Test drive | Chevrolet Equinox EV: the right vehicle, at the right time

Many lamented the departure of the Chevrolet Bolt a year ago. The subcompact was, after all, an essential agent of democratization for the electric car, thanks to its price under $40,000 and its capacity to travel more than 400 km. Pending a second generation of the model, the brand's electric entry point is now the Equinox EV. A bigger, more modern product… and more expensive.

Its design

Measuring 4.8 meters in length, this newcomer is barely a few millimeters shorter than the Blazer EV, its proven big brother. This size positions it halfway between a compact and intermediate SUV. The designers have nevertheless managed to give it a clear visual identity with this horizontal line at the bow which houses both the indicators and the daytime running lights. The headlights are hidden above the textured and almost airtight grille, helping to preserve homogeneity. The rear lights also borrow this horizontal theme with a succession of lines of different lengths, for originality. Note that the RS variant, visually more racy with its 21-inch rims, greatly inflates the price of its tires compared to the standard 19-inch boots, and this, without modifications to the chassis.

On board

The cabin of this Equinox EV welcomes us with a large black frame grafting the 17.7-inch multimedia touch screen to the digital instrumentation in a superimposed manner. It's fairly well laid out, but a major ergonomic flaw quickly becomes apparent: the essential tabs, including that of the headlight switch – curiously digital – are hidden by the steering wheel. Other important controls, these physical ones, are placed far too low to access them safely while driving. In addition to these observations, the design, less flashy than that of the Blazer EV, pleases. The circular nozzles break up a certain monotony and the red gradients of the RS version tested add interesting visual nuances. The assembly is not perfect, nor the materials, but we welcome the absence of creaks when driving. The space itself is also voluminous and made good use of by stacked storage. The seats are also very hospitable in the front and in the back.

Under the hood

The Equinox EV is offered with either single or dual motor architecture. The two-wheel drive livery tested only powers the front wheels with a power of 213 horsepower, compared to 288 horsepower for the all-wheel drive variant. If we obviously like the smoothness and immediacy of its torque (236 lb-ft), the cavalry seems momentarily overworked by the heavy load to tow, especially on recoveries. The performance, accompanied by a slight torque effect, remains acceptable when compared to entry-level thermal competition. What we especially appreciate about this Equinox EV is its autonomy, which easily reaches 500 km in autumnal conditions. Home charging capping at 11.5 kW and quickly climbing to 150 kW also allows energy to be stored in the 85 kWh battery in not too much time.

Behind the wheel

The general positioning of the crossover is revealed from the first turns of the wheel. The vehicle places little importance on its dynamic performance with a not entirely successful combination between the front and rear axles, which are respectively a little too firm and relaxed. Body movements are marked, but well contained, and braking in an emergency situation exposes the significant weight of this Equinox EV (2.2 tonnes) with a nose dive and sharp intervention of the anti-lock system. The steering is precise, while remaining devoid of communicative aspect, and the direction holding is exemplary. Overall comfort also deserves a good rating, as does the sound insulation of the running gear. In short, you can travel many kilometers on board without fatigue, but the fun aspect remains watered down.

Embedded technologies

The Equinox EV receives the latest version of GM's multimedia system called Ultifi, which integrates Android applications. The biggest irritant of this technical shift is the absence of docking with Apple CarPlay And Android Autoa heresy in an industry that has widely adopted these efficient and intuitive systems that limit smartphone-related distractions. The system itself is nevertheless very well thought out, while requiring some time to get used to it. The essential driving parameters could be more quickly accessible, which are too well hidden behind submenus. The Super Cruise autonomous driving system excels in its interventions, but the blind spot and reversing sensors are far too sensitive, so they often alert for no good reason. A problem undoubtedly attributable to the youth of the product.

Verdict

Despite its intrinsic qualities which make it a good introductory vehicle to the electric world through its general approach, the raison d'être of this Equinox EV lies essentially in its price range. Starting at $48,199 for front-wheel drive variants, this pricing strategy makes it an extremely competitive model due to its range, spacious interior and standard features. Certainly, it is not a perfect product when we look at its assembly or certain curious technological directions, but Chevrolet has built a good vehicle to promote the adoption of electric by a public not fully convinced of its virtues . The right vehicle at the right time, therefore, without being a replacement for the Bolt, the second generation of which will see the light of day next year.