2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports #461

Chevrolet has expanded its EV lineup with the addition of the 2024 Equinox EV. In this episode, we share our first impressions of the small electric SUV, covering its driving dynamics, power capabilities, key features, and how it stacks up against the Blazer EV and the gas-powered Equinox. We also address audience questions, including whether it's normal to need frequent brake service and why car manufacturers aren’t making electric vehicles with upgradable and replaceable batteries.

SHOW NOTES
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00:00 - Introduction
00:40 - Overview: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV
02:25 - Driving Characteristics
03:44 - How it Compares to Blazer EV
06:26 - Is it Family Friendly Enough
08:54 - Charging Capabilities
10:48 - Infotainment System
15:37 - The Price
16:48 - Question #1: Are auto dimming rear-view mirrors in vehicles less safe than the old-school flip-up ones?
20:20 - Question #2: Is it normal to frequently need to service the brakes on your car?
25:24 - Question #3: Why car manufacturers aren’t making electric vehicles with upgradable and replaceable batteries?

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New 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV Will Start at $34,995, Eventually

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

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EVs are Getting More Reliable, but They Still Lag Behind Hybrids and Gas-Only Cars

Guide to Car Reliability & Owner Satisfaction

[BensEcoAdvntr]

Good discussion, but Gabe is wrong about the Equinox using 150 kW v. 350 kW DC Fast Chargers. The 85 kW Ultium battery pack has a fairly low nominal voltage of 288 volts. Charging output from a station is determined by volts x amps, with the amperage limitation on the station side often determined by the cable. Most “150 kW” DCFC have a cable limited to 350 amps, while the “350 kW” stations have 500 amp cables. In order for the Equinox EV to get its 150 kW advertised rate, it needs 500 amps. 288 volts x 500 amps = 144, 000 watts. The pack voltage rises as the battery fills up, so it’s possible to briefly get the full 150 kW before it tapers.

[Outsider.Reviews]

I am starting to worry about the expert advice on CR after this show. First of all you can most definitely get Waze, Spotify and such on the Equinox EV.
Second, someone asks you about EV battery swapping and none of you seem to know there's a major global manufacturer that has been doing for years in Europe, China and many other countries called NIO! lol They swap out EV batteries daily and have a lot of swapping stations just not in North America

[COSolar]

I am not that attached to CarPlay but I like having the option. I suppose GM thought that if Tesla and Rivian could get by without it so could they.

[GusDom]

2024 Equinox EV owner here. I'm surprised GM didn't make them take this video down. They falsely claim that they can't use apps and features that actually are available on the infotainment system. It's like no one here actually used the car and played around with it. To add to the fire they're bashing it for it. Lol.

[aussieuGA]

Nio, a Chinese EV maker, has done battery swapping for years now. They actually say they do over 70K swaps per day! You can choose between 3 different sizes of batteries being swapped.

[OpinionatedOG]

I have the Blazer EV. I’ve always been able to receive and send text by voice over the infotainment system. You guys test these cars and you don’t know this? I have CarPlay in my Bolt EUV. I drive the Blazer mostly and I still don’t miss CarPlay in the Blazer. And Spotify is available on the infotainment, how do you all don’t know this?

[David-scsq]

Reviewers have a considerable amount of experience with ICEs but their lack of knowledge about EVs was embarrassing.

[EvMan]

I’m a long time, Apple fan boy and thought I would be totally against what you did too, but to be honest on my equinox I love it. I love what they did with the entertainment system.

[holmiumh]

I bought a 25 Equinox EV amd I'm very happy about it.

[craigw]

There seems to be quite a few errors in this short intro to this ev. I hope they are cleared up in further reviews. I think CR should have at least one reviewer well versed in EVs on these videos from now on. I nominate Keith Barry!

[ronalaska]

People are used to tiny cars, I love the Blazer EV! Big and safe like older cars! I traded my Bolt EV because it was small! But it does fast charge also which the Bolt did not! I have Spotify and Waze pre installed on my Blazer EV! You should talk to owners before reviewing! Nice thing is brakes may never wear out with regen braking! And the batteries are now rated at about 800K miles! Never replace and may be able to reuse the battery on your next car if they keep them compatible!

[atlabama]

You can do voice to text. Did you even bother setting up the infotainment?

[Andre-cjec]

I own a 2024 Equinox EV and like it. I don't miss CarPlay nor Android Auto. The integrated maps & apps that are included for 8 years at no added charge have the functionality I need. Using the the integrated maps means my battery preconditions when I program a charge stop. I can my accounts for YouTube music or PocketCast as apps in the car or stream with Bluetooth for my phone.

[roxasjrs]

You all are wrong on this. I was a loyal apple car play user in my previous vehicle. I have been using my 2024 Chevy equinox EV for the last 3months. The native infotainment system works as well as car play minus one thing-responding to group messages. Your response will only go to the person who sent the last message in a group message situation. But you can use voice to text like car play. And, by the way, for EV users, google maps is far superior to Apple Maps for integration of finding EV charging stations. I found the dialogue on this podcast regarding this to be woefully uninformed.

[shawnwhite]

I'm an iPhone user and I have no issues with my Equinox EV's infotainment system.

[martalli]

I have been doing fine with the infotainment system on the Equinox EV. You folks seem to be overlooking the fact that Android Auto and Carplay have no access to the state of charge. Without following SoC, carplay can't give the driver proper and efficient routing. The Equinox EV seems to do a great job at this.

[nolangoldberg]

Regarding Odysseys and brake vibration issues, the simple fix is: cryogenically treated rotors, e.g. StopTech, and ceramic brake pads (I favor Akebono.) I replaced my OEM rotors at 40, 000 miles with StopTech cryogenically treated rotors and drove them 245, 000 miles with no vibrations. I replaced the Akebono brake pads about every 80, 000 miles. The Odyssey we bought new now has 290, 000 miles and is still going strong.

[J.W.W.]

I 100% agree with the first questioner. I just purchased a 2025 vehicle and was thrilled to find it has the flip lever for dimming. Auto dimming mirrors are NOT doing their job, they do not dim enough. P.S. I’ve owned 53 cars from the mid 60’s to 2025. I have some experience.

[patbarr]

Engine braking is indeed "a thing!" After many years of driving with automatic transaxle cars (and lots of pad replacements + rotor turning), I decided to adopt the practice of using gears 1 to 3 on city streets (I believe that was called "L3") on my 2001 Jetta & only had 1 pad replacement in 115, 000 miles. I only put the selector in "D" for freeway driving. My 2012 Volvo c30 had a shiftable automatic so I always shifted it manually & never replaced the pads in 96, 000 miles.

[JenoFletter]

Owners of 2025 model year vehicles automatically receive core OnStar features for 8 years, including Automatic Crash Response and remote commands.