General Motors finally released details about what could turn out to be the most important electric vehicle of the decade. Yes, Tesla pioneered the mass production of EVs in the 2010s, but GM intends to bring them to the masses with affordable pricing. Now that we know almost everything about the 2024 Equinox EV, how does it compare to the Chevy Bolt EV and EUV, and the many higher-priced electric crossovers on the road? Plus, we’ll also go over why I don’t think the Equinox EV will cost $30,000, despite GM’s comments.
Only two big questions remain after GM released details and new images of the Equinox EV in September. Although we don’t yet know exact pricing or battery capacity, the latest press releases have revealed a future-ready EV with great range, decent charging, and GM’s reiterated $30,000 price tag. Let’s dig into the details, and why I sincerely think this model alone will be a make-or-break moment for the electrification of America’s legacy automakers.
The Equinox EV will be available in standard and extended range battery options. Front-wheel drive will offer either battery capacity, and all-wheel drive will only be offered with the long-range pack. GM has not divulged the battery capacity figures, but we do know that the Equinox EV will be powered by the Ultium electric platform that GM engineered in partnership with LG Energy Solutions. That’s great news, as the Ultium battery has proven to be a game changer in the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq.
These are the unofficial range figures that GM shared with us:
On the performance side, the Equinox won’t compete with the more powerful Blazer EV, or many of the other segment competitors for that matter. It’s becoming clear the GM wants the Equinox to stand out for every day functionality and eye-catching affordability.
GM has not released official passenger and cargo volume numbers, but they did release some key numbers. The Equinox EV is larger than the gas-powered Equinox. It’s 7.4 inches longer with a wheelbase that is 9 inches wider. The much wider wheelbase creates more interior space, similar to how other automakers have make crossovers feel a lot more like larger SUVs.
We’ll update this page as more info becomes available.
This was the only letdown in my book, but it’s not a deal breaker. General Motors has often touted the next-generation capabilities of its Ultium batteries. More range, faster charging, better efficiency. The Ultium-powered Cadillac Lyriq charges at 190 kilowatts and the GMC Hummer EV peaks at 180 kW, so I was a bit confused to see that the Equinox EV is limited to 150 kilowatt charging speeds at a DC fast charger. It’s totally possible that CEO Mary Barra and the crew are taking a page out of Porsche’s EV gameplan: underpromise and overdeliver.
Even with 150 kw charging speeds, what matters more is the charging curve. Early testing with the Hummer EV shows that at 65% state of charge, the Hummer was still pulling 170 kilowatts. That’s a great sign. Combined with GM’s claimed ability for the Equinox EV to add 70 miles of range in 10 minutes, and it starts to sound like a pretty sweet deal for those who travel at a leisurely pace.
When charging any electric car at home, you have two options. No additional installation is required to simply ‘trickle-charge’, which means plugging in to a standard three-prong wall outlet. Commonly known as level one charging, this would add just 3-5 miles of range per hour, but drivers like myself find it to be plenty enough since I leave my car plugged in all night, and I don’t drive more than 30 miles on most days.
If you drive over 40 miles per day at least a few times each week, you’ll either want to install a level 2 home charger, or plan to spend time at public charging stations. A trained electrician will be needed to install a level 2 charger, and equipment plus labor can add up to a few thousand dollars. If you do go the level 2 route, you’ll be rewarded with MUCH faster home charging.
The Equinox EV will have some of the fastest home charging available from any EV, including luxury options. The Equinox’s standard level 2 charging is rated at 11.5 kilowatts, which is noticeably higher power than most EVs today (limited to 6 to 9 kilowatts at level 2). The higher trims of the Equinox EV will go even further to 19.2 kW home charging. With that, the Equinox RT and RS could add 51 miles of range per hour.
Don’t forget that EVs typically charge overnight while you sleep. It can be tempting to compare home charging times to a quick gas station fill-up, but life with an EV is altogether a different automotive lifestyle.
What comes standard: if you’re a fan of massive horizontal touchscreens, we have good news. The Equinox comes standard with an 11 inch infotainment touchscreen, a separate 11 inch digital gauge cluster, manual cloth seats, and 250 miles of estimated range from Chevrolet’s standard battery.
Standard safety features are generous. Standard Chevy Safety Assist includes:
Additional safety and assist features are available in higher trims, as detailed below.
Starting price: GM says “around $30,000 before incentives”; YAA expected price: $32,000
The 1LT includes all of the standard features mentioned above, including:
Starting price: TBD; YAA expected price: $37,000
The Equinox 2LT is likely to be the option for the budget-conscious EV buyer who wants more range, improved looks, and niceties like heated seats. The 2LT adds:
Starting price: TBD; YAA expected price: $48,000 – $55,000
The 3LT has most of the bells and whistles, but pricing will likely undercut its nearest competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. Available options like all-wheel drive, heads-up display and SuperCruise are expected to drive a fully-loaded Equinox 3LT to a substantially higher price.
In addition to the features included in lower trims, the 3LT includes:
Starting price: TBD; YAA expected price: $52,000
GM has decided to launch the electric Equinox in the fall of 2023 with the 2RS trim. This is the entry-level sporty trim option. It’s all about looks.
Starting price: TBD; YAA expected price: $60,000
Available 19.2 kilowatt home charging is the real standout option with the 3RS. Aesthetically, this is as close as the Equinox EV gets to its sportier sibling, the 2022 Chevy Blazer SS EV.
Why do I think the higher trims will costs over $20,000 more than GM’s “aroud $30,000” starting price? It’s VERY difficult to make money selling EVs at $40,000 right now, not to mention ten grand cheaper. Ford recently admitted they aren’t turning a profit on the Equinox’s rival the Mustang Mach-E. Raw material prices have shot up by over 100% since 2020, and inflation is real.
In August of 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 into law. With the new law arrived a completely revamped EV tax credit and future rebate. We’ve already covered the details of the new EV tax credit and which models will qualify, but here’s a summary of the biggest changes:
The Equinox EV will qualify for at least half ($3,750) of the new EV tax credit. GM plans to build it in Mexico with Ultium batteries made in America. Whether or not the Equinox qualifies for the full $7,500 will depend on where GM sources the lithium and other minerals in their batteries.
Yes, it’s true: With incentives, the 2024 Equinox EV may cost as little as $23,000. That would be a true turning point in EV adoption.
The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV will be up against stiff competition in this burgeoning electric crossover segment. These are some of the most popular competitors:
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