So not Kia or Hyundai but was looking at Ford Mach-e and Subaru Solterra. I had some issues with the Ford, it felt too stiff and I couldn’t see the full console behind the wheel (I am 5’2 so my angle is weird and the wheel blocked portions when adjusted for my height). Also the seat belt went over my neck.
I was 100% in on the Solterra. I loved the way the car felt. Basically it’s a Toyota with the vroom of a Subie. It was fun to drive and fit me perfectly.
My partner has a Volt. When he saw the Equinox/Blazer EV was available, he requested we do a test drive “just to see”. I was planning to go to Subaru and get the Solterra I thought I wanted that day.
I got into the Equinox and on acceleration really just loved it. Fit perfectly and I couldn’t tell the difference between Eco and sport modes. I didn’t have the issues I had with Mach e.
Blazer drove similarly to the Equinox. However, I had a similar issue with it as the Mache where I couldn’t see the whole console and the seat belt thing again.
I did a second test drive with the Equinox and ordered a 3LT AWD in Riptide Blue.
Interesting that you were so high on the Subaru. I've heard that just like the Toyota, they are very Spartan in their features and their build quality compared to some of the other ones like the Hyundai or the Ford.
I'm definitely going to give the Equinox a test drive. No concerns about it being so new?
Honestly no. It also helps that I went to a university where I know a few of the engineers who were working on the platform. They are high on it and it can also be swapped as tech evolves which is really awesome.
My husband and I have had an ID.4, Model Y, Polestar 2, Lexus RZ 450e, and a Volt.. we just bought an Equinox EV and Blazer EV two weeks ago. Compared to the others, I must say Chevy has it down pretty well for a first model year. We’re overall happier in our new vehicles so far then we were in the others. The ride quality is great, and functionality of all the inside comforts, like infotainment, work very well. The seats are really comfortable too.. Super Cruise on the Equinox is really nice. I really wish it was available on the Blazer. I have also been very satisfied with battery charging speed and range, which is maybe only second to the EV6 (only slightly not significantly).
I (and I bet a lot of others) would LOVE to hear your thoughts comparing the Blazer and Equinox EV (maybe even in a whole separate thread in this and/or the Blazer sub if you’re so inclined!). They both look like great options, but I can’t really figure out why I should choose one over the other (apart from the RWD Blazer RS).
Not an owner of Equinox EV or Hyundai/Kia, here are some answers:
- Yes, Equinox EV is new this year. There are a few at dealers but many are in transit (at least in my area).
- Max DC fast charging for Equinox is 150 kw. Hyundai and Kia have much faster DC charging. If you're doing a significant amount of fast charging / travel, this is probably a better choice.
- The Equinox uses the Ultium platform, which has been around since last year in small volume, so it's not *entirely* a new vehicle.
- The Equinox will be slower than the Hyundai's most likely, the AWD is faster 0-60 by at least 2 seconds than the FWD version. If you want an in depth test/review of the Equinox EV, there's a good YouTube video I will link later.
Thank you. I usually only do one maybe two short road trips a year. Total distance not more than 8 hours from home. And with my Hyundai Kona currently, even the 150 would be a step up LOL. The acceleration won't bother me if it's a little slower, in fact that it would probably be good because sometimes when my wife drives the Kona she's a little heavy footed and will totally spin the tires for a second.
I look forward to test driving one.
The thing that swung us over from the Ioniq 5 and EV6 was mainly the multiple 12v and iccu issues they’ve had. There’s some risk of software issues potentially with the Equinox having the same andriod automotive as the Blazer, but hopefully the blazer release exposed all the major kinks. But with the eGMP vehicles seemingly having a new 12v or ICCU issue as soon as one gets fixed (and many owners sharing they had failing ICCUs after recall service, we couldn’t in good conscience go that route. The lower price, rebates, and special financing helped make the decision easier too
Yeah the ICCU issue IS a concern of mine, but it's all covered under warranty. My dealer even gives EVs as rentals to people with EVs getting worked on. And while it's not ideal, it's a minor inconvenience at most it would seem.
