Electric vehicles have some significant advantages over combustion-powered cars and trucks: far greater efficiency, the ability to “refuel” right at home, and vastly reduced maintenance, to name a few important upsides. But EVs are still not a perfect transportation solution for all drivers in every single situation. For instance, range is always a big concern, especially in cold weather, our public charging infrastructure could certainly be improved, and electrics are often quite expensive.
But the good news is that you don’t have to take out a home equity loan or drain your kids’ college funds just to drive a new EV. There are numerous affordable options available on the market right now, many of which are also quite nice, with plenty of features, excellent range, and high-quality interiors. One model, though, rises above the rest, offering a lower cost-per-mile than its major rivals. And, which vehicle is this?
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power, iSeeCars, and the U.S. EPA.
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Driven
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV Review
An affordable price point, competitive range and a familiar name should allow the Equinox EV to be a hit with the North-American middle class.
The Electric SUV Offering The Lowest Cost Per Mile: 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV
Giving you the most for your money is the lovely new 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV. This all-electric crossover delivers up to 319 miles of EPA-estimated range on a full charge, which is seriously impressive for a vehicle at this price point. And just how affordable is this Chevy? Well, the entry-level LT model with front-wheel drive stickers for an exceptionally affordable $34,995 with $1,395 in destination fees. That price is incredible, and it doesn’t even include any potential discounts or tax credits, so it’s possible to save even more on this vehicle.
Of course, if you want more than the base LT model, Chevy is happy to oblige. Aside from the higher-end RS front-wheel-drive trim, you can also get this electric crossover with four-corner traction for enhanced performance in every weather condition. All-wheel drive is available on both the LT and RS models. Grabbing this amenity only reduces the vehicle’s range by 12 miles, dropping it to an EPA-estimated 307 miles on a full charge.
That range reduction is impressively small, borderline negligible in the grand scheme of things. When it comes to pricing, according to the Chevrolet.com consumer website, opting for all-wheel drive on the LT model will cost you $5,300, though the upcharge is only $3,300 if you grab the RS trim instead, a curious difference.
It Costs Just 4.7 Cents/MileTo Drive This SUV
Next up, here’s how much it costs per mile to drive the Equinox EV. And it should be no surprise, this vehicle is a bargain. According to the U.S. EPA, it costs just $1.17 to run this all-electric SUV for 25 miles. Dividing the price by 25 miles of distance results in 0.0468. Multiply that by 100, since there are 100 pennies per dollar, and that gets us the magic number of 4.7 cents per mile. Additionally, the Equinox EV has an estimated annual “fuel” cost of $700, which means this SUV can save drivers around $5,000 in gasoline costs over five years compared to the average new vehicle.
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Impressive Performance And Charging
The Equinox EV offers tremendous range for an absolutely fantastic price, but there’s more to this all-electric SUV than just value. For instance, the Equinox EV delivers more-than-respectable performance. Single-motor, front-drive models have 220 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. This provides more than enough performance for everyday driving.
Motorists who want extra traction or a bigger kick in the pants when they stand on the accelerator may, as you can probably guess, opt for a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive Equinox EV. Models so-equipped have an impressive 300 horses and 355 pound-feet of twist for much quicker acceleration.
2025 Chevy Equinox EV Specs
|
LT FWD Specification |
LT AWD Specification |
|
|
Powertrain |
Single electric motor |
Dual electric motors |
|
Horsepower |
220 |
300 |
|
Torque |
242 lb-ft |
355 lb-ft |
|
Transmission |
Single-speed automatic |
Single-speed automatic |
|
Driveline |
Front-wheel drive |
All-wheel drive |
|
Range |
319 miles |
307 miles |
|
Fuel Economy (City) |
117 MPGe |
112 MPGe |
|
Fuel Economy (Highway) |
100 MPGe |
95 MPGe |
|
Fuel Economy (Combined) |
109 MPGe |
103 MPGe |
|
Starting Price With Destination Fees |
$34,995 (with $1,395) |
$40,295 (with $1,395) |
*Note: Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates and may vary depending on driving conditions.
