This Gamechanging EV Is Redefining Affordability In 2025

Contrary to what some people and certain media outlets say, electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to rise–just not as fast as in previous years. Kelley Blue Book’s 2024 sales tally reports that 1.3 million EVs were sold in 2024–an increase of 7.3 percent compared to 2023. Indeed, that growth is slower than the previous 49 percent increase from 2022 to 2023. However, what matters more is that pure internal combustion engine (ICE) car sales continue to slip.

EV sales continue to grow because more affordable options are being introduced–either through price cuts as we’ve seen with Tesla, or through new, cheaper EVs in general. This EV that we’ll be talking about isn’t actually new, but its long-promised affordable variant is finally hitting showrooms in 2025. Furthermore, this model finally removes any excuse that an EV is more expensive than its ICE counterpart–at least when taking into account the Federal Tax Credit that’s at risk of being removed by the upcoming Trump administration.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Chevrolet and other authoritative sources, including Kelley Blue Book.

The Chevy Equinox EV Starts At A Shade Under $35,000

The promise of a sub-$35,000 EV has been long promised by General Motors, and finally, in 2025, that’s going to come to fruition. Say hello to the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT, America’s most affordable EV that offers more than 300 miles of range.

Up To 319 Miles Of Range

Specifically, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT is rated by the EPA to achieve 319 miles of range, which is even better than the most affordable versions of the Ioniq 5, EV6, and Mustang Mach-E. In fact, for you to match the range of the Equinox EV with these EVs, you’d have to spend a lot more than $35,000.

How it achieves this range is through a combination of having a large battery and great efficiency. The Equinox EV has an 85 kWh battery, which is smaller than the 91 kWh of the Mach-E Extended Range, but incrementally bigger than the updated Ioniq 5 and EV6’s 84 kWh unit in their longer range variants. The Mustang Mach-E Extended Range RWD is able to do 320 miles, while the Ioniq 5 is rated to do 318 miles. The EV6, on the other hand, has not yet been rated by the EPA, but Kia’s estimations is at 319 miles.

Tesla’s outgoing 337-mile Model Y (the facelifted “Juniper” update was already revealed in Asia) has an 81 kWh battery, and it remains the efficiency champ in the segment when going for the Long Range RWD variant. Here’s how the Equinox EV LT compares to the most efficient versions of its rivals.

Decently Fast To Charge, Too

An affordable EV, however, may mean slow charging speeds, but actually, that’s not entirely the case. Okay, so you won’t be seeing the 350 kW DC fast charging capabilities of the Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 afforded by their 800-volt architectures, but a 150 kW DC fast charging rating for the Equinox EV still isn’t bad. GM didn’t state its charging time from 10 to 80 percent, the usual metric for how automakers measure their fast-charging speeds, but they did say that it can add 70 miles of range in just 10 minutes at its peak 150 kW DC output.

What the Equinox EV does have is bidirectional charging capabilities, otherwise known as vehicle-to-load (V2L). V2L enables the Equinox EV to not just receive a charge, but also become an external power source. This lets you use the Equinox EV as a giant power bank when you’re out camping, or when your house encounters a power outage. So yes, it may be the most affordable 300-mile EV, but it isn’t short on brains, either.

Not Even A Penalty Box

But, wait, if the Equinox EV costs under $35,000, surely, it must have a horrible interior that’s filled with cheap materials and basic tech, right? Well, not quite. While it’s far from a luxurious interior, it’s far from being poorly equipped, either. It’s simply modern enough for what you can expect for its price tag.

Sleek Looks

Crossovers are so common these days, but the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT tries to stand out with its design that balances form and function. Chevrolet has resisted going for the cab-forward, jellybean-look that defines most EVs today. Instead, the Equinox EV has a decently long hood that’s filled with LED exterior lighting, along with an enclosed grille that’s surrounded by a black trim piece. This is also where the main LED headlights are cleverly disguised.

Since this is the base LT, it gets 19-inch wheels and, though they don’t fill the wheel wells as nicely as the larger 21-inch wheels, they still look decently nice. The rear end also looks spiffy, featuring a full-width LED taillight design and a tapering tailgate that helps give this electric crossover a sleek shape. However, at its price tag, don’t expect a powered tailgate if that’s what you’re after.

Modern But Not Premium Interior

As mentioned, at this price point, the interior of the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV isn’t premium. In fact, with plenty of hard plastics as well as a copious amount of cloth and vinyl materials. This interior is GM at its core, but at least the foundations are good. It’s reasonably well-built with consistent build quality compared even to its ICE cars, but while you don’t get stuff like a wireless charger, a leather steering, power-adjustable front seats, or even heating for the seats and steering, the fundamental modern features are still offered as standard.

Besides, what your eyes will probably first inspect is if it has a semblance to your smartphone, and with that, the Equinox EV LT delivers. An 11-inch digital gauge cluster is standard, and so is the latest 17.7-inch massive infotainment touchscreen running GM’s latest in-house software with Google Built-In.

Unfortunately, yes, it doesn’t have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but with Google services and apps natively supported by this new operating system, I personally think it’s not a dealbreaker. Initially, this in-house software had a lot of bugs, but being in the software-defined vehicle (SDV) era, the Equinox EV LT already received numerous over-the-air updates since its release last year. As a result, the infotainment is nearly perfect in 2025.

The Equinox EV Faces Headwinds

EV sales in 2025 are still expected to grow, but how fast they will grow is still up in the air. What’s sure, however, is that as more affordable EVs hit the market, you can expect sales of pure ICE cars to continue sliding. However, there are headwinds to be faced by the American EV industry in the coming months.

A Changing Political Climate

That headwind comes in the form of the upcoming Trump administration. As mentioned a while ago, the Trump administration is seeking to remove the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit currently in place for American-made EVs. That’s why the

newly facelifted Ioniq 5
is qualified, as manufacturing has now shifted from South Korea to the United States. Unfortunately, removing the incentive would make that strategy pointless, but then again, there’s also the threat that the incoming administration is set to introduce tariffs on all imported goods, including vehicles, regardless of their country of origin.

How It Threats The Equinox EV

Unfortunately, even the Equinox EV won’t be immune to this. That’s because the Equinox EV, as American as it may be in brand origin, is not made in the United States. It’s actually manufactured in Mexico, and so a 25 percent tariff would severely impact its affordability. Whether or not this political move will bring back manufacturing to the United States is yet to be seen, but with today’s global economy tightly woven, that’s going to be far easier said than done. For now, the Equinox EV is the most affordable EV with 300 miles of range in the United States, but a changing political climate can affect its affordability in the near future.