2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV Road Test and Review

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Many automakers have struggled to master the EV. They’ve launched electric vehicles that are too expensive or that have too little range, or both. They’ve been too unusual – or not unusual enough. And as Tesla cemented itself as America’s default electric car, lots of other models faded into also-ran status. 

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV burst through the noise. This compact crossover is America’s best-selling electric car after the Tesla Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV. The Equinox EV has the right price, the right range, the right size, and the right looks to win meaningful market share. It also has a few foibles that keep it from earning even more customers. 

For this review, we just spent a week testing the Equinox EV to learn about its pros and cons. Keep reading to see what we found and whether it’s the right affordable electric SUV for you. 

Priced From $34,995

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV has a starting price of $34,995 plus a $1,395 destination charge. That doesn’t make it the cheapest compact crossover on the market. It’s about $7,000 more than the similarly sized (though otherwise unrelated) gas-only Chevrolet Equinox. However, that price is similar to hybrid crossovers like the gas-electric versions of the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Mazda CX-50. 

The base Equinox EV LT 1 already comes dressed up with 19-inch wheels and a big 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, as well as driver-assistance technologies like front and rear automatic emergency braking; adaptive cruise control; lane-keeping steering assistance; and a blind-spot monitor with automatic steering intervention. 

Or you can get the LT 2 ($41,795) with leatherette upholstery instead of cloth; heating for the front seats and steering wheel; a power-adjustable driver’s seat; a surround-view parking camera to complement a standard backup camera; and a wireless smartphone charger. (Except for the leathette, most of those features are also available as LT 1 options.) There’s also a trim called the RS, equipped similarly to the LT 2 but with sportier styling. Our test car also added ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, huge 21-inch wheels, a rearview camera mirror, a self-parking system, and General Motors’ Super Cruise hands-free highway driving aid. In total, including destination, it came to $50,250. 

All-wheel drive is an expensive option compared with a gas-powered SUV. That’s because it also brings a second electric motor with a lot more power. Folks who want all-weather traction will need to spend an extra $5,000 on the LT 1 and another $3,000 on the LT 2 and RS.  

So the Equinox EV can get expensive. But unlike many EVs, it’s also easy to keep costs down without getting something too spartan. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Up to 319 Miles per Charge

Some EVs offer competitive base prices by selling base models with a smaller electric battery. That’s great for folks who don’t need to travel long distances or don’t mind recharging regularly. But the 2026 Equinox EV delivers its maximum range right in the base LT 1 – and it’s among longest ranges you’ll find in an electric compact crossover. 

In EPA testing, the front-wheel-drive Equinox EV like our test vehicle can travel 319 miles on a charge. And even the powerful AWD models travel 307 miles, or 288 miles on the AWD-only RS with bigger 21-inch wheels. The EPA doesn’t have a specific rating for the LT 2 front-wheel drive and the optional 21-inch wheels like our test car; larger wheels typically cut into EPA range estimates. 

We expect our test car missed its EPA range estimate due both to the big wheels and the subfreezing weather during our test. Cold weather typically cuts into EVs’ range and efficiency. In a week of mixed driving, we traveled 171 miles while using 67% of the battery’s capacity (from an 85% charge to a 22% charge); that works to 255 miles of total range. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

High Efficiency, Choice of Charging Options

The two ways to extend an EV’s range are a bigger battery and greater efficiency. The Equinox EV has both. In EPA testing, the front-drive model gets the energy equivalent of 117 mpg in the city, 100 mpg on the highway, and 108 mpg combined (with the standard wheels). AWD models get 112 MPGe city, 95 MPGe highway, and 103 MPGe combined. And the RS AWD with 21-inch wheels gets 103 MPGe city, 88 MPGe highway, and 96 MPGe combined. Our test vehicle (again, with the 21-inch wheels but front-wheel drive) averaged 98 MPGe. That compares with 27 mpg for the gas-only Chevrolet Equinox. 

You’ll note that the Equinox EV is more efficient at low speeds than on the highway, the opposite of a gas-only car. That makes it an extra-economical commuter car, but it means more frequent stops on longer trips where you’re cruising at steady interstate speeds. 

