Kelley Blue Book finds Ordinary Greatness in the Equinox EV

The first modern hybrid in this country was the Honda Insight, a low, somewhat stylish two-seat vehicle that could take you to work and back and carry a few grocery bags. Toyota subsequently came out with the Prius, a compact sedan that was a bit on the frumpy side, soon followed by a compact 4-door hatchback that was still no thing of beauty, and it became a runaway sales success. The lesson learned is that if you want people to accept something very different, you make it look and behave very conventionally, give it everyday practicality, price it with its mainstream competitors, and you may well have a winner on your hands. This is why Kelly Blue Book (KBB.com) likes the Equinox EV so much.  Twin Falls Chevrolet tells you more. 

You could argue that the Equinox EV is what the GM EV program has been leading up to. Sure, it has produced flashier EVs such as the Silverado EV with its trick mid-gate and the Hummer EV models with their formidable size and unique crab walk feature. Even the Blazer EV wears attention-getting styling. The Equinox looks like what it is: a compact crossover, which happens to be the best-selling category in the U.S. 

It is not all white bread and mayonnaise. The roof line has a low, sporty look to it and is available in a contrasting color. A full-width LED light bar up front hints at the electric propulsion within. However, plenty of people are likely to walk by an Equinox EV in the grocery store parking lot and not give it any more attention than a Toyota RAV4 or Honda Accord. That is exactly what Chevrolet had in mind because, as KBB.com states: “If EVs will ever be truly practical for middle-American buyers, we’ll need inexpensive, pleasant, easy-to-drive, easy-to-own crossovers from brands with dealerships and repair bays in every town and little to no political baggage to start fights.”  

This leads the author of the KBB.com Equinox review to state, “I found it a shockingly good car, mostly for how, well, normal it was.” It is normal in the way it performs just as a compact crossover should, with the ability to seat five, have an easily accessible and useful cargo space behind the seats, and a big cargo space on hand when the rear seats are not needed, or at least not all of them.  

Like most other compact crossovers, the Equinox EV comes standard with front-wheel drive (FWD) and is available with all-wheel drive, except instead of running a driveshaft down the length of the car to drive the rear wheels, Chevrolet simply mounts a second electric motor between them. The FWD model produces 213 horsepower, which is in line, if not a bit higher, than its compact crossover competitors and has a range of 319 miles. According to the EPA, AWD models have 288 hp and an estimated range of 307 miles. 288 hp is not class-leading in the segment. Still, it is pretty darn powerful for a vehicle the Equinox’s size, particularly since the instant full torque of electric motors moves a vehicle off the line noticeably quicker than their gasoline-powered counterparts. While we are making a gas comparison, Equinox EV models are rated from 96 to 109 MPGe, which is the energy equivalent of miles per gallon of gasoline. 

Like all EVs, the Equinox EV is most convenient when you can replenish the battery at home with a Level II charger. Still, when longer trips beckon, the Equinox EV will gain approximately 70 miles per 10 minutes at a DC-direct public charging station. 

KBB.com describes the steering as “light and responsive” and notes that their RS test vehicle with 19-inch wheels may ride a little firmer than your average vehicle of this type, but it is “never jarring.” They point out that other models in the lineup with smaller wheels and, thus, larger tire sidewalls alleviate the firmness  

The cabin of the Equinox continues the practical, ease-of-use theme. It adds a bit of flair with the Blazer EV’s intricately designed round HVAC vents on either side and a large class-leading yet not overwhelming 17.7-inch center touchscreen that is standard across the model line along with the standard digital gauge cluster. Overall, KBB.com describes the interior as “a well-planned, comfortable cabin with plenty of space,” which is precisely what you want from a compact crossover. 

The Equinox has a starting MSRP of $41,900. It qualifies for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, so if you qualify as well, that puts its starting price in the mid-30s, which is where you will find most compact crossovers. Twin Falls Chevrolet invites you to test drive the Equinox EV so you can discover just how great ordinary can be.