[Auto/Moto] The 2024 Chevy Equinox Is GM's Best EV Since the Bolt

[-_-Moltres-_-]

 

Affordable range is the name of the game when it comes to convincing the general public to buy an electric vehicle. The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV takes a confident step in that direction. A base Equinox EV will start at $34,995 before tax credits, with a standard estimated range of 319 miles for front-wheel-drive models. Those numbers will be hard to beat. All GM has to do now is get the launch right. Although the Equinox EV is an affordable car, the cheapest trim isn’t available yet. The trim I drove was a high-spec RS model, which offers the same range and capability as the base car, but with a higher-brow interior, a sporty exterior, and more ride comfort. Chevy says all trims will be available within the first year of production, but needless to say, the roughly $50,000 Equinox RS I drove won’t stir the hearts of the masses, just on account of its price.Fortunately, the initial availability of only higher-priced models is the only serious blemish on the Equinox as a whole. Unlike the Silverado EV RST, which shares battery modules with the Equinox, the smaller Chevy does not feel excessively heavy or awkward from behind the wheel. It feels like a crossover with plenty of space and range, and a level of refinement that’s atypical of cars in this segment. There’s nothing dramatic about the Equinox EV. It just works.The front-wheel-drive Equinox has a single electric motor that sends 213 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque to the ground. That’s plenty around town, but the power falls off at highway speeds. The car’s relatively low operating voltage, combined with a high front-drive ratio—nearly 12:1—likely has something to do with that. All-wheel-drive models get 288 hp and 333 lb-ft, but equipped with the same battery, the car’s range drops to 285 miles.

https://www.motor1.com/reviews/721438/2024-chevy-equinox-ev-first-drive-review/