Inside EVs Selects Equinox EV as the Best Overall EV Priced Under $40,000

One common complaint about battery electric vehicles (EVs) is their high cost. It’s true that EVs tend to be more expensive than gas-powered cars. Additionally, to achieve a greater range, many EVs are often built as larger vehicles to accommodate bigger batteries. As a result, they fall into larger, more costly vehicle categories. GM’s own EVs from Cadillac and Hummer serve as perfect examples.  

In response to the affordability complaints, Inside EVs, which focuses on electric vehicles, reviewed EVs with MSRPs under $40,000. The editors provided some subcategories for the most affordable options and longest range, but the top honor goes to their overall best model. Twin Falls Chevrolet is proud to announce that Inside EVs selected the Equinox EV as the Best Overall EV Priced Under $40,000. 

The Best Affordable EV 

The Equinox has a lot to offer. From the start, it’s a compact crossover, which is the most popular vehicle category in the industry. As a result, it offers seating for five plus 26.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which is even slightly more than its larger sibling, the Blazer EV. The cargo space expands to 57.2 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded down. At the same time, it has a small footprint, making it easy to park and maneuver around town. It’s economical to operate, which we will discuss in more detail shortly. It also features a handsome exterior and interior. 

With a starting MSRP of $33,600, the front-wheel drive (FWD) Equinox EV LT is well below the $40K limit. Even the all-wheel drive (AWD) model, which is likely of most interest to Twin Falls area residents, qualifies at $38,900. The AWD version of the Equinox EV has an EPA-estimated total range of 307 miles and an MPGe of 117 city/95 highway/103 combined. These figures all improve for the FWD model.  

How Much Do Range and Charge Times Really Matter?  

It depends. If the Equinox isn’t your vehicle for long-distance trips, a range of 307 miles is more than enough for commuting or daily errands. If you can charge at home, your car will go from an almost empty battery to 100% in about eight hours, making it ready to start each day with over 300 miles of driving. Therefore, more range and faster charging are probably less relevant.  

On the other hand, if you do plan to take the Equinox on long trips, Fast DC-direct charging will add about 70 miles for every 10 minutes of charging, with a recommended ceiling of 80% charge. It is the nature of Lithium-ion batteries that DC-direct charging from 80 to 100% takes almost as long as 10% to 80%, so stopping at 80% is the most time-efficient. 

The Benefit of Trading Gallons for Electrons 

EVs are not only emission-free, but also incredibly efficient. As mentioned, the Equinox EV AWD is rated at 103 MPGe. This is based on the fact that a gallon of gas contains 33.7 kWh of energy. The Equinox has an 85-kWh battery, which means it can store the energy equivalent of about 2.57 gallons of gas. Yet, it can travel 307 miles. 

Let’s put this in terms of dollars. As of this writing, the cost per gallon of regular gas in the Twin Falls, Idaho area is $3.47. The EPA estimates that an AWD gas-powered Equinox consumes 3.8 gallons every 100 miles. At the current price, this amounts to a cost of $13.17 per 100 miles. 

The Twin Falls, Idaho area has an average electricity rate of 10.7 cents per kilowatt-hour, and the EPA estimates the Equinox EV AWD consumes 33 kWh to travel 100 miles. This results in a cost of $3.53 to go 100 miles. Therefore, the gas-powered Equinox AWD costs more than three and a half times as much to operate as the Equinox EV AWD. 

That can offset the higher initial cost of the Equinox fairly quickly if you drive many miles—assuming gas prices don’t go up again, and electricity prices stay stable. 

Only you can decide if an EV meets your needs. If you can charge at home, the Best Overall EV Priced Under $40,000 makes a strong case. See for yourself by scheduling an EV test drive at Twin Falls Chevrolet. The Equinox EV might be exactly the car you’re looking for.