Bolt EUV owner here. I just ordered a 2025 Equinox EV LT. Why? Because the price ($35K - $11K on rebates = $24K USD), range (+70 mi over the Bolt EUV), and size (a bit bigger is nice for 2 people + 2 dogs). Only thing above base is the radiant red paint, as my wife loves the color.
The base model seems to be the best way to go with one of these, and if government incentives are good. Here in Ontario we only save $5k with a federal incentive.
At 6:22 the reviewer states that Equinox EV only has single zone HVAC and that competitors in the segment have dual zone. The 2024 Equinox EV DOES have dual zone HVAC, rear heated seats, and front ventilated seats standard in 3RS and 3LT trim levels. For 2025 these features are available as an option package. At the end of the video the reviewer said it was a 3RS. It could not have been. The 3RS has standard dual zone, rear heat, front heated and ventilated and the camera mirror as standard and there was no mention of those in the video. FWIW, the EQEV is NOT a successor to Bolt EV or EUV and was never considered to be. Completely different classes of vehicle. This is underlined by the fact that Bolt EV is returning in 2026.
@@malthumb this is a 2024 model year. If GM has added those features for 2025 that’s good, we state at the end of the video not to waste time on the 2024 model year.
@@PRNTestDrive I test drove a 2024 3RS with dual zone climate, camera mirror, rear heated seats and front heated and ventilated. I chose to lease a 2024 2RS with single zone HVAC, heated front, and regular mirror. FWIW I live in Detroit, retired from GM Product Planning and now work as an auto industry consultant.
Then the US-spec models come better equipped than they do up here in Canada, which wouldn't be the first time that's happened. Chevrolet's US website seems to be experiencing some issues, at least on my end. I'm not able to build and price the Equinox EV, nor look at the trim specifications. I was able to pull a 2024 3RS FWD window sticker and it does show ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard, so those are nice to have. We mentioned at the end of the video that the US-Spec models do get those additional features we were expecting, as the Canadian-spec 2025 equipment hasn't been announced as of yet.
The GM canadian website is now working properly at least on MS Edge. Last night I could build a price and the information provided about the different trims is very exhaustive.
Glad to hear it! I think that's going to be the big takeaway from this, that Bolt owners love what they have, and it'll be hard for GM to recreate that even in an Ultium-based Bolt down the road.
Maintenance of an ICE car is not just a hassle, every time you take it for service that's an opportunity to get talked into things you don't need from upselling to outright fraud. We have a Tesla Model 3 that's 3 1/2 years old now and have only changed the cabin air filter and washer fluid. Both of those things I can do.
My plan is to keep my Bolt for at least a few years. If something surprising happens and I need to replace it, I'd probably look for a used 2022 or 2023 Bolt. I'm very annoyed that GM decided to replace the Bolt with something that's bigger and heavier. If they want me to consider the 2026 Bolt, they need to start by restoring CarPlay and Android Auto.
i bought a used 2017 bolt for 16k,,, it had 23k miles on it, now a year later 36k... no more stops to the gas station for me... ill keep buying used bolts... so much cheaper,
We'll see what the next 'Bolt' is like. I feel GM rushed an announcement after the negative reaction they got from their decision to kill it. If GM is rushing a new Bolt through the pipeline they're either A) re-purposing a different vehicle and slapping the Bolt name on it, meaning it still won't be a true successor, or B) they rush an entirely new vehicle into production, and it ends up being even more of a compliance car than this was.
Thanks for your honest review. Although this car is really disappointing, you confirmed several suspicions I had about it. GM made an excellent car with the Bolt EV and there is just no replacement for it available at all with upgraded tech. I hope that manufacturers are going to notice this gap in the market and produce something small, with an affordable no nonsense car like the bolt EV was.
Very true, I think many of us took the Bolt for granted, especially in the review community. I had the chance to drive it a couple times on the show. While it wasn't perfect, it set a solid foundation for GM to build off of. Their announced Ultium Bolt replacement felt rushed and reactional to the pushback GM got after announcing the Bolt would be finished.
I'm a 2022 bolt owner who has test drive both the fwd and awd equinox ev. The bolt is more fun to drive. The equinox is a nicer ride. The awd has a lot more power and would be my choice. I would prefer the bolt as my daily driver. My wife would prefer the equinox. For road trips the equinox is betterv if the two. Of course the Hyundai Kia cars are much better road tripers. The base version of the 2025 equinox ev is a good deal. The upper trims have pretty steep competition and I didn't know if I would consider an upper trim equinox. But the price/range value is really good on the lower trims. Both the 2026 bolt and the 2025+ equinox ev are on my short list of our next car. The equinox isn't a sports car. But it isn't supposed to be. I disagree with the reviewer and think this could be a great first ev for people. It's worth a test drive if you are considering an ev.
