2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV presented a familiar silhouette reminiscent of its internal combustion engine (ICE) counterpart, yet upon closer inspection, it revealed a more refined and modern aesthetic. The EV version boasted sharper lines, a thicker body-colored C-pillar, and a sleeker grille. Notably, the LED light bar extended across the front, enhancing its contemporary look, while the rear echoed this design with another light bar. Standard 19-inch aluminum wheels on the 1LT and 2LT trims added to its appeal, with larger 21-inch wheels available on higher trims. The Equinox EV offered vibrant color options like "Red Hot" and "Riptide Blue Metallic," which injected a youthful exuberance into its design. Two-tone paint jobs further allowed for personalization, with options for contrasting roof colors. Inside, the Equinox EV provided a range of interior color schemes, with sporty options like Adrenaline Red available on higher trims, ensuring a blend of sophistication and flair.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, particularly in its 110 four-door configuration, struck a balance between ruggedness and visual appeal. While the Defender 90 appeared stubby and the 130 carried excessive visual mass, the 110 offered a harmonious design. The Defender's base prices varied significantly, with the 90 starting at $58,525 and the 130 V8 reaching $120,525. The new Defender OCTA, available only as a 110, was priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials, enhancing its off-road capabilities. The test model, dressed in Gondwana Stone paint, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its color clashed with the orange brake calipers. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, offering a choice of Ebony or Caraway upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, emphasizing quality materials and a purposeful design.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV offered a hands-free start feature, which, while slightly eerie, was becoming more common in modern EVs. The vehicle allowed for one-pedal driving across all trims, with options to manage regenerative braking through standalone settings or drive modes like Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and My Mode. The single-motor, front-wheel-drive variant delivered 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, while the all-wheel-drive version boasted a dual-motor powertrain with 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Equinox EV could tow up to 1,500 pounds and offered impressive range estimates of 319 miles for FWD models and 285 miles for AWD. The vehicle's 85-kWh battery contributed to its competitive range, and it supported DC fast charging at up to 150 kW, regaining about 77 miles of range in 10 minutes.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Defender offered robust acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Its adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road capabilities. The Defender excelled in off-road environments, with features like electronic active differential and wade-sensing technology. On-road, the Defender's 20-inch wheels and adaptive air suspension provided a comfortable ride, though its substantial weight and slow steering limited its agility on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg combined, but our observed figure was 16.2 mpg.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV, starting from the 2LT trim, offered heated front seats, a steering wheel, and outside mirrors as standard features. The 3LT trim added power adjustments for the passenger seat, front-seat ventilation, and heated rear seats, elevating its comfort level. The Equinox EV provided 39.15 inches of front headroom and 38.49 inches in the second row, with 41.65 inches of front legroom. Its cargo space measured 26.4 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 57.2 cubic feet with the second row folded. Roof rails were standard on all but the base trim, enhancing its practicality.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position provided excellent forward visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row created an open and airy feel. The Defender's cargo space was limited to 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded. The side-hinged cargo door, while heavy and awkward, featured a large storage bin.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV featured a driver-oriented cockpit with a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 11-inch driver-information screen. Google Built-In was standard, offering Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play Store. An eight-year OnStar Remote Access Plan subscription was included, providing navigation, route planning, and battery pre-conditioning through the MyChevrolet app.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessible via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services. The Pivi Pro system, previously criticized for its slow response, performed well during testing, with accurate voice command recognition and an intuitive user experience. The Defender also featured a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, forward collision alert, and more. Additional features included rear park assist, reverse automatic braking, blind-zone steering assist, and adaptive cruise control. Super Cruise, a hands-free highway-driving assist system, was available starting with the 2LT trim.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a range of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane-keep assist system was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at press time.