
No more clunky gear shifter.
Related: Chevy Tahoe RST 3-row SUV Powers Your On-Road Adventures
The electronic gear shifter makes room for a pass-through. Photo: Jana Askeland
One thing I’m excited about in the 2025 Chevy Equinox is the electronic gear shifter that has been placed on the column (like a turn signal stick.) Moving it here really opens things up and gives the feeling of having more legroom and front cabin space. The best part is that you get a pass-through (a little hidey hole in the console to put something valuable like a tablet or hide a small purse out of sight.)
The 2025 Chevy Equinox ACTIV interior is well-equipped. Photo: Chevy
Toasty Buns Will Be Trending
For the first time ever, every 2025 Chevy Equinox will have heated seats and a heated steering wheel! This is HUGE. Chevy listened to consumer feedback and studied the features that were most often ordered or requested. So, they’ve included it as a standard for everyone in the 2025 Equinox.
2025 Chevy Equinox RS rear views. Photo: Chevy
Enough Power for Everyday in the 2025 Chevy Equinox
Under the hood, the 2025 Chevy Equinox will have a refreshed 1.5 L turbo with CVT (a continuously variable transmission) in front-wheel drive versions or an 8-speed automatic transmission with available all-wheel drive vehicles. It will offer 175 horsepower and 203 lb.-ft of torque with AWD.
For both RS and Activ trims, drivers get selectable drive modes (by using this dial in the center), so you will be able to toggle between normal and snow drive modes on front-wheel drive vehicles.
It wouldn’t be considered an SUV (sport utility vehicle) if it couldn’t tow. The new Equinox FWD versions are trailering-capable up to 800 lbs, and AWD versions can accommodate up to 1500 lbs.
We can’t stop staring at the grille on the 2025 Chevy Equinox RS. Photo: Chevy
Bolder Design from Chevy
The new design is inspired by ever-popular Chevy trucks. The SUV is both wider and taller. Borrowing from Chevy truck DNA, you also have squared wheel wells.
Equinox also sports a new bold grille that also feels wider and more substantial. The RS grille has attractive dark chrome accents to complete the look. As a matter of fact, each trim level (LT, Activ, and RS each has a unique front-end design.)
There are full LED headlights and taillights which stand out with their sleek design.
In the back, you have a boxier shape, which looks impressive and gives you more function in the cargo space. Speaking of cargo space, you have tons of it and a hidden subfloor that allows for additional storage out of sight. If that’s not enough, you can fold down your 60/40 split-bench second-row seats to have a total of 63.5 cubic feet of storage.
With its new bold look, the 2025 Chevy Equinox is sure to appeal to new buyers who may not have had this particular vehicle on their shortlist. Pricing is expected to be released closer to production starting, which should be later this year.
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