Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV was Chevrolet's smallest all-electric SUV, closely resembling the Blazer EV in size, being only 1.6 inches shorter. It featured a rounded and graceful design, with gently flared fenders and a horizontal light stripe that gave it a futuristic look. The interior shared similarities with the Blazer EV, boasting beveled dual screens for instrumentation and infotainment. However, the louvered dashboard top sometimes caused unsettling reflections. Material quality was typical for a compact SUV, with hard plastic surfaces and lightly padded touchpoints, making it an attractive yet unremarkable choice in its class.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt returned with a familiar look, maintaining its position between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. It featured a tall and narrow stance, prioritizing utility and interior space. The interior underwent a more dramatic makeover, with a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing its budget feel, but the RS trim offered Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area lacked padding for the door armrests, but the Bolt provided ample storage options, including a large bin and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV came with a single 220-horsepower electric motor and front-wheel drive, with an optional all-wheel-drive version offering a combined output of 300 hp. It featured an 85-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, providing an EPA-estimated range of up to 319 miles for the front-drive model and 307 miles for the AWD version. The Equinox EV had a standard 11.5 kW AC charger, with a 19.2-kW upgrade available on the RS trim. DC fast charging was included, with a maximum rate of 150 kW. The front-drive model reached 60 mph in 8.0 seconds, while the AWD variant did so in 6.0 seconds. The ride quality was smooth, and the cabin was quieter than a gas-powered SUV, though there was some noticeable boominess on the highway.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and requiring fewer rare earth minerals. It had a 210-horsepower motor, providing acceleration similar to the previous Bolt EV, reaching 0-60 mph in the low seven-second range. The Bolt offered one-pedal driving with medium or high levels of brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt was agile on curvy roads. The EPA estimated a range of 262 miles on a full charge, with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port standard on all models. Charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing the Bolt to recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV offered comfortable front seats with adequate padding and support. Most features were operated through touchscreen menus, but climate controls had physical knobs and buttons. The rear seats were flatter and firmer, with enough vertical space for average-sized adults. Storage for personal items was adequate, with a 26.4 cubic-foot cargo capacity. A hands-free power liftgate was available, but there was no front trunk.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had an upright driving position with plenty of space for larger occupants. The rear seats were also upright, with ample headroom and thigh support. The Bolt offered 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a large bin underneath the floor. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, providing additional luggage space. There was no frunk, but ample storage for personal items was available up front.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV featured a large 17.7-inch touchscreen with sharp graphics and quick responses. It was powered by Google Built-in, offering map, traffic, and productivity features. However, the lack of Apple CarPlay integration was a significant drawback. The six-speaker audio system was unimpressive, with no premium audio upgrade available.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen. The infotainment system ran on a Google-based operating system, lacking Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto support. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The Bolt's navigation system helped drivers find charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. It also offered vehicle-to-load charging as a backup power source.

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV received a full five-star rating from the NHTSA in crash tests. It came with standard advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a blind-spot monitor. The optional Active Safety Package 2 added a surround-view camera system, while Package 3 included a semi-automated parking system and Super Cruise.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not yet available, but it was expected to achieve high scores. It came with standard advanced safety features, including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system and other safety features. Super Cruise was available for an additional cost, making the Bolt one of the few budget EVs with such an advanced system.