2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV Review: Aimless Aplomb

It’s starting to feel like EVs are a dime a dozen, and the transition from internal combustion engines to electric propulsion is leaving a lot of cars either in limbo or sharing names across both powertrains despite not actually having any chassis in common.

Such is the case with the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox, which is a “compact” (it’s 190” long) crossover SUV by name but much more of a wagon or CUV in nature. It has plenty of range for everyday driving, a spacious cabin, a comfortable ride, and enough power to make merging into traffic a painless affair, yet it over-promises and under-delivers as far as the driving experience goes and it also lacks some tech that’s ubiquitous across other brands that a modern vehicle is expected to have.

Exterior Style:

There’s no mistaking the Equinox EV for its gas-powered sibling. Like the Blazer EV, the Equinox EV is a CUV (or tall wagon) masquerading as an SUV. The styling works well, though the short roofline does compromise space in the trunk. And while we don’t love what Chevrolet is doing with the front-end treatment on some of its vehicles (who thought piano black plastic was a good choice) the painted fascia of the Equinox EV LT 2 doesn’t look half bad to our eyes. If anything, it’s distinctive enough to not just blend in with the crowd without being offensively in-your-face aggressive.

Chevy is also working to delineate its Equinox EV from the gas-powered Equinox by offering “off-road” (i.e., soft-roader) trims on the latter while pushing the former more into the realm of being an on-road-only proposition. We appreciate that; not everything has to be a go-anywhere vehicle.

Our biggest qualm about the exterior is — and we’ve been beating this drum a lot lately, as needless complexity only worsens a vehicle — the exterior door handles. They’re the tilt-out type, so as you approach the car with the key in your pocket or hand or bag, the handles pop out so you can put your hand behind one side and leverage it about one inch to pop the door open. They work most of the time, but other times they don’t pop out as you approach the car.

The proximity sensor obviously was getting confused, but the crux of the issue is that if it's snowing or icy, the handles might not do their job in opening for you. We know that door handles like these are done for streamlined aerodynamics that, in turn, marginally helps fuel economy or range, but the frustration they cause isn’t zero.

Powertrain and Range:

Look, there isn’t much to say about the way electric vehicles deliver power that hasn’t already been said. Most EVs deliver power the same way-- linearly and inoffensively — so that they maximize smoothness and range. Sure, there are outliers that are focused on 0-60 MPH times, but the Equinox EV isn’t one of them. 220 horsepower used to be sufficient, but in 2026 — and in a car weighing around 2.5 tons — the power here is lacking.

The front-wheel-drive Equinox EV we tested has an 85 kWh battery capable of 150 kW DC fast charging or 11.5 kW via AC charger. One-pedal driving makes for a relaxed driving experience, which is basically all the Equinox EV is about. Want speed? Check out the Blazer EV.

Range is rated at a respectable 319 miles, and we have no doubt that is doable in good weather.

Handling and Drivability:

The Equinox EV is designed for normal people doing regular things. That's not a criticism; it feels composed in traffic, responds predictably to steering inputs (albeit through a very vague front end), and has enough electric punch to make everyday driving feel effortless.

That said, the Equinox EV isn't pretending to be a sports SUV. Its priorities are comfort, predictability, and efficiency rather than sharp steering or playful cornering. Drivers looking for a genuinely engaging back-road companion will find more entertaining alternatives.

For the intended audience, however, the relaxed driving experience makes sense. The Equinox EV feels approachable, easy to maneuver, and appropriately sized for everyday errands and family transportation. If anything, the way it drives is mismatched with the way it looks; the styling is sharper than many of the vehicles in its class, and the driving dynamics are just plain bland.

Its greatest driving advantage is that it doesn't demand much attention. You get in, shift into gear, and go. No on/off button, no fuss.

Ride Quality and Comfort:

A family crossover should be comfortable enough to handle school runs, commuting, shopping trips, and the occasional longer journey without leaving everyone exhausted. The Equinox EV largely understands the assignment.

The suspension favors comfort over sportiness and while the battery adds substantial weight (our test car was knocking on the door of 5,000 pounds and that’s the FWD version), the low center of gravity helps the vehicle feel planted on the road. There’s room for improvement on the compliance front when it comes to ride quality, but this is an EV with a base price of $41,795. That’s not cheap, yet by EV standards it’s a cheap car, and the ride quality can be exposed as such at times.

Nevertheless, its quietness, space, and easygoing character make it a pleasant place to spend time. For a vehicle likely to spend much of its life commuting and carrying passengers, those qualities matter more than anything else to most prospective buyers.