That windscreen reflection is unforgivable - do they not test drive their cars anymore? If I took one of these for a test drive that alone would wipe it off my potential purchase list. We bought a used 22 Bolt EV three weeks ago, because it's near perfect for our needs for a city/commuting car that can road trip in a pinch. I didn't even want an EUV, dragging around an extra 6" of metal body for 3" of rear legroom we don't need. This is a over 2 feet longer than the Bolt EV. I get that the longer wheelbase gives a smoother ride over bumps, but it also makes it harder to maneuver in car parks, and most of the extra length appears to be in front of the driver, making it hard to see round those blind corners - not to mention the reflections on the windscreen.
I really couldn't believe it, I think the last car that I drove that had a poorly designed dashboard was my 1992 Acura Vigor, the dashboard was a shiny leatherette and would reflect the sun like this, but since the material was mostly flat it only created a single large visual impairment, unlike this with it's ridges which create a very uneven impairment, making it even worse to see out of.
See, that doesn't make me feel confident. How can they rush a vehicle into production that fast? Either they're taking an already existing vehicle in their product development and re-naming it Bolt, meaning it won't truly be a Bolt 2.0, or they really are going to rush an entire vehicle development into a 2 year cycle, which will likely fail entirely.
@@PRNTestDrive Keep in mind GM did the much more ambitious Brightdrop (now Chevy) Zevo program in only 18 months. My understanding is that most of the Bolt tooling will be reused while incorporating Ultium to reduce cost. As a long time Bolt owner, I can say Bolts are fine cars. No need to reinvent the wheel on a budget EV.
Seems like a better value than the gas version. Unlike years past you can't get a engine upgrade in the ICE version so it's 175hp max. Considering the price that's not good and for some situations not enough power.
I think for some this might be the right vehicle, but I feel the competition does it better. The other vehicles in the segment are generally lighter, have better features for the price, and have more power. It's good GM is taking feedback and applying it to their 2025 models, but I feel more needs to be done.
I imagine that's the case! The battery weight makes a big difference. I'd be curious to see how the added weight of a 85 kWh battery affects the energy efficiency versus say a 70 kWh battery. There's certainly a trade off where the extra weight of the batteries effectively negates any range benefit.
I had high hopes for this one, it would have been a contender for my vote this year for the Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year, but after spending a week with it the Equinox EV doesn't make my top 5.
Crazy eh! That's something I'd be curious to calculate, these heavier EVs get more range due to bigger batteries, but are they really offsetting that extra range due to their battery size. The Bolt EV/EUV was relatively energy efficient, this one wasn't spectacular.
Agreed! Considering a vehicle like the Blazer EV had a nearly $6000 CAD price drop from when I drove it 11 months ago to the one James drove this past week, I was expecting something more affordable here.
Its similar in many ways to the Blazer, but I don't feel it's cheap enough. The Blazer in the US at least is about $7k more, but offers a lot more in terms of space and features. I think the Equinox will need a price adjustment much like the Blazer did after it launched.
I hope so too, either they need to flatten the plastic design so the glare is somewhat uniform and less dangerous, or just eliminate the use of the reflective material all together.
No android auto, problem with fwc with cold temperature, glare when sun is in the wrong direction... Seriously not interrested at all... Happy I asked for a refund of my deposit.
Bolt EUV owner here. I just ordered a 2025 Equinox EV LT. Why? Because the price ($35K - $11K on rebates = $24K USD), range (+70 mi over the Bolt EUV), and size (a bit bigger is nice for 2 people + 2 dogs). Only thing above base is the radiant red paint, as my wife loves the color.
The base model seems to be the best way to go with one of these, and if government incentives are good. Here in Ontario we only save $5k with a federal incentive.
At 6:22 the reviewer states that Equinox EV only has single zone HVAC and that competitors in the segment have dual zone. The 2024 Equinox EV DOES have dual zone HVAC, rear heated seats, and front ventilated seats standard in 3RS and 3LT trim levels. For 2025 these features are available as an option package. At the end of the video the reviewer said it was a 3RS. It could not have been. The 3RS has standard dual zone, rear heat, front heated and ventilated and the camera mirror as standard and there was no mention of those in the video. FWIW, the EQEV is NOT a successor to Bolt EV or EUV and was never considered to be. Completely different classes of vehicle. This is underlined by the fact that Bolt EV is returning in 2026.
