The celestial equinox is a biyearly sign of change. Much less frequent are changes to the Chevrolet’s compact utility of the same name, but 2025 brings us a new, fourth generation Equinox we just had to check out.

Fortunately, no crossing of the equator was required for some First Drive seat time, instead taking just a short flight to Minneapolis.

Still a compact, the new Equinox has seen a slight growth spurt: 2.5 inches wider, though length stays roughly the same at 183 inches. The new exterior follows recent Chevrolet design language, now sharper, edgier and perhaps more youthful than before.

And the cabin certainly mirrors that sentiment with tech at the forefront. New is an 11-inch digital instrument panel paired to an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. This duo is standard in all trims, and fits right into the recontoured and more upscale cabin. And the max 64 cubic-feet of storage is ample for this ute.

Not to be confused with the very different Equinox EV, every gas-fueled Equinox is powered by a familiar 1.5-liter turbo-four, standard front-wheel drive with all-wheel drive available. Those front-wheel drives use a CVT, while all-wheel drives incorporate an eight-speed automatic— two gears more than before.

In either configuration, that little carryover four-banger outputs 175 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. Still, the on-road spirit felt more spry this time around.

STEPHANIE HART: “The turbocharged engine provides better acceleration and a smoother drive overall compared to the previous generation.”

The 2025 Chevrolet Equinox starts around $31,000, which strikes us a solid value proposition for a compact ute.They’re on dealer lots now, and it’s here on the MotorWeek lot for a full Road Test. Stay tuned for that and more Quick Spins… soon!