Live thread: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 2LT review

America’s most affordable electric vehicle with some 315 miles of range? Chevrolet says that title belongs to its Equinox EV.

An Equinox in name only, the electric Chevy we’ve been given for a week to review is built on GM’s Ultium platform that also underpins Chevy’s Silverado and Blazer EV, as well as the Cadillac Celestiq and GMC Hummer to name a few. (The Ultium platform is also shared with Honda, who uses it to build the Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX.)

Until the 1LT trim becomes available later this year, the Equinox EV lineup consists of the 2LT, 2RS, 3LT and 3RS trims. Each trim is also available with either front- or all-wheel-drive.

Our test car for the week is a front-wheel-drive 2LT model that’s rated at 213 horsepower, 236 lb.-ft. of torque and 319 miles of range. (Pick all-wheel-drive and power output gets bumped up to 288 horsepower and 333 lb.-ft. of torque, though range dips slightly to 285 miles.)

Additionally, our Equinox is equipped with just one piece of optional equipment from the factory: Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free autonomous driving system. The $2700 package–which requires an active Super Cruise plan or trial to use–also includes enhanced automatic parking assist.

MSRP for our 2LT Equinox starts at $41,900, with destination fees and the added Super Cruise Package bringing the final sticker price to $45,995.

Comments

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/6/24 12:46 p.m.

I'm heading over to St. Pete for a show tonight, so I have 170 miles of I-4, followed by finding a good charger, then 170 back. Plus Super Cruise :)

So far I kind of dig the thing. It's very much a Chevy analog to the Ioniq5, albeit packaged in a bit more of a conventional small SUV format. But it's got an 85kw battery pack, which should be good for 250 miles+ of steady freeway cruise. The view out isn;t quite as panoramic as the Ioniq. The Chevy has a deeper and higher dash and you actually sit a long way from the windshield base, but the overall package feels decent on the road, at least in my limited use so far.

I'll try and check in from the road this evening.

Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/6/24 12:53 p.m.

JG Pasterjak said:
I'll try and check in from the road this evening.

I mean, if Super Cruise works as well as GM says it does, that shouldn't be a problem.

JG Pasterjak Production/Art Director
9/6/24 1:35 p.m.

In reply to Colin Wood :

Super Cruise is, indeed, awesome. (But I still pulled over to post this)

David S. Wallens Editorial Director
9/6/24 11:18 p.m.

Oh yeah, we’re getting an EV this week.

Datsun240ZGuy MegaDork
9/7/24 4:38 a.m.

I believe CEO Mary Barra promised these to have low entry prices. How much is it? Is there a $35k Equinox?

Feedyurhed UltraDork
9/7/24 7:42 a.m.

Any acceleration times floating around?

Colin Wood Associate Editor
9/7/24 8:56 a.m.

In reply to Datsun240ZGuy :

The entry-level 1LT has a starting MSRP of $34,995, but, per Chevrolet, it won't be available until later this year.

Until then, the 2LT–like the one we have–is the most inexpensive model currently on sale with a starting MSRP of $43,295.

lnlogauge Dork
9/7/24 10:43 a.m.

Had a Hyundai EV. Bought a equinox Ev last month. Chevy has some catching up to do.

If you use the app to turn the car on (precooled car is amazing), you get an immobilizer error, and a message to service the car immediately. Wait 4 hours, and the car will come back to life. I'm sure it just needs an update, but unlike Hyundai that requires going to the dealership. Whenever you put the car in reverse, you get some auto brake thing that slams on the brakes when you get to the bottom of the driveway. I can't find any way to disable that permanently, so you have to turn it off each time. The one pedal driving is either on, or off. With the Hyundai you had levels, which was nice.

The overall quality is really good. Beautiful screen, comfortable ride. All of my complaints are software, but they have some work to do there.

It does look really good though.

BlueInGreen - Jon UberDork
9/7/24 12:08 p.m.

In reply to lnlogauge :

Your experience lines up with my brother's advice. He works at the GM proving ground, getting up close and personal with the software update side of things. He has been saying that he'd recommend staying away from the GM EV stuff for now - the software just isn't ready.