2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV - DM First Drive Review | Thoughts from a Bolt Owner

Chevy lead the way with affordable electric vehicles with the Volt and the Bolt EV. Now they're building on that success with the Equinox EV. And I can assure you, this is the best Equinox ever made.
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This video was filmed with in-ear, binaural microphones, so if you listen with headphones, it will sound like you're sitting in the driver's seat!
#cars #ev #equinoxev #chevrolet

[@lcann251]

SuperCruise is great and all, and it's probably worth the $2700 for sure. But the monthly subscription fee of $25 a month for the privilege after THREE years, (not 8) is pretty steep

[@Timba1960]

SuperCruise isn't at all worth spending $2700! Get real!

[@Jetter638]

There are a LOT of things to love about this car. The value is outstanding. I'd absolutely consider it for my next car except there could be some deal breakers (subscription fee services). The things I like....too many to mention. The things I don't like (more nits than anything). 1) (In the second car) WTF would you have blue interior accents in a Red car. Generally speaking It would have been better to go with a neutral color so that it "matched" with any exterior color that you chose. 2) I wish it had a light interior option. 3) I'm not a fan of all the interior red accents (door, red stitching, etc.) in the RS trims. It's just not my thing. Keep it neutral if you can't make it match the exterior. 4) I'm NOT a fan of subscription services. It sounds like after 3 years you have to pay a monthly subscription fee for the SuperCruise system and then after 8 years you have to pay for connected service for the car...the latter is probably the biggest reason why I would prefer to use Google/Apple auto play. I'm already paying a monthly fee for my phone...(Post 8 years) I don't want to pay a separate subscription fee for my navigation service in my car.

[@ML-jr4ns]

There is a light gray interior option on 2LT & 3LT models.

[@Jetter638]

@@ML-jr4ns True, but to me it looks like it is grey accents more so then a true light interior.

[@Jetter638]

@@ML-jr4ns Yes you are right. It looks like the light interior just uses light grey as an accent more so than being a complete light interior...but maybe that is as much as one could expect.

[@2009MigyFl]

The super cruise is free for three years only. It will need a subscription after three years. What it last 8 years will be the remote access.

[@chrismaxny4066]

We had a 23 Chevy Bolt Premiere with all the options and it was great for commuting and local errands. I soon realized if we were to take a road trip in it charging would be time consuming. So we were waiting to see what the Equinox EV would offer but it seemed as though it would never be actually available. Seems like a good car but with all the options of the Bolt it is in the $50,000 range. Even with the price reductions it's not a bargain unless one gets the basic version.

[@wassiswallylokhankin191]

Couldn't agree more! The Equinox is hardly anything but a Bolt on steroids for an inflated price.

[@ydmf2]

I want super cruise 👌

[@itzed]

I’d like to know what super cruise does when a car on the highway cuts into your lane 15 feet in front of you. That’s the most common problem I have using assisted cruise control.

[@DailyMotor]

It handles it well; doesn't freak out, just slows down gradually as a human would. Some brands do better than others with this regarding adaptive cruise.

[@officialyasir]

Charlie, if you want to test out Tesla FSD v12, you can do a test drive from Tesla. All the cars have been updated to v12. I test drove the new Model 3 and Model Y recently and v12 performed really well. You can also ask Tesla for overnight demo drives, if they have availability, they'll let you take one, they are usually very chill about it. I am also curious to hear your take on the refreshed Model 3, from my short drive, I thought it has improved significantly from my 2019 Model 3.

[@DailyMotor]

Hey Yas, good to hear from you, and good to know! I did do a refreshed M3 drive a month ago, but it was so prescribed and short that I didn't get much time for impressions. Maybe they're more open to longer drives now that the hype has waned a bit. Also there are Tesla press vehicles near here, but Tesla wasn't interested in loaning them. But yes, the refreshed 3 was very nice. I think the '22 and '23 M3's were still probably a quality improvement over your '19, but still.

[@billbush1270]

I'd need to hear something "natural" like non-electronica to evaluate sound. Voices, piano, violin -- not that loud "hold" music that I cannot imagine listening to longer than 15 seconds before hanging up and trying again later. I know it is a matter of taste, but that was a narrow sampling of what people listen to. The car does seem like something practical.