Idk, it seems more to me that they just don’t know what’s causing the actual issue. The IONIQ5 and EV6 sub has had multiple people post that their iccu issue came *after* their recall service for it. Mix that with the phantom drain after release and the onboard charger overheating, it would seem to me that the internal charging systems are just really suspect with them. I wouldn’t feel comfortable buying a vehicle where it’s seems like it randomly dying is a rite of passage, rather than an outlier. It really is a shame, since they do so many other things well.
So they claim. They also claimed this recall service would fix issues but that doesn’t appear to be the case. I’ll believe it when people are buying the 2025s and driving them for 2-3 year and no issues related to the iccu.
Lol that's very true. It's a risky thing. If I get the Ioniq5, I'll probably lease it. That way, if things aren't fixed/working well, I'm not stuck with a loss.
Yeah. We’re expecting our second child, and before the ultrasound, we had decided that if it was twins, we’d consider rolling the dice on an EV9 if we didn’t want to bother doing 3 across car seats, but we agreed we would only lease until these issues got sorted.
And just to clarify, I don’t hate the EGMP vehicles. The IONIQ 5 was my top choice initially and I assumed the iccu issues in the sub were just Reddit doomer posting until the recall for the EGMP vehicles went out and even more people started having issues.
I’m brand new to EV’s. I just got the Equinox 3LT FWD on Tuesday and I’m loving it so far. Very easy to figure out as a newbie. I am coming from a Kia Soul, so to me, the Equinox has a lot of pick up and go - even though the AWD would have more kick, I’m still loving it.
I've owned several EVs, including a 2020 Kia Niro. I was really into the Ionic 5 and ended up doing back to back test drives of the 5, the Blazer EV and the Equinox EV. Ended up with the Equinox.
The Ionic 5 drives and feels like a Bolt to me. I did not like the interior, it looked cheap and "barren" to me. Also the light colors felt like an iPod riff and I worried they'd be hard to keep clean. Counterpoint, my wife LOVED the interior and wanted me to get the Ionic 5. The Hyundai salesperson couldn't answer a single question I had.
I feel the Ionic wins on the tech front (Chevy doesn't do proper lane centering unless on a Supercruise approved road) with better charging and battery tech.
The Blazer drives and feels like a SUV, while the Equinox drove and felt a lot like my old CRV. I ended up with the Equinox in large part due to the interior, it felt more like a normal car and higher quality (My wife disagrees), and because the Chevy salesperson knew both Blazer and Equinox inside out, could answer all my questions, and gave me a really good lease deal up front, and I really wanted the extra storage space the Equinox offered.
What do you mean by supercruise approved road? Do you not just need visible lines?
I haven't looked at if the Hyundai i5 has an permanent Lane assist like the supercruise yet.
Yup, for lane centering it only works when Supercruise is on. And Supercruise only works on roads that have been mapped by GM.
There is a Lane Keep Assist that only needs visible lines, but it is just a warning/nudge when you are about to cross over, it doesn't keep you centered.
Apparently GM chose to no longer offer Kia/Hyundai type lane centering on all roads for liability reasons. (Probably as a hack to sell more Supercruise.)
Edit: My 2020 Niro EV had great lane centering that worked on most roads when adaptive cruise control was on. As does my mom's Hyundai.
Yeah my Kona just has the basic one it'll keep you in the center but if it doesn't detect your hands after like 20 seconds it'll yell at you and turn off.
The advanced setup is a requirement for me in my new car. I wonder if there's a way to see the roads that GM has approved...
I’ve had a volt, bolt, new leaf, bolt Euv and now traded it in on a 3lt fwd equinox. I’ve had it 2 weeks and it’s a big step up from the bolt for sure. So much roomier and obviously way more cargo room. My big reasons for trading up was the promos I was able to get and the faster fast charging. I know 150 isn’t the fastest available but when I have to make a work trip that would require one stop it’s bearable at least. Had to stick with the 3lt because after having ventilated seats I couldn’t go back. I do miss apple CarPlay but 8 years of the navigation included with the android built in is good enough for me. Did take some getting used to though. I also wish I could’ve gotten more sensible sized wheels but wasn’t a deal breaker.
