2025 Equinox Is Improved Inside and Out

The Equinox compact crossover competes in the best-selling and most fiercely competitive automotive category in the U.S. It has over a 20-year history with over 3 million units sold and is one of McFarland Chevrolet’s best-selling models. However, things cannot stand still in such a competitive market, so the Equinox will be completely redesigned for the 2025 model year. This continues a Chevrolet crossover transformation that saw the Trax, Trailblazer, Blazer, and Traverse either redesigned or significantly refreshed in the last two years. 

More Exciting Exterior

The 2025 Equinox gets all-new styling to accommodate its 2.3-inch wider body. The front end is inspired by the Chevrolet truck model lines, with a chrome or body color (depending on grade) panel between the main and thin upper grilles. LED headlights are now tucked into the corner intake, while the LED DRLs dictate the height of the upper grille.

Across the side, the surfacing is more athletic, with squared wheel openings and more linear contouring. The C-pillar now sports a shark-fin shape, which sets the stage for newly available two-tone exterior color combinations. The straight-edged theme continues with the perfectly horizontal lower edge of the rear quarter windows that wraps to the rear above sharply defined pistol-shaped tail light clusters. 

“This generation of Equinox has taken on a broad-shouldered, athletic appearance that conveys confidence and versatility,” said Phil Zak, Executive Design Director, Global Chevrolet. “We leaned into distinct appearances and material selection for LT, RS, and ACTIV so everyone can see themselves in an Equinox.”

The RS will be Equinox’s most sport-focused grade, with standard black emblems and mirrors, an available black roof, a wider grille opening, and a high gloss finish on the grille bar and lower fascia. 19-inch Carbon Flash machined aluminum wheels come standard on the RS, with an available option of 20-inch, which has never before been available on the Equinox.

Interior Adds Refinement and Usability

The completely redesigned interior has a more contemporary and spacious ambiance with a strong focus on technology and user experience. Front and center is a 30% larger 11.3-inch infotainment angled slightly toward the driver. Directly in front of the driver is an 11-inch digital configurable information center. 

Behind the screen is the responsive, precise, and intuitive Google Built-in operating system, which includes Google Maps and the user-friendly Google Assistant voice command system. As with smartphones, other compatible apps can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. 

The dash has a forward-facing soft panel that matches the seat color and recedes from the driver and front passenger to add a feeling of spaciousness. Transmission selection is via Electronic Precision Shift on the steering column, opening up space on the center console. Other 2025 Equinox interior features include:

• Engaging tactile materials and decorative trim with coordinated textures in the seats, instrument panels, doors, and storage areas
• Standard heated steering wheel and heated front seats
• An available Evotex seating upgrade for the base LT grade
• Hidden storage under the cargo floor
• Standard six-speaker audio system
• Available wireless charging

The RS bolsters its performance theme with distinctive Torch Red and Santorini Blue stitching on the Evotex seats, debossed “RS” logos on the headrests in the front row, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. Ventilation for the front seats and heated outboard 2nd-row seats are available.

The Equinox ACTIV

Equinox will get its own ACTIV grade, which will be its first off-road-themed model. ACTIV features include: 

• Rugged front fascia with vertical grille inserts and gray metallic-finished accents
• Blacked-out badging
• 17-inch machined-face aluminum wheels
• Maple Sugar and Black interior theme, with premium Evotex and faux suede microfiber seating surfaces
• ACTIV logo embroidered on front seat head restraints
• Available heated and ventilated front seats and 2nd-row heated outboard seats
• Driver’s seat position memory 

Standard Chevy Safety Assist

The Chevy Safety Assist suite of safety and driver assist features will be standard on every Equinox and include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
• Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking
• Rear Cross Traffic Braking
• Rear Park Assist
• Enhanced Lane Keep Assist
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Forward Collision Alert
• Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking
• Following Distance Indicator
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
• IntelliBeam
• Side Bicyclist Alert
• Rear Seat Reminder
  

Current Drivetrain Continues

One carry over item from the current Equinox is the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that produces 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel-drive models will have a variable transmission, while eight-speed automatic transmission will accompany all-wheel-drive. Selectable driving modes will be standard on RS and ACTIV grades, including Normal and Snow and an Off-Road mode for AWD models. 

The exact launch date has not been set, so we can only predict that the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox will start entering the McFarland Chevrolet inventory later in 2024. Pricing, fuel economy, and other details will be available closer to the launch date.