@@malthumb this is a 2024 model year. If GM has added those features for 2025 that’s good, we state at the end of the video not to waste time on the 2024 model year.
@@PRNTestDrive I test drove a 2024 3RS with dual zone climate, camera mirror, rear heated seats and front heated and ventilated. I chose to lease a 2024 2RS with single zone HVAC, heated front, and regular mirror. FWIW I live in Detroit, retired from GM Product Planning and now work as an auto industry consultant.
Then the US-spec models come better equipped than they do up here in Canada, which wouldn't be the first time that's happened. Chevrolet's US website seems to be experiencing some issues, at least on my end. I'm not able to build and price the Equinox EV, nor look at the trim specifications. I was able to pull a 2024 3RS FWD window sticker and it does show ventilated front seats and heated rear outboard, so those are nice to have. We mentioned at the end of the video that the US-Spec models do get those additional features we were expecting, as the Canadian-spec 2025 equipment hasn't been announced as of yet.
The GM canadian website is now working properly at least on MS Edge.
Last night I could build a price and the information provided about the different trims is very exhaustive.
I love my Bolt EUV... perfect size...good efficiency, going to keep it for years. Love the low maintenance of an electric too.
Glad to hear it! I think that's going to be the big takeaway from this, that Bolt owners love what they have, and it'll be hard for GM to recreate that even in an Ultium-based Bolt down the road.
Maintenance of an ICE car is not just a hassle, every time you take it for service that's an opportunity to get talked into things you don't need from upselling to outright fraud. We have a Tesla Model 3 that's 3 1/2 years old now and have only changed the cabin air filter and washer fluid. Both of those things I can do.
@@PRNTestDrive Yes agree.
@@frankcoffey So far only washer fluid for me after 1.5 years....great isn't t?
My plan is to keep my Bolt for at least a few years. If something surprising happens and I need to replace it, I'd probably look for a used 2022 or 2023 Bolt. I'm very annoyed that GM decided to replace the Bolt with something that's bigger and heavier. If they want me to consider the 2026 Bolt, they need to start by restoring CarPlay and Android Auto.
i bought a used 2017 bolt for 16k,,, it had 23k miles on it, now a year later 36k... no more stops to the gas station for me... ill keep buying used bolts... so much cheaper,
We'll see what the next 'Bolt' is like. I feel GM rushed an announcement after the negative reaction they got from their decision to kill it. If GM is rushing a new Bolt through the pipeline they're either A) re-purposing a different vehicle and slapping the Bolt name on it, meaning it still won't be a true successor, or B) they rush an entirely new vehicle into production, and it ends up being even more of a compliance car than this was.
Thanks for your honest review. Although this car is really disappointing, you confirmed several suspicions I had about it. GM made an excellent car with the Bolt EV and there is just no replacement for it available at all with upgraded tech. I hope that manufacturers are going to notice this gap in the market and produce something small, with an affordable no nonsense car like the bolt EV was.
id rather buy a used bolt, better for my pocket book
Very true, I think many of us took the Bolt for granted, especially in the review community. I had the chance to drive it a couple times on the show. While it wasn't perfect, it set a solid foundation for GM to build off of. Their announced Ultium Bolt replacement felt rushed and reactional to the pushback GM got after announcing the Bolt would be finished.
I'm a 2022 bolt owner who has test drive both the fwd and awd equinox ev.
The bolt is more fun to drive. The equinox is a nicer ride. The awd has a lot more power and would be my choice.
I would prefer the bolt as my daily driver. My wife would prefer the equinox.
For road trips the equinox is betterv if the two. Of course the Hyundai Kia cars are much better road tripers.
The base version of the 2025 equinox ev is a good deal. The upper trims have pretty steep competition and I didn't know if I would consider an upper trim equinox. But the price/range value is really good on the lower trims.
Both the 2026 bolt and the 2025+ equinox ev are on my short list of our next car.
The equinox isn't a sports car. But it isn't supposed to be. I disagree with the reviewer and think this could be a great first ev for people.
It's worth a test drive if you are considering an ev.
I think the entry-level model is definitely the way to go if you're in the market for this one.