Respectable, If Not Quite Astonishing Charging Performance
Having plenty of range in an electric vehicle is a wonderful asset, but this is not the be-all and end-all of EV ownership. Yes, the extra range helps you drive farther and insulates you from worrying about running out of juice if a charging station is offline or the weather is freezing cold, but DC fast charging performance is nearly as important. Your electric vehicle could offer 1,000 miles of range with a full battery, but if it only DC fast charges at 25 kilowatts, that’s not going to do much for you on a long-distance road trip.
As for the Equinox EV, GM says it should DC fast charge at a maximum rate of 150 kW. In 2025, this is a decent performance, but it’s still far from the best in the business. Other GM vehicles, for instance, far outpace this Chevy. However, even at 150 kW, the Equinox EV can absorb around 77 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
As for Level 2 AC charging, the kind you’d do every day at home, not on long trips, Chevy says the Equinox EV can add up to 36 miles of range per hour of charging at a maximum rate of 11.5 kW.
Excellent Efficiency, Too
Miles per gallon equivalent, or MPGe, is one way of measuring electric vehicle efficiency, and it’s probably the easiest for most drivers to understand since nearly everyone knows about miles per gallon. When it comes to getting the most out of every kilowatt-hour of juice stored in the battery pack, Chevy’s Equinox EV excels.
Front-drive models are rated at an impressive 117 MPGe in the city, 100 on the highway, and 109 MPGe combined. Not surprisingly, all-wheel-drive variants are slightly less efficient, but only slightly. They sticker at 112/95/103 MPGe, respectively, figures that are still incredible, especially compared to combustion-powered vehicles. Have you ever seen a gas-powered car return 103 miles per gallon in mixed driving? Probably not.
Electric vehicles are far, far more efficient than their combustion-powered counterparts. There are several important reasons for this, but one of the biggest is that setting fossil fuels on fire is inherently wasteful. Around a decade ago, Toyota redesigned its groundbreaking Prius, and at the time the automaker trumpeted this fuel-sipping hybrid hatchback’s engine, which achieved 40 percent thermal efficiency. This was – and remains – a remarkable achievement, especially when you consider that many engines are lucky to achieve 20 or 30 percent thermal efficiency. But still, as economical as that Prius’ engine was, it was still wasting most of the energy contained in every gallon of gasoline, 60 percent being squandered as heat and friction.
In comparison, the electric motors that power EVs are typically 90 percent efficient or more, meaning they make much better use of stored energy. Additionally, EVs are also quite often more aerodynamic than ICE vehicles, and they have regenerative braking to recuperate energy that would normally be wasted while slowing down.
Adding it all up, according to the U.S. EPA, compared to the average new vehicle, a front-wheel-drive Equinox EV can save you about $5,000 in fuel costs over five years. The all-wheel-drive variant is estimated to save drivers around $4,750 in fuel costs over the same period.
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Generous Standard Equipment
From range and affordability to performance and charging capability, the Equinox EV nails critical electric vehicle fundamentals, but this SUV goes far beyond meeting the basic requirements. This vehicle is fitted with a range of standard features. Drivers get stylish 19-inch wheels, LED headlamps, body-color exterior mirror caps, keyless entry, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, a six-way manual driver’s seat, and a cabin air filter to cut down on dust inside the vehicle.
There’s plenty of great tech in this Chevy, too. A 17.7-inch center touchscreen, an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, a six-speaker sound system, and even an HD reversing camera are all included as standard equipment to name a handful of no-extra-charge amenities.
You Get Lots Of Standard Driver Aids
Protecting the driver and passengers alike, the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV also comes with loads of standard safety equipment. Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driving aid that operates on limited-access divided highways, is also available for drivers who want this industry-leading technology. The standard Chevy Safety Assist group includes:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision alert
- Front pedestrian braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keeping assist
- Automatic high beams
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Delivering Premium Features At An Accessible Price Point
The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV is an exceptional value proposition thanks to its competitive pricing and low operating costs. This SUV’s impressively efficient design translates into fewer charging stops, and reduced energy expenses, making the Equinox EV an excellent choice for budget-conscious drivers that are shopping for a feature-rich electric SUV.
