The Chevrolet Equinox EV and Gas Are Both Great. But One Is Better

Nice compact SUVs aren’t laborious to search out, however choosing the right one takes some analysis. Need one thing low cost? One thing luxurious? One thing sporty? Or one thing that provides a little bit of the whole lot? There are numerous choices.

If you happen to’re wanting particularly for a crossover with a Bowtie within the grille, Chevrolet has two nice compact SUVs that share the identical title: The Equinox EV and the Equinox. However that is about all they share.

The Equinox runs on previous dinosaurs, whereas the Equinox EV runs on electrons, as you doubtless gathered by these two ubiquitous letters. Their designs are mild years aside, their interiors are drastically completely different, and even the driving expertise of every is completely distinctive.

That stated, each Equinoxes (Equinii?) are glorious in their very own proper. This is what we expect after driving every of them again to again.

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

For 2 SUVs that share the identical badge, they could not look extra completely different.

The Equinox EV is fairly—not only for a crossover, not only for a Chevy, nevertheless it’s a genuinely enticing automobile. The slim headlight bar that runs throughout the hood line and pretend grille makes it look futuristic, as any good EV ought to. The identical goes for the full-width taillight bar on the rear. The non-compulsory 21-inch wheels on this LT2 mannequin, in the meantime, fill out the wheel wells splendidly, and the two-tone Riptide Blue and white paint job is the right spec.

The usual Equinox, in the meantime, opts for a extra rugged aesthetic—you may even get it in an Activ trim with extra off-road upgrades. It borrows cues from the bigger Traverse and Tahoe, just like the cumbersome grille, cut up headlight design, black wheels, and angular C-pillar with a “floating roof.” It additionally will get a two-tone paint job: Radiant Crimson with a black roof.

It isn’t the prettiest SUV on the street; Chevy’s current designs are a bit too busy for my liking. However a minimum of it stands out.

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

To say these two SUVs could not be additional aside when it comes to the driving expertise can be an understatement. It is like they arrive from two completely different corporations.

Nearly the whole lot in regards to the Equinox EV’s drive is great. The journey is comfy, the dealing with is refined, physique management is poised, and in case you press laborious sufficient on the go pedal, it strikes fairly shortly. This model has a single-motor setup with 220 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. The twin-motor mannequin with 300 horsepower is undoubtedly a lot faster.

The one noticeable draw back is that the Equinox EV’s journey generally is a little uneven over sure stretches of street. The LT2 mannequin weighs about 5,000 kilos, and it definitely feels it at occasions.

To say these two SUVs could not be additional aside when it comes to the driving expertise can be an understatement.

The fuel Equinox, then again, is far much less pleasurable to drive; it simply feels unrefined. The steering is sloppy, there’s loads of physique roll, the cabin is loud, and the suspension bounds over damaged pavement prefer it’s manufactured from rubber bands.

The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, a minimum of, is a wonderful powertrain. It makes 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, lots for any fuel SUV on this phase. By no means as soon as did it really feel underpowered or unable to make a go on the freeway, whereas the eight-speed automated transmission shifted seamlessly always.

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

That is the place the Equinox EV and its gas-powered brethren come nearer collectively.

Each SUVs have sizeable screens occupying the middle of the dashboard and driver’s facet console. And each of them use GM’s glorious state-of-the-art infotainment system.

However, the Equinox EV has a big 17.7-inch touchscreen whereas the usual Equinox opts for a smaller 11.3-inch heart touchscreen. Each of them have the identical 11.0-inch digital cluster, a minimum of.

Right here, although, is the place we want the fuel Equinox ever-so-slightly to the EV—and for one motive alone: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Chevrolet has eliminated CarPlay and Android Auto from its EVs, whereas the model’s fuel automobiles soldier on with smartphone mirroring. That makes the setup that significantly better to work together with.

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Past know-how, each cabins are well-finished and cozy as heck. But it surely actually depends upon which trim you go together with.

On this case, this Equinox RS tester is loaded with stitched fake leather-based that extends to the middle armrest and parts of the door panels, and it does a decent-enough impression of the true factor. Excessive-quality steel trim items dot the sprint and heart console, making all of it really feel extra premium.

The fuel Equinox does not really feel as good inside; there are nonetheless fake leather-based seats on this RS mannequin—together with eight-way energy adjustability on the motive force’s facet—and a few nicer supplies on the door panels and sprint. However there’s nonetheless loads of laborious plastic, notably across the A/C vents and central dials.

Past know-how, each cabins are well-finished and cozy as heck.

The again seats on each SUVs are roomy, however adults will in all probability be happier within the second row of the fuel Equinox. The usual Equinox has 39.9 inches of rear legroom and 39.2 inches of rear headroom in comparison with the EV’s 38.0 inches of rear legroom and 38.5 inches of rear headroom. That stated, the Equinox EV’s flat ground, due to its low-mounted battery pack, does offer you a bit additional house to stretch out your toes.

The fuel Equinox additionally has extra cargo house behind the second row: 29.8 cubic toes vs 26.4 cubic toes within the EV.

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Evaluating the Equinox EV’s vary to the fuel Equinox’s gas financial system is like evaluating apples to potatoes. That stated, the Equinox EV does return a powerful 319 miles of vary within the base rear-drive mannequin, whereas this all-wheel-drive model will get a still-impressive 307 miles of vary.

The fuel Equinox will get as much as 27 miles per gallon mixed with the bottom front-wheel-drive setup, or 26 mixed with AWD. These numbers are good for 400 miles of vary and 406 miles of vary, respectively.

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

Picture by: Jeff Perez / Motor1

The good information is that each of those SUVs are extraordinarily reasonably priced (relative to present market costs, a minimum of). The fuel Equinox begins at $31,995 with vacation spot, whereas the EV is only a titch extra at $34,995 to begin.

Go for the loaded Equinox RS with AWD just like the one examined right here, and that may set you again a nonetheless affordable $36,890 earlier than choices. The Equinox EV examined here’s a base LT2, which begins at $43,295 earlier than choices. Choices hike the worth of the EV to $52,040 as examined, whereas the fuel Equinox is $40,370 submit choices. 

Reality be advised: You may’t actually go fallacious with both of those SUVs at that value. The fuel Equinox has stiff competitors from the likes of the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Toyota RAV4, and so many others, which makes it a harder promote when it is missing in just a few key areas.

The Equinox EV has equally stiff competitors within the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and others. However extra so than its fuel counterpart, Chevy nailed it with the Equinox EV. From the outside styling and inside consolation, to the know-how, driving expertise, and vary.

If we needed to choose one, it is the Equinox EV.