Last weekend, I walked through one of my local dealerships to explore new options out of curiosity rather than necessity. The rising cost of new vehicles is undeniable, with customers seeing prices skyrocket on dealership lots. These higher costs sometimes reflect rising production costs and poorly executed sales strategies, but I believe there’s something else to consider beyond the price tag: inherent value.
Take the latest Chevy Equinox EV for sale as an example. The bowtie brand doesn’t reinvent the wheel with the Equinox EV but, rather, capitalizes on a well-established SUV that’s served the automaker well for decades. The Equinox EV is an electrified version of a model American drivers have come to love, so much so that it’s Chevrolet’s second-best seller behind the Silverado. But what makes it so popular? Chevrolet is known for building long-lasting and affordable models, but the value behind those models is undeniable; the 2025 Equinox EV shows as much by taking its place as the best deal in the EV market today.
#1. Money Well Spent
Chevrolet knows the power of a strong marketing strategy and touts the 2025 Equinox EV as “America’s most affordable 315+ mile range EV.” Is it true? The 2025 Equinox EV starts at $33,600, putting you behind the wheel of the LT trim. Alternatively, rivals like the 2025 Mustang Mach-E start at $36,495, with Ford slashing the SUV’s price tag without successfully matching the Equinox EV’s affordability or inherent value.
Chevrolet offers more for your money with the 2025 Equinox EV LT, which defies expectations as a base trim. It sets the baseline for the Equinox EV lineup, boasting a 319-mile EPA-estimated range, a 17.7-inch center touchscreen, and the Chevy Safety Assist suite. Alternatively, Ford requires drivers to pay a premium for the Mustang name. The Mach-E Select starts the lineup, but to enjoy amenities and tech comparable to the Equinox EV, you must pay north of $40,000 for the Mach-E Premium.
#2. More Power for Your Dollar
The class of compact BEV SUVs has grown exponentially in recent years, with automakers introducing new models that offer outstanding performance and impressive driving ranges. Rather than reinventing the wheel, Chevrolet capitalizes on the Equinox’s proven performance and equips this SUV with an electric heartbeat that offers more engagement and efficiency than before. Because of this, the 2025 Equinox EV undeniably offers more standard horsepower than rivals like the Kia EV6, Hyundai IONIQ 5, and Volkswagen ID.4.
The 2025 Equinox EV is available with a single- or dual-motor configuration with an 85-kWh battery. The single-motor powertrain produces 220 hp and 243 lb-ft of instant torque, with the additional motor increasing this output to 300 hp and 355 lb-ft of torque. So, how does this compare across the segment?
The 2025 Equinox EV’s electric heartbeat makes more power than the Toyota bZ4X‘s two-engine lineup. The bZ4X’s 71.4-kWh battery and single motor make 201 hp, with two motors and 72.8-kWh battery producing 214 hp. Rivals like the EV6, IONIQ 5, and ID.4 fall even further behind because of their smaller batteries: the EV6’s base powerplant makes 167 hp, the IONIQ 5 produces 168 hp, and the ID.4 delivers 201 hp.
#3. More Miles on Every Charge
One of the biggest concerns for drivers regarding electric vehicles is driving range—what’s called “range anxiety.” It’s the same worry as running out of gas before finding a gas station, but we’re more familiar with fuel economies and mileage than we are with batteries and electricity. The driving range for an EV is similar, but there’s still the question of how that range fluctuates, how quickly we can recharge the battery, and how convenient recharging is at and away from home.
Chevrolet does an outstanding job mitigating these concerns with the 2025 Equinox’s impressive range. Most EVs in this class average anywhere from 220 to 275 miles, but the Equinox EV can log more miles than most: for 2025, the Equinox EV with front-wheel drive and a single-motor powertrain has an EPA-estimated range of 319 miles. How does this compare across the segment?
