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GM Authority

All-New 2025 Chevy Equinox Engine Compared To Direct Rivals

General Motors pulled the sheets on the all-new 2025 Chevy Equinox last week, showing off the nameplate’s latest fourth generation. However, despite the “all-new” branding, the 2025 Chevy Equinox actually cradles the same turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine as the previous generation, leading some to claim the new ’Nox is underpowered. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the 2025 Chevy Equinox engine, this time comparing it to the powerplants on offer by the crossover’s direct rivals.

Badging on the 2025 Chevy Equinox. The 2025 Chevy Equinox engine produces similar output as rivals.

The turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD powering the 2025 Chevy Equinox is rated at a maximum of 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm when equipped with front-wheel drive (standard), and a maximum of 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm when equipped with all-wheel drive (optional). Front-wheel-drive variants are equipped with a CVT, while all-wheel-drive variants connect to the GM eight-speed automatic transmission.

Looking over the list of direct rivals, the 2025 Chevy Equinox engine appears to be more or less in the middle of the pack in terms of peak power, with most models producing around 200 horsepower. There are, of course, exceptions, such as the plug-in-hybrid variant of the Toyota RAV4, which produces a maximum of 302 horsepower, or the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, which produces 152 horsepower.

Check out the table below for more information on the 2025 Chevy Equinox engine and how it compares to its direct rivals:

C-Segment Crossover Powertrain Comparison
Engine Power (hp) Torque (lb-ft) Transmission Drive Wheels
2025 Chevy Equinox (base) Turbo 1.5L I-4 175 @ 5,600 184 @ 2,000 to 4,800 CVT FWD
2025 Chevy Equinox (optional) Turbo 1.5L I-4 175 @ 5,600 203 @ 2,000 to 4,000 8-speed auto AWD
Dodge Journey Turbo 1.5L I-4 165 186 6-speed auto FWD
Ford Escape (base) Turbo 1.5L I-3 180 @ 6,000 199 @ 3,000 8-speed auto FWD/AWD
Ford Escape (optional) Turbo 2.0L I-4 250 @ 5,500 280 @ 3,000 8-speed auto AWD
Ford Escape (optional) 2.5L I-4 HEV 192 155 @ 4,500 ECVT FWD/AWD
Ford Escape (optional) 2.5L I-4 PHEV 210 155 @ 4,500 ECVT FWD
Honda CR-V (base) Turbo 1.5L I-4 190 @ 6,000 179 @ 1,700 to 5,000 CVT FWD/AWD
Honda CR-V (optional) 2.0L I-4 HEV 204 247 @ 0 to 2,000 - AWD
Hyundai Tucson (base) 2.5L I-4 187 @ 6,100 178 @ 4,000 8-speed auto FWD/AWD
Hyundai Tucson (optional) Turbo 1.6L I-4 HEV 226 258 6-speed auto AWD
Hyundai Tucson (optional) Turbo 1.6L I-4 PHEV 261 258 6-speed auto AWD
Jeep Cherokee 2.4 I-4 180 @ 6,400 171 9-speed auto 4WD
Jeep Cherokee (optional) Turbo 2.0 I-4 270 @ 5,250 295 9-speed auto 4WD
Kia Sportage (base) 2.5L I-4 187 @ 6,100 178 @ 4,000 8-speed auto FWD/AWD
Kia Sportage (optional) Turbo 1.6L I-4 HEV 226 258 6-speed auto AWD
Kia Sportage (optional) Turbo 1.6L I-4 PHEV 261 258 6-speed auto AWD
Mazda CX-5 (base) 2.5L I-4 187 @ 6,000 186 @ 4,000 6-speed auto AWD
Mazda CX-5 (optional) Turbo 2.5L I-4 256 @ 5,000 320 @ 2,500 6-speed auto AWD
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Turbo 1.5L I-4 152 @ 5,500 184 @ 2,000 to 3,500 CVT AWD
Mitsubishi Outlander (base) 2.5L I-4 181 @ 6,000 181 @ 3,600 CVT FWD/AWD
Mitsubishi Outlander (optional) 2.4L I-4 PHEV 248 332 - AWD
Nissan Rogue Turbo 1.5L I-3 201 @ 5,600 225 @ 2,800 to 4,000 CVT FWD/AWD
Subaru Forester 2.5L F-4 182 @ 5,800 176 @ 4,400 CVT AWD
Toyota RAV4 (base) 2.5L I-4 203 @ 6,600 184 @ 5,000 8-speed auto FWD/AWD
Toyota RAV4 (optional) 2.5L I-4 HEV 219 163 @ 3,600 to 5,200 ECVT AWD
Toyota RAV4 (optional) 2.5L I-4 PHEV 302 199 ECVT AWD
Volkswagen Tiguan Turbo 2.0L I-4 184 @ 4,400 221 @ 1,600 8-speed auto FWD/AWD

“No one is racing these vehicles,” says GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft. “Typically, the way things work in this space, is along the lines of ‘if it moves, it’s good enough.'”

“Extremely few buyers of vehicles in this segment put power or torque into the top ten priorities,” Luft adds. “Compared to the segment best-selling RAV4, the Equinox has less power but more torque when it comes to all-wheel-drive models. You don’t have to ring it out as much as the RAV4, since the Equinox makes its peak torque lower on in the power band. The same thing takes place with the segment second best-seller, the Honda CR-V.”

During an interview earlier in the month, GM Authority asked the Chevy Equinox product team why there’s wasn’t a more-powerful 2025 Chevy Equinox engine option. According to Vehicle Performance Manager Stephanie Ernster, Chevy did not hear customers providing feedback that the LSD engine was underpowered.

As a reminder, the 2025 Chevy Equinox rides on the GM D2 platform, while production likely to take place at the GM San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Equinox news, Chevy news, GM technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Dodge Journey? You mean the new one that is only available in Mexico? Because the U.S. version has been out of production for a couple of years now. The Hornet is Dodge’s current U.S. entry, and it has a CRAPLOAD more horsepower and torque than the Equinox (2.0t with 268 hp/295 torque). The problem with the Hornet is, people don’t know about it.

    If you look at the traditional U.S. “Big Three”, among Chevy/Ford/Dodge, the Equinox is outclassed by a lot, considering available horsepower and torque. Even Ford’s 1.5t 3 cylinder outpowers the Equinox.

    Reply
  2. At least tune the HO with the 8spd to about 250-300hp with like 250lb of tq

    Reply
    1. Lol daily drive a 1.5L boosted to 300hp. No thanks

      Reply
  3. If GM wants to use this embarrassing, anemic and paltry engine, that is on them, but why not give the option for an upgrade?

    We bought my wife a new Terrain Denali in 2019 and it packed the 2.0L Turbo. It was a mighty little engine and the vehicle (overall) was very good. Coming from BMW SUV’s, she put it on their level of fit and finish, technology and options. GM then decided to ditch the 2.0L Turbo as an option and only provide this 1.5L Turbo, but still demand Denali prices. We decided to go back to BMW SUV’s and haven’t looked back. 175hp in a CUV/SUV? Get