Chevrolet makes its bid to take electric vehicles mainstream with the 2024 Equinox EV, a compact SUV that’ll be priced around $30,000 and compete in one of America’s best-selling vehicle segments when sales begin next fall.

Sleek and unmistakably new, offering features like flush door handles, full-width front and rear LED light bars and two-tone paint, the Equinox EV bears an intentional resemblance to the current gasoline-powered Equinox, which is Chevy’s second-best selling vehicle behind the Silverado full-size pickup.

It’s all new, though, 7.5 inches longer, 3 inches wider, and lower than the current model. GM’s Ultium batteries lie under its floor, along with Ultium electric motors attached to the front or front and rear axles to provide front- or all-wheel drive, respectively.

With electric versions of the Silverado and the Blazer midsize SUV also going on sale in 2023, Chevrolet will offer electric vehicles in Americas three biggest segments, Chevrolet vice president Scott Bell said in a briefing. The current models of all three will remain in production after the EVs debut.

The Equinox will offer up to 300 miles range on a charge in front-wheel-drive trim. AWD models will be able to go 280 miles, according to GM estimates based on the EPA test cycle. The base model, available only with FWD, will have a 250-mile range. For fast charging on the road, the Equinox will be able to accept up to 150 kW DC power, in addition to the 240-volt power most EV owners use to charge at home.

The standard 11.2  kW 240v charger will add 34 miles an hour, while a 19.2 kW unit on the AWD RS model can charge at 51 miles an hour at home, quicker than most competitors.

GM estimates a 150k W DC fast charger will give the Equinox 70 miles range in 10 minutes.

Official charging times will be available closer to sale.

GM will debut a new charging service with its three EVs next year.

Called Ultium Charge 360, it will include one-step payment at 11 different charging networks – no need to download a separate smartphone app for each network.  

The network will consist of more than 100,000 charging points in the U.S. and Canada. GM’s Ultium app and the Equinox’s resident navigation system will also allow drivers to reserve a charger from the road and order food to be delivered while their vehicle charges.

Features available on the Equinox EV will include the Super Cruise hands-free driving assistant.

The interior will offer a standard 11-inch or expansive 17.7-inch touch screen

The controls appear intuitive, with dials available for volume and cabin temperature and switches for fan speed and defrost.

Passenger and cargo space will be similar to the current model, despite the EV’s 7.5-inch-longer wheelbase. There’s the usual SUV cargo bay behind the rear seat, no front trunk.

The Equinox will be able to receive over-the-air updates and new features.

Two-tone paint will be available, with either a black or white roof, depending on the model.

The full Equinox EV model range will undoubtedly include models priced well into the $40s, but Chevy promised the circa-$30,000 base model will be in production in the 2024 model year, so by the end of calendar 2024 at the latest.

GM doesn’t yet know how much federal tax credit the Equinox EV will receive under the Inflation Reduction Act. Built in North America, it’s virtually certain to get the $3,750 assembly credit. It’s unclear how much of the available $3,750 battery credit it will receive. The Equinox’s batteries will almost certainly be produced in one of GM’s North American joint ventures soon, if not from the start of production. It’s less clear if the materials in those batteries will initially qualify as having been extracted or processed in a qualifying country.

The 2024 Equinox, Blazer and Silverado EVs will be on display at the Detroit auto show Sept. 17-25.

Base price: Around $30,000 (including destination charge)

Front- or all-wheel drive 5-passenger compact electric SUV

Power for FWD: Motor on front axle;

Power for AWD: Motors on both axles

Output: FWD: 210 hp, 242 pound-feet of torque; AWD: 290 hp, 346 pound-feet of torque

EPA fuel economy estimate: TBD

EPA estimated annual fuel cost: TBD

Assembled in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico

Contact Mark Phelan at 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @mark_phelan.

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