The Equinox EV’s range is higher than the Audi Q6 e-tron, Cadillac OPTIQ, and Hyundai IONIQ 5. Audio’s Q6 e-tron, which costs over $63,000, has a 100-kWh battery, but its highest range lags behind at 307 miles. Likewise, the higher-priced Cadillac OPTIQ offers an estimated range of 300 miles. When you consider the price of the Equinox EV relative to its performance and driving range, you’re getting more for your money behind the wheel and when it’s time to recharge.
#4. More Tech Than Most
What type of technologies do you expect from a modestly-priced SUV like the 2025 Equinox EV? We immediately think the Equinox EV’s lower price tag means Chevrolet cuts corners, equipping the base trim with minimal features, conveniences, and technologies to reflect its pricing and entice drivers to spend more on a mid- or top-tier trim. This strategy might be true for most brands, but Chevrolet proves otherwise with the 2025 Equinox and its extensive digital landscape.
It’s impossible to beat the Cadillac OPTIQ’s 33-inch LED display that stretches across its dashboard. However, that display and the Cadillac name come at a premium, and they appeal to drivers with deeper pockets. The 2025 Equinox EV offers undeniable value because Chevrolet makes a 17.7-inch touchscreen display standard across the lineup, ensuring drivers never have to choose between their budget and innovative tech. For comparison, the 2025 Mustang Mach-E has the next largest display at 15.5 inches, followed by the Audi Q6 e-tron at 14.5 inches and the Kia EV6 at 12.3 inches.
The Equinox EV’s expansive display makes it more accessible, which the Chevrolet infotainment system enhances with its intuitive layout. Chevy upgrades the system by adding Google Built-In, which includes Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Assistant. The touchscreen is also home to the myChevrolet mobile app, which can help you locate the nearest public charging station across a continuously expanding North American network.
#5. More Interior Functionality
The 2025 Equinox EV adds another layer to its value beyond its range, performance, price tag, and digital landscape. It’s also incredibly functional and spacious, with Chevrolet ensuring the Equinox EV accommodates your passengers and cargo comfortably. But doesn’t every automaker achieve as much with their models? While the goal is the same, Chevy’s delivery and follow-through give the Equinox EV an edge over many rivals.
The 2025 Equinox EV offers a total passenger volume of 102.24 cu.ft., which is significantly larger than what Subaru offers in the 2025 Solterra at 94.4 cu.ft. The Nissan ARIYA comes closer to the Equinox EV at 101.2 cu.ft., but is it enough to match the Equinox EV’s spacious front and second rows?
Chevrolet prioritizes comfort throughout the cabin, with the 2025 Equinox EV offering 39.15 inches of headroom in the front row and 38.49 inches in the second. These numbers surpass the 2025 Solterra, which has 38.6 inches and 37.1 inches, respectively. We see an even bigger difference in legroom across the second row, with the Equinox EV providing 38 inches of room for passengers to relax comfortably. Alternatively, the 2025 ARIYA is an inch smaller, and the Solterra provides a mere 35.3 inches of legroom, making for significantly cramped quarters.
As a two-row SUV, the Equinox EV’s cargo capacity is also crucial to consider. Realistically, drivers tend to gravitate to two-row SUVs because they need the space for passengers and the functionality of a rear cargo area with both rows in use. Because of this, the Equinox EV’s cargo capacity behind the second row is vital and showcases another area where the SUV offers more value. For example, Equinox EV drivers have 26.4 cu.ft. of space with both rows in use, while the Solterra and ARIYA are significantly smaller at 23.8 cu.ft. and 22.8 cu.ft., respectively.
Final Thoughts
What do you value most in an electric SUV? More importantly, how do you define value? For many, it’s easy to associate value with the window sticker and the final purchase price. However, there’s far more to value than numbers and price tags; value is also innately tied to what you’re getting for your money, with Chevrolet acknowledging as much by proving the 2025 Equinox EV isn’t just one of the most affordable electric SUVs in the segment but one of the best packaged, offering tangible value from its performance and range to its tech and capabilities.