That windscreen reflection is unforgivable - do they not test drive their cars anymore? If I took one of these for a test drive that alone would wipe it off my potential purchase list.
We bought a used 22 Bolt EV three weeks ago, because it's near perfect for our needs for a city/commuting car that can road trip in a pinch. I didn't even want an EUV, dragging around an extra 6" of metal body for 3" of rear legroom we don't need.
This is a over 2 feet longer than the Bolt EV. I get that the longer wheelbase gives a smoother ride over bumps, but it also makes it harder to maneuver in car parks, and most of the extra length appears to be in front of the driver, making it hard to see round those blind corners - not to mention the reflections on the windscreen.
I really couldn't believe it, I think the last car that I drove that had a poorly designed dashboard was my 1992 Acura Vigor, the dashboard was a shiny leatherette and would reflect the sun like this, but since the material was mostly flat it only created a single large visual impairment, unlike this with it's ridges which create a very uneven impairment, making it even worse to see out of.
Too large of a car for nothing. I would not switch my Bolt EV for that. I would much prefer another small electric car.
That's the answer I was expecting to hear from current Bolt owners.
The next generation Bolt is coming back next year. GM is retooling the Fairfax, Kansas plant.
See, that doesn't make me feel confident. How can they rush a vehicle into production that fast? Either they're taking an already existing vehicle in their product development and re-naming it Bolt, meaning it won't truly be a Bolt 2.0, or they really are going to rush an entire vehicle development into a 2 year cycle, which will likely fail entirely.
@@PRNTestDrive Keep in mind GM did the much more ambitious Brightdrop (now Chevy) Zevo program in only 18 months. My understanding is that most of the Bolt tooling will be reused while incorporating Ultium to reduce cost. As a long time Bolt owner, I can say Bolts are fine cars. No need to reinvent the wheel on a budget EV.
Seems like a better value than the gas version. Unlike years past you can't get a engine upgrade in the ICE version so it's 175hp max. Considering the price that's not good and for some situations not enough power.
I think for some this might be the right vehicle, but I feel the competition does it better. The other vehicles in the segment are generally lighter, have better features for the price, and have more power. It's good GM is taking feedback and applying it to their 2025 models, but I feel more needs to be done.
It's interesting - my base fwd bz4x has less power but feels pretty zippy on the road. I guess the 800 pound weight difference is the killer though.
I imagine that's the case! The battery weight makes a big difference. I'd be curious to see how the added weight of a 85 kWh battery affects the energy efficiency versus say a 70 kWh battery. There's certainly a trade off where the extra weight of the batteries effectively negates any range benefit.
55 K for a Equinox ? good luck . Add the concerns you mentioned inside this thing it's a no sale . Nice review as usual.
I got my 2025 for 29k out the door The 55k is fully loaded which I agree is too much
I had high hopes for this one, it would have been a contender for my vote this year for the Canadian Electric Utility Vehicle of the Year, but after spending a week with it the Equinox EV doesn't make my top 5.
my brother bought a 2024 blazer...... 6500 lbs... is considered a truck,,, a bolt is 3563.... what a difference
Crazy eh! That's something I'd be curious to calculate, these heavier EVs get more range due to bigger batteries, but are they really offsetting that extra range due to their battery size. The Bolt EV/EUV was relatively energy efficient, this one wasn't spectacular.
It seems decent but it should be at least 10k cheaper to sell.
Agreed! Considering a vehicle like the Blazer EV had a nearly $6000 CAD price drop from when I drove it 11 months ago to the one James drove this past week, I was expecting something more affordable here.
its just like the blazer but i hope its cheaper
Its similar in many ways to the Blazer, but I don't feel it's cheap enough. The Blazer in the US at least is about $7k more, but offers a lot more in terms of space and features. I think the Equinox will need a price adjustment much like the Blazer did after it launched.
I hope Chevy engineers get to watch this video and correct the sensor and glare issues in subsequent facelifts!
I hope so too, either they need to flatten the plastic design so the glare is somewhat uniform and less dangerous, or just eliminate the use of the reflective material all together.
No android auto, problem with fwc with cold temperature, glare when sun is in the wrong direction... Seriously not interrested at all... Happy I asked for a refund of my deposit.
Glad you were able to get your deposit refunded!
Far too expensive for a cheaply built, oversized, overweight, and poorly designed vehicle.
Pretty much! The competition is doing it right in this segment.
Yowzers
Definitely, but you may need to be a bit more specific.