Chevrolet claims its all-new 2025 Equinox stands apart thanks to its fresher design, additional technology features, and enhanced capability. But can it compete in the highly-fought compact crossover SUV, first against its siblings and only afterward against everyone else?
Last year, the US automotive market crowned the Ford F-Series as the best-selling nameplate yet again, with almost 751k units. The full-size pickup truck series was followed by its nemesis, the Chevrolet Silverado, with over 543k sales, and the Ram trucks, with nearly 445k units. The top five also comprised a compact crossover - the Toyota RAV4, with 435k units, and a zero-emissions mid-size CUV – the Tesla Model Y, estimated at around 386k.
Speaking of the RAV4's performance, this is a tall order for any other compact CUV rival. However, no one dares to leave the space open just because Toyota knows how to make them sell like hotcakes. Naturally, General Motors also wanted a piece of the pie, and after Chevy refreshed or brought all-new generations of the Trax, Trailblazer, Blazer, and Traverse, it obviously had to complete the crossover circle with the fourth-generation Equinox.
While we are still waiting on the all-electric Equinox EV and Blazer EV, the regular Equinox is slated to arrive for the 2025 model year with new looks, new tech, and additional features. However, before it attacks the block and tries to snatch the RAV4's crown, it must prevail internally. That is not going to be easy, though. For starters, the 2024 Buick Envision received a thorough facelift to align with the brand's fresh Pure Design philosophy, new digital displays, and access to GM's Super Cruise advanced driver-assistance system, the first model from the brand to gain it.
Fortunately for the Chevy Equinox, prices are not in just yet, and the 2023 Envision ($33,400) is already more expensive than the outgoing $26,600 Equinox. However, remember that you can get the Envision with the great-looking Avenir Line if comfort and elegance are more important than a low MSRP. Secondly, the GMC Terrain currently starts from $28,700 and is slated to receive a new generation a lot later than Chevy and Buick's counterparts because it was just refreshed for the 2022 model year.
As such, we are not expecting an all-new GMC Terrain for the 2025 model year – it's more likely to see it out and about for 2026MY. So, the all-new Equinox has to brawl internally with the refreshed 2024 Envision and a slightly older Terrain. It's great that Chevy also introduced the Activ version alongside the rest of the enhancements, which is a bit more rugged and will probably chip away at the GMC Terrain customer base. So, which of the three would you choose and why?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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