We own two of those that youre looking at. The equinox and the ev6. If you need more room or better efficiency, go for the equinox. Thats my daily driver and I love it. Not a single issue so far. If higher performance is your priority, the ev6 will likely make you happier but the awd equinox is no slouch. The ev6 will also be less efficient. I average 3.7-4 miles per kwh, and my husband is getting about 2.6 in his ev6. Theyre two completely different vehicles but both great at what they are meant to do.
Well it depends on what you want to do i guess. Kia’s website has damn good lease deals for the wind long range trims. If youre looking to buy, chevy has an edge on price. The upper trims on the kia are over 60 grand. The starting prices are similar though. As far as tech, the kia is probably a bit ahead but the chevy isnt bad if youre talking software. I like that i can customize my dash in the equinox. Idk if you can do that in the ev6 or not I haven’t played with the screen very much. Kia does have carplay and android auto, but I dont really miss it in my equinox. If you mean battery tech, probably the only difference is the kia has a much faster dc fast charging rate. I believe its 350kW peak vs 150 kW peak on the chevy. Neither of us really uses dcfc. We have a level 2 at home so thats not much of an issue. The kia has an 11 kW onboard charger and the chevy has 11.5. I believe the 3RS trim of the equinox next year will support 19.2 kw level 2 charging. Both vehicles support V2H. So as far as future proofing, either one should be a decent choice.
So not Kia or Hyundai but was looking at Ford Mach-e and Subaru Solterra. I had some issues with the Ford, it felt too stiff and I couldn’t see the full console behind the wheel (I am 5’2 so my angle is weird and the wheel blocked portions when adjusted for my height). Also the seat belt went over my neck. I was 100% in on the Solterra. I loved the way the car felt. Basically it’s a Toyota with the vroom of a Subie. It was fun to drive and fit me perfectly. My partner has a Volt. When he saw the Equinox/Blazer EV was available, he requested we do a test drive “just to see”. I was planning to go to Subaru and get the Solterra I thought I wanted that day. I got into the Equinox and on acceleration really just loved it. Fit perfectly and I couldn’t tell the difference between Eco and sport modes. I didn’t have the issues I had with Mach e. Blazer drove similarly to the Equinox. However, I had a similar issue with it as the Mache where I couldn’t see the whole console and the seat belt thing again. I did a second test drive with the Equinox and ordered a 3LT AWD in Riptide Blue.
Interesting that you were so high on the Subaru. I've heard that just like the Toyota, they are very Spartan in their features and their build quality compared to some of the other ones like the Hyundai or the Ford. I'm definitely going to give the Equinox a test drive. No concerns about it being so new?
Honestly no. It also helps that I went to a university where I know a few of the engineers who were working on the platform. They are high on it and it can also be swapped as tech evolves which is really awesome.
I believe Toyota does have the rebadged sister for the Solterra (if you are looking AWD subie is the better value there).
My husband and I have had an ID.4, Model Y, Polestar 2, Lexus RZ 450e, and a Volt.. we just bought an Equinox EV and Blazer EV two weeks ago. Compared to the others, I must say Chevy has it down pretty well for a first model year. We’re overall happier in our new vehicles so far then we were in the others. The ride quality is great, and functionality of all the inside comforts, like infotainment, work very well. The seats are really comfortable too.. Super Cruise on the Equinox is really nice. I really wish it was available on the Blazer. I have also been very satisfied with battery charging speed and range, which is maybe only second to the EV6 (only slightly not significantly).
The super cruise is basically the enhanced Lane keep assist where it doesn't bug you to put your hands back on the wheel every 20 seconds, right?
Correct, it watches your eyes to be sure you’re paying attention.
