Chevrolet Equinox First Drive

Based on the available information, here’s a summary of the first drive impressions and key aspects of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox:

Overall Impressions:

Modern and Rugged Design: The 2025 Equinox features a completely new, more aggressive and modern exterior design, drawing inspiration from the larger Traverse. It’s considered a significant improvement over the previous generation’s styling.
Improved Interior: The interior has also been significantly revamped with a new dashboard layout, including prominent round air vents and a more streamlined center console due to the column-mounted shift lever. Material quality is reported to be better, with less hard plastic in visible areas.
User-Friendly Technology: A key highlight is the new standard technology, including an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google built-in (Google Assistant, Maps, and Play Store) and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Physical climate controls are retained, which is a plus for some users.
Comfortable Ride: The Equinox is generally praised for offering a comfortable and stable ride, suitable for daily commuting. The suspension effectively absorbs road imperfections.
Adequate but Not Thrilling Performance: All trims are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. While adequate for everyday driving, acceleration is described as “tepid” and “uninspiring.”
Choice of Transmissions: Front-wheel-drive models are paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while all-wheel-drive versions get an eight-speed automatic transmission. The eight-speed is generally considered smooth and responsive.
Focus on Value: The 2025 Equinox aims to be a strong value proposition in the compact SUV segment, offering a good amount of features for its price.
Trim Levels with Distinct Personalities: Chevrolet offers three main trims: LT, RS, and Activ. The LT serves as the base, the RS gets sporty styling cues, and the Activ has a more rugged, off-road-inspired appearance with all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels. However, mechanically, they are largely the same.
Driving Experience:

Smooth and Predictable Handling: The steering is described as smooth and predictable, although some find it a bit vague.
Underwhelming Acceleration: The 175 hp engine can feel strained, especially when needing to accelerate quickly or when carrying passengers and cargo.
Decent Fuel Economy: Fuel economy is acceptable but not class-leading. Front-wheel-drive models have an EPA-estimated combined rating of 27 mpg, while all-wheel-drive versions are rated at 26 mpg combined.
Limited Off-Road Capability: While the Activ trim has all-terrain tires, the Equinox is not designed for serious off-roading. Its capabilities are limited to handling light off-pavement conditions.
Interior Features and Space:

Roomy Cabin: The Equinox offers a spacious cabin for its class, with ample head and legroom for both front and rear passengers.
Good Cargo Space: It provides a decent amount of cargo space, with 29.8 cubic feet behind the second row and 63.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. There’s also a hidden storage compartment under the rear cargo floor.
Improved Technology: The standard 11-inch infotainment screen with Google built-in and wireless phone connectivity is a significant upgrade.
Comfort Features: Depending on the trim, available features include heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and power-adjustable seats.
Interior Design: The design is modern and streamlined, with unique accents and stitching depending on the trim level (e.g., Torch Red and Santorini Blue stitching in the RS, Maple Sugar accents in the Activ).
Potential Downsides:

Engine Noise: Some reviews note that the engine can become noisy under hard acceleration.
Driving Dynamics: The driving experience is generally described as competent but not particularly engaging or sporty.
Value Dependent on Options: While the base price is attractive, adding option packages can diminish its value advantage.
In conclusion, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox represents a significant step forward in terms of styling, interior design, and technology. It offers a comfortable and spacious ride with a user-friendly infotainment system. However, the engine performance remains adequate rather than exciting. It’s a solid contender in the compact SUV segment, particularly for buyers prioritizing value and modern features over dynamic driving.