[@brettb613]

I really enjoyed the video, thanks for making it. I’ve been watching the progress of this car for over a year I actually ordered a 3RS last Friday. I will likely be cancelling that next week based on info you provided at the end of this video. A few days after placing my order I learned that GM removed the wireless charging, rear view mirror camera and HUD, something that they never informed their dealers was being done. My dealership learned about it from me and has been working to follow up on the info this week with little success. For the cost, $52,000+, removing that tech, which is listed in the owners manual and came on my 2023 Bolt EUV, it’s a deal breaker. You said in your video at 23:32 that you had received a note from the Chevy engineers and the Chevy Care people that the wireless charging and camera mirror would be available later on in production but not now in the early production models. Can you offer specifics on who you heard this from? My dealer and I are trying to verify this so I can determine if I should postpone my order. Any further insight you can offer would be much appreciated.

[@DailyMotor]

Thanks! This was directly from Chevy PR. If you'd like me to follow up with them and get an official email, email me at [e-mail] and I'll get in touch.

[@brettb613]

@@DailyMotor Thanks for the qi=uick reply and the offer to check further. I just emailed you my info.

[@hlyles32]

Does not make the most sense to leave key tech and features off to rush production. Will likely lead to more unsold vehicles on the lot.

[@brettb613]

@@DailyMotor I just wanted to check and see if you have received my emails and if you've received any further info from your GM contact. Thanks.

[@DailyMotor]

@@brettb613 I have, haven't received a reply. Will follow up as soon as I do.

[@drivefly5]

A massively thick A-pillar... That and no high-quality sounds system, plus no Apple Carplay is a dealbreak for me.

[@ronniemullis8717]

The biggest problem with Tesla is the lack of the number of their stores. Most people, like myself live hundreds of miles away.

[@wassiswallylokhankin191]

Nah. I don't see any radical improvement over my current Bolt EV. Think I'd rather wait for the 3rd gen Bolt that GM promised to roll out next year.

[@klyffjohnson]

My coworker has a Bolt EUV (Premier with Sun and Sound + Super Cruise), and I just saw the Equinox EV (fully loaded 2RS) in person at my local dealer (only had 1 in the show room, so didn't test drive. TL;DR: Much more cargo space than the Bolt, slightly wider, doesn't have the Bose Sound System as an option. If you don't need the extra cargo space or often have 3 people in your back seat, you may be better off waiting. I expect the new Bolt to have the Google Built-in and a better display, so I think those are non-issues.

[@wassiswallylokhankin191]

@@klyffjohnson Mostly, it's just my wife and I, so the back seats have hardly been sat on at all. Also, if I ever need a lot of cargo space, I will rent a truck or a van - it would be cheaper than buying a brand new EV to haul stuff. Anyway, with its folding back seats, my Bolt offers me all the cargo space I need. What I would like to see on the next gen Bolt, though, is more comfortable front seats, a sunroof, and faster charging. Well, maybe a slightly greater range, too (right now, my Bolt gives me about 300 miles in summer but a little extra wouldn't hurt). That's it. So, for me, the new Equinox seems to be a nice EV, but not a whole lot better than my Bolt Premier.

[@hlyles32]

Yeah, I hope they don't screw up the new Bolt. Faster charging, more range and similar options. Maybe make it a little wider.

[@121476]

The sound system was the dealbreaker for me

[@vitreoushumor]

I wonder if he needed to turn up his bluetooth volume on the phone because that max volume should not be max

[@QuietStormX]

Hey it's called options you select and pay for...

[@pasoroblesbruce7370]

You really never state an overall comparison with your bolt that you are most familiar with. This car is about twice the price of the bolt euv. Does not appear to be worth the price difference. What do you think?

[@DailyMotor]

Yeahhh, need to spend more time with it. I don't think so, but everything is more expensive now.

[@vitreoushumor]

That dash windshield glare is awful and typical for GM

[@DailyMotor]

I wondered if I was imagining things, but yeah it was strong

[@vtele]

19:20 you burned a red light :)

[@stanmisiak5634]

What about being able to read. And send text messages hands free. Can't do that without carplay

[@screenPhiles]

WHY do you consider the sound system so offensive? You criticize it but don't give a single reason what your objections are. For instance, I found the music you played a bit tinny and lacking bass, but that's a fairly minor complaint.

[@DailyMotor]

We specialize in sound system testing on our other channel, DM Sound, so we've heard many different systems. We didn't have a chance to fully evaluate the Equinox, but it's not good on initial impressions. We'll give more justification when we have it for a full review

[@screenPhiles]

@@DailyMotor And I get that though the problem is that you spend an inordinate amount of time talking about how terrible the sound system apparently is, then give no reasons for your thinking. Maybe next time don't do that and save the commentary for the actual review?

[@Timba1960]

SuperCruise is a $2700 failure. Don't waste your money, or your attention on the road.