As with other EVs, folks who can charge at home get the maximum convenience and usually the lowest fuel costs. America’s average residential electricity rate is 17 cents per kilowatt-hour. At 100 MPGe, an EV travels 3 miles per kilowatt-hour of electricity. So the Equinox EV would cost about $5.60 to drive 100 miles if you’ve charged at home with that rate. That’s half the cost of a gas-only Equinox averaging 27 mpg with gas costing $3 per gallon. 

When you charge at home, you can use either a 240-volt car charger or a 120-volt three-prong outlet. A 240-volt outlet can fully recharge an Equinox EV in 9.5 hours, meaning you could get home with the battery empty and be ready to drive another 300-plus miles in the morning. A 120-volt charger can add about 3 miles of range per hour, which is also enough to replenish most folks’ commutes. When you’re on the go, a DC fast-charging station can give you 70 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes, and you can get from a 20% charge to 80% in as little as 30 minutes. But these chargers can be expensive; if you use them often, you’ll spend as much as the cost of gas. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Lively Acceleration and a Steady Ride

Whatever you spend for your fuel, EVs also stand out for their quick, near-silent acceleration. The Equinox EV is no exception. Expect to hit 60 mph in less than 8 seconds with front-wheel drive and less than 6 seconds with all-wheel drive. This means that even the front-drive model is quicker than most gas-only small SUVs, while AWD buys the sort of speed once reserved for high-end sports sedans. And unlike a typical gas-powered crossover, flooring the throttle in the Equinox EV produces a fuss-free response – no revving and roaring. However, some rival electric crossovers are even quicker than the Equinox EV. 

At a steady speed, the Equinox EV is comfortable and composed. Even the optional 21-inch wheels don’t make the ride too stiff, and we expect that it’s even gentler with the already-big standard 19-inchers. The Equinox EV also keeps things relaxed with the optional Super Cruise hands-free driving aid, which can handle acceleration, braking, steering, and even automatic lane changes on most controlled-access highways. This SUV doesn’t change direction with the eager directness of a Volkswagen ID.4 or Ford Mustang Mach-E, though. 

The Equinox EV lets you activate two levels of “one-pedal driving” – meaning aggressive energy regeneration that slows the car as soon as you lift off the accelerator. You can also drive it like an ordinary SUV and summon this regeneration on demand using a toggle mounted on the steering wheel. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Modern But Not Futuristic Looks

As we mentioned, the Equinox EV shares a name with the gas-only Equinox – but no more. Their mechanical components are all distinct. So are their looks. 

Like many electric SUVs, the Equinox EV is low and sleek. An aerodynamic body boosts its all-important range and efficiency. Front and rear lightbars keep it looking modern and slick. And the grille-free front end could only belong to an EV, since a gas engine would need airflow for cooling. 

And yet, the Equinox EV isn’t a dramatic departure from ordinary SUVs in either its overall shape or most of its styling details. A careful eye will spot a long wheelbase and short front end. But Chevrolet steered clear of the more hatchback-like roofline of a Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E, or Nissan Ariya. The Equinox EV’s side windows are boxy, rather than tapering into a squint. You also won’t find wild, funky details like all the shapes decorating a Kia EV6. And the Chevy looks more SUV-like than the rounded-off Volkswagen ID.4. This is a handsome crossover that’s modern without being aggressively futuristic. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Big Screens, But Not Only Screens

Chevrolet also scores points on the cabin. EVs have become known for their big screens, and the Equinox EV certainly delivers there. Drivers face an 11-inch digital gauge cluster, plus a separate 17.7-inch central touchscreen. You can customize both screens to highlight one type of information or another, and you can choose from a selection of gauge styles that include simulated analog dials. It’s more familiar and easier to see than EVs that squeeze their speed readouts and range estimates into the central touchscreen. 

What’s more, Chevrolet also provides a generous collection of physical buttons and knobs for common controls. You twist a dial to change the audio volume or the climate temperature. You press a button for the defroster. The steering wheel also has physical buttons rather than fussy touch-sensitive panels or multifunction controls.

A few details remain complicated. The front and rear windshield wiper controls are crowded onto the turn-signal stalk. The car tries to guess when you want the vehicle switched on and off, not always successfully. The headlights are controlled only through the touchscreen. The pop-out exterior door handles emerge teasingly even on locked doors. The interior isn’t sumptuously finished, either, and many Equinox EVs have blue plastic cabin trim that isn’t to everyone’s tastes. 

Our remaining complaint with the Equinox EV interior is that you can’t use your phone’s apps on the big screen via Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Chevrolet hopes you’ll instead buy a subscription to its Google-based system once a trial period expires. 

But overall, we like how the Equinox EV’s interior keeps up with the times without imposing a steep learning curve. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Plenty of Passenger Space

The Equinox EV is a small, affordable crossover. But it has plenty of legroom for passengers in both the front and the rear seats. The front seats are flat, not standouts for either cushy support or performance-style bolstering. But we were comfortable inside. Two adults can fit in the back without bumping their knees on the front seats, while a third person can squeeze in between them. 

A heated and power-adjustable driver’s seat plus a heated steering wheel are either standard or optional on all trim levels. The rear outboard seats have optional heaters, and you can get the front seats with ventilation. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Useful But Not Massive Cargo Hold

The Equinox EV has a boxy, well-shaped cargo hold that can fit 26 cubic feet of luggage behind the rear seat. That’s a useful amount of space, and it’s competitive with most rival EVs. But it’s more like what you’d usually find in a hybrid or gas-only subcompact crossover than a compact. Part of this is because the Equinox EV has a lower roof than many gas-powered SUVs, in pursuit of better aerodynamics. But the cargo floor is also a little higher off the ground, squeezing the cargo height in both directions. 

The rear seat folds easily in a 60/40 split to open up 57 cubic feet of total cargo space. Once again, that’s a useful amount of space and competitive with most rival EVs, but it’s less than a gas model like the Honda CR-V or even the gas-only Equinox. You can raise the cargo floor behind the rear seat to create a flush surface with the folded seatbacks, or you can lower it to eke out maximum luggage volume. Chevrolet also hides a storage area under the cargo floor, which has a place to keep a portable charging cable plus an open area for a small bag or other belongings. There’s no front trunk or “frunk” like in a Tesla or some other EVs, though. The Equinox EV is rated to tow up to 1,500 pounds, which is competitive for a compact crossover and tops some rival EVs that aren’t rated to tow at all. Just note that a trailer cuts into battery range. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Equinox EV vs. the Competition

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV has one of the lowest starting sticker prices yet one of the longest ranges of any fully electric vehicle in the U.S. And it pulls that off even though it’s a roomy, comfortable family-sized SUV. Plus, it provides the advantages of an EV – plus a modern look and feel – without getting too weird in its styling or control layout. 

Still, the Equinox EV faces a lot of excellent competitors. And you’ll find many of them with huge discounts off their sticker prices – so don’t assume they’re out of your budget or a worse deal than the Equinox EV. 

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a well-rounded electric crossover that’s comfortable and user-friendly yet more fun to drive than the Equinox EV, and it recharges faster. It also has the convenience of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. So do the extra-sporty retro-styled Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Volkswagen ID.4. Both of them trail the Equinox’s range per charge in most of their versions, though, especially with all-wheel drive. And they have higher sticker prices than the Chevy.

The Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ twins are another force to be reckoned with. They’re pleasant-driving cars that were widely overlooked upon their release, thanks to low ranges per charge. But they got heavily updated this year even as sticker prices dropped. The Equinox EV still goes farther on a charge, though. 

On the budget side, the redesigned Nissan Leaf evolved from a hatchback to a crossover that can compete with the Equinox EV if you don’t need AWD or a ton of space. And you’ll likely find a discount on the larger, fancier, newly discontinued Nissan Ariya. 

If you’re interested in a top-trim Equinox EV, meanwhile, it faces the EV sales leader: the Tesla Model Y. The Tesla is much roomier and more powerful, goes even farther on a charge, and now rides more smoothly than before. But its controls have a steeper learning curve than the Chevrolet’s. 

2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Range, Value, and Modern Design

EVs’ value proposition took a dive when $7,500 federal tax credits expired after September 2025. But the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV is still a solid deal even at its sticker price. 

As a spacious, comfortable, refined family car or commuter car, a lightly optioned front-wheel drive Equinox EV is the most compelling. But if you’re attached to high-end bells and whistles and are willing to pay big bucks for the AWD model’s extra speed and traction, even an upper trim level has a lot to offer. 

Shop the Equinox EV and its competition closely. Many dealers (Chevy and otherwise) will offer big discounts. If the numbers work for the Equinox EV, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed – as long as you can do without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, don't mind losing a few drag races, and can wait a few extra minutes to charge. 

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 ・ Photo by Brady Holt