2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS.
chevrolet
Detroit- General Motors is redesigning its gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox crossover to look more rugged than its predecessor in an attempt to push the vehicle upmarket and attract new buyers.
The 2025 Equinox unveiled by General Motors on Tuesday will come with additional standard safety and convenience features.
Brad Franz, Chevrolet’s marketing director for cars and crossovers, said the changes to the Equinox are meant to improve the appeal of a car that General Motors introduced about 20 years ago. The small crossover has become one of General Motors’ best-selling vehicles.
“It’s critical for us to launch this product now. We think it will be as important as (before), if not more important,” he said. “We still expect it to be Chevrolet’s No. 2-selling model and, frankly, the largest share in the industry with 22 percent (market share). We don’t see that going down.”
Equinox sales have remained above 212,000 units for the past two years. Sales in 2019 remained well below pre-pandemic levels of nearly 350,000 vehicles.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS.
chevrolet
The 2025 model year will come standard with heated seats and a heated steering wheel on all models—a first for Equinox and many mainstream brands. Some automakers have implemented or discussed including these features in monthly or annual subscription fees, rather than offering them as standard or optional features. GM said about 90 percent of owners surveyed want these features.
Franz declined to reveal pricing for the next-generation Equinox, which is expected to go on sale mid-year in three trims: LT, RS and Activ. He said the company “has no intention of deviating too far from our current pricing.”
Pricing for the 2024 Equinox ranges from $28,000 to $35,000, including mandatory destination charges.
General Motors said that among the reasons for buying the Equinox, customers most often cited price and value. The entry-level LT is expected to account for about 60 percent of sales, Franz said.
“While we intend to move this vehicle upmarket like some of the other products we have announced, we remain laser-focused on value,” he said.
Design changes
The next-generation Equinox’s exterior design is similar to other recently redesigned Chevrolet vehicles. It features a large hourglass grille, a more sculptural design, and slim front and rear lights.Similar but different designs The all-electric Equinox is expected to go on sale this year after a delay in 2023.
Inside, GM has revamped the compact crossover to give the driver and passengers more room, including moving the gear lever to the steering column instead of between the passenger and driver. , or move it to a button or knob on the dashboard.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox Activ.
chevrolet
For drivers who have used a column shifter before, this isn’t what it used to be. It’s a growing technology in the automotive industry called “shift-by-wire,” which eliminates many manual parts and allows the car to shift gears with ease. With a traditional column-mounted shifter, driving requires pulling the lever forward and manually shifting the vehicle into gear.
The new Equinox features a new 11-inch diagonal configurable driver information center and an 11.3-inch diagonal infotainment screen in front of the driver.
“When you get in there, the first thing you notice is the technology, the screens — it doesn’t feel like the Equinox,” Franz said.
The vehicle will be built at a plant in Mexico, and Franz said GM has room to increase production if needed.
The 2025 Equinox will continue to be powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces up to 175 horsepower and 203 foot-pounds of torque. The vehicle comes standard with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is also available.
Don’t miss these stories from CNBC PRO:
Svlook