Interior Style and Quality

The Equinox EV’s interior is dominated by the center screen and wannabe-Camaro circular vents. Material quality is average, with some nice-touch tidbits on places like the steering wheel and portions of the door cards. However, much of the interior is adorned by black plastic of varying qualities and textures, which really brings home the notion that this is an EV meant for practical use rather than showing off. We do appreciate the availability of a panoramic sunroof (albeit a $1,500 option), even if it’s one becoming increasingly prevalent in modern vehicles.

Passenger space is good (as it should be). The front seats aren’t great, but they’re better than those we despised in the Blazer EV SS. The second row has a healthy 38” of rear legroom, which feels like more thanks to the flat floor. Yes, the Equinox EV is extremely easy to use when it comes to kid-carrying duties. Even installing car seats in this car is a breeze, and the doors open nice and wide for getting those kiddos in and out.

If anything, it’s the low roofline that causes frustration here — yours truly smacked his head into the opening three times over the course of my week-long loan — which again betrays Chevrolet calling the Equinox EV an SUV. Let’s call a spade a spade: This is a wagon or a CUV, not an SUV.

Technology

The center infotainment screen is a 17.7-inch unit that dominates the experience. It’s crisp, quick, and very intuitive. Being a Google system, it also has Google Maps and Google Assistant built-in, which are nice to have.

What would have been nicer to have are Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The omission of this technology is almost unforgivable in a 2026 model year vehicle, and Chevrolet obviously got the memo that leaving AA/CarPlay out of its cars is a nearly unforgivable sin when it comes to modern vehicles-- especially already tech-heavy EVs.

Needless to say, it’s frustrating to not have proper phone mirroring in the 2026 Equinox EV. If you want to stream audio, it’s only doable via Bluetooth. Need navigation? It’s either the native Google Maps or you have to mount your smartphone somewhere in your line of sight so as to see it. While we don’t love that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay have become the industry standard for screen tech, the options they allow for you to choose from is a massive benefit (for navigation alone, you can choose any of your AA/CarPlay-supported apps rather than relying solely on the car’s built-in Google-only hardware).

We’ve beaten the horse well beyond death when it comes to lamenting this omission from a slew of General Motors’ current vehicle offerings. Sadly, it just brings down the technology experience, making the screen-based aspects you interact with feel ten or even more years old. The 11-inch digital Driver Information Center (“DIC”… yes, really) gauge cluster works nicely, at least, and the Heads Up Display is always a welcome addition.

Far and beyond the best technology on board the Equinox EV is GM’s excellent Super Cruise hands-free driver-assistance kit. On any road GM has mapped, it takes over effectively every aspect of driving for you; it’s not truly “hands-free” as you still have to be ready to resume control at any moment, but its ability to deliver on navigating the roads and other drivers — including changing lanes and the likes — is still very impressive, especially compared to some of the competition’s questionable practical (and ethical) tactics.

Value Dollars and Sense

Base Price: $41,795

As-Tested Price: $52,820

The Equinox EV LT 2 occupies an interesting position in the electric-car market. At its starting price, it offers a useful driving range, generous interior space, and a comfortable everyday driving experience without requiring a luxury-car budget. This alone makes it worth considering for buyers or families who want to make the switch to electric without paying for a premium badge or dealing with the compromises of a performance-focused model.

The as-tested price of $52,820 changes the equation somewhat. At that level, buyers have access to a much broader selection of electric crossovers, including alternatives that may offer faster charging, a more engaging driving experience, a more polished technology interface, or that “X” factor the Equinox EV is lacking.

The LT 2 trim’s equipment helps justify some of the additional expense. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless charging, and advanced camera systems are all features that can make everyday ownership more pleasant. Yet many other cars carry these as standard, so it only complicates the value proposition further.

Still, the omission of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is difficult to overlook at this price. The proximity-key annoyance is a smaller issue, but it reinforces the feeling that Chevrolet could have made the experience more user-friendly with relatively straightforward decisions. We presume Chevrolet was trying to pinch pennies by not including AA/CarPlay, but the key-and-door-handle-related annoyances just have us scratching our heads.

Final Thoughts:

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT 2 is a comfortable, spacious, and practical electric SUV that delivers solid range without luxury-car pricing. Unfortunately, an irritating proximity-key system and the lack of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto undermine an otherwise appealing package. At its $41,795 starting price, it's an attractive option, but the $52,820 as-tested cost makes its shortcomings harder to overlook in an increasingly competitive EV market, and our money would have us looking elsewhere.

(The manufacturer provided insurance and a tank of fuel for this loan, and big thanks as always to the team at FMI for arranging and coordinating logistics. - RB)