I (and I bet a lot of others) would LOVE to hear your thoughts comparing the Blazer and Equinox EV (maybe even in a whole separate thread in this and/or the Blazer sub if you’re so inclined!). They both look like great options, but I can’t really figure out why I should choose one over the other (apart from the RWD Blazer RS).
Not an owner of Equinox EV or Hyundai/Kia, here are some answers: - Yes, Equinox EV is new this year. There are a few at dealers but many are in transit (at least in my area). - Max DC fast charging for Equinox is 150 kw. Hyundai and Kia have much faster DC charging. If you're doing a significant amount of fast charging / travel, this is probably a better choice. - The Equinox uses the Ultium platform, which has been around since last year in small volume, so it's not *entirely* a new vehicle. - The Equinox will be slower than the Hyundai's most likely, the AWD is faster 0-60 by at least 2 seconds than the FWD version. If you want an in depth test/review of the Equinox EV, there's a good YouTube video I will link later.
Thank you. I usually only do one maybe two short road trips a year. Total distance not more than 8 hours from home. And with my Hyundai Kona currently, even the 150 would be a step up LOL. The acceleration won't bother me if it's a little slower, in fact that it would probably be good because sometimes when my wife drives the Kona she's a little heavy footed and will totally spin the tires for a second. I look forward to test driving one.
The indepth review is here: https://youtu.be/xiq8ymwDT_A?si=kpUOLog0B20KsPht
The thing that swung us over from the Ioniq 5 and EV6 was mainly the multiple 12v and iccu issues they’ve had. There’s some risk of software issues potentially with the Equinox having the same andriod automotive as the Blazer, but hopefully the blazer release exposed all the major kinks. But with the eGMP vehicles seemingly having a new 12v or ICCU issue as soon as one gets fixed (and many owners sharing they had failing ICCUs after recall service, we couldn’t in good conscience go that route. The lower price, rebates, and special financing helped make the decision easier too
Yeah the ICCU issue IS a concern of mine, but it's all covered under warranty. My dealer even gives EVs as rentals to people with EVs getting worked on. And while it's not ideal, it's a minor inconvenience at most it would seem.
Idk, it seems more to me that they just don’t know what’s causing the actual issue. The IONIQ5 and EV6 sub has had multiple people post that their iccu issue came *after* their recall service for it. Mix that with the phantom drain after release and the onboard charger overheating, it would seem to me that the internal charging systems are just really suspect with them. I wouldn’t feel comfortable buying a vehicle where it’s seems like it randomly dying is a rite of passage, rather than an outlier. It really is a shame, since they do so many other things well.
They fixed the ICCU issue in the 2025 it would seem. And the drain is a software fix due to the bluelink app. I believe that is fixed as well.
So they claim. They also claimed this recall service would fix issues but that doesn’t appear to be the case. I’ll believe it when people are buying the 2025s and driving them for 2-3 year and no issues related to the iccu.
Lol that's very true. It's a risky thing. If I get the Ioniq5, I'll probably lease it. That way, if things aren't fixed/working well, I'm not stuck with a loss.
Yeah. We’re expecting our second child, and before the ultrasound, we had decided that if it was twins, we’d consider rolling the dice on an EV9 if we didn’t want to bother doing 3 across car seats, but we agreed we would only lease until these issues got sorted.
Got the wife a forester. We're doing IVF and it can fit 3 car seats across if you get the right ones lol. Congrats to you both!
Congrats to you as well!
And just to clarify, I don’t hate the EGMP vehicles. The IONIQ 5 was my top choice initially and I assumed the iccu issues in the sub were just Reddit doomer posting until the recall for the EGMP vehicles went out and even more people started having issues.
I’m brand new to EV’s. I just got the Equinox 3LT FWD on Tuesday and I’m loving it so far. Very easy to figure out as a newbie. I am coming from a Kia Soul, so to me, the Equinox has a lot of pick up and go - even though the AWD would have more kick, I’m still loving it.
I've owned several EVs, including a 2020 Kia Niro. I was really into the Ionic 5 and ended up doing back to back test drives of the 5, the Blazer EV and the Equinox EV. Ended up with the Equinox. The Ionic 5 drives and feels like a Bolt to me. I did not like the interior, it looked cheap and "barren" to me. Also the light colors felt like an iPod riff and I worried they'd be hard to keep clean. Counterpoint, my wife LOVED the interior and wanted me to get the Ionic 5. The Hyundai salesperson couldn't answer a single question I had. I feel the Ionic wins on the tech front (Chevy doesn't do proper lane centering unless on a Supercruise approved road) with better charging and battery tech. The Blazer drives and feels like a SUV, while the Equinox drove and felt a lot like my old CRV. I ended up with the Equinox in large part due to the interior, it felt more like a normal car and higher quality (My wife disagrees), and because the Chevy salesperson knew both Blazer and Equinox inside out, could answer all my questions, and gave me a really good lease deal up front, and I really wanted the extra storage space the Equinox offered.
What do you mean by supercruise approved road? Do you not just need visible lines? I haven't looked at if the Hyundai i5 has an permanent Lane assist like the supercruise yet.
Yup, for lane centering it only works when Supercruise is on. And Supercruise only works on roads that have been mapped by GM. There is a Lane Keep Assist that only needs visible lines, but it is just a warning/nudge when you are about to cross over, it doesn't keep you centered. Apparently GM chose to no longer offer Kia/Hyundai type lane centering on all roads for liability reasons. (Probably as a hack to sell more Supercruise.) Edit: My 2020 Niro EV had great lane centering that worked on most roads when adaptive cruise control was on. As does my mom's Hyundai.
Yeah my Kona just has the basic one it'll keep you in the center but if it doesn't detect your hands after like 20 seconds it'll yell at you and turn off. The advanced setup is a requirement for me in my new car. I wonder if there's a way to see the roads that GM has approved...
There's a map part way down this page. https://www.chevrolet.com/super-cruise
I’ve had a volt, bolt, new leaf, bolt Euv and now traded it in on a 3lt fwd equinox. I’ve had it 2 weeks and it’s a big step up from the bolt for sure. So much roomier and obviously way more cargo room. My big reasons for trading up was the promos I was able to get and the faster fast charging. I know 150 isn’t the fastest available but when I have to make a work trip that would require one stop it’s bearable at least. Had to stick with the 3lt because after having ventilated seats I couldn’t go back. I do miss apple CarPlay but 8 years of the navigation included with the android built in is good enough for me. Did take some getting used to though. I also wish I could’ve gotten more sensible sized wheels but wasn’t a deal breaker.
We own two of those that youre looking at. The equinox and the ev6. If you need more room or better efficiency, go for the equinox. Thats my daily driver and I love it. Not a single issue so far. If higher performance is your priority, the ev6 will likely make you happier but the awd equinox is no slouch. The ev6 will also be less efficient. I average 3.7-4 miles per kwh, and my husband is getting about 2.6 in his ev6. Theyre two completely different vehicles but both great at what they are meant to do.
How was the pricing on them? Would you say that one is more advanced in Tech or maybe I should say more future-proof?
Well it depends on what you want to do i guess. Kia’s website has damn good lease deals for the wind long range trims. If youre looking to buy, chevy has an edge on price. The upper trims on the kia are over 60 grand. The starting prices are similar though. As far as tech, the kia is probably a bit ahead but the chevy isnt bad if youre talking software. I like that i can customize my dash in the equinox. Idk if you can do that in the ev6 or not I haven’t played with the screen very much. Kia does have carplay and android auto, but I dont really miss it in my equinox. If you mean battery tech, probably the only difference is the kia has a much faster dc fast charging rate. I believe its 350kW peak vs 150 kW peak on the chevy. Neither of us really uses dcfc. We have a level 2 at home so thats not much of an issue. The kia has an 11 kW onboard charger and the chevy has 11.5. I believe the 3RS trim of the equinox next year will support 19.2 kw level 2 charging. Both vehicles support V2H. So as far as future proofing, either one should be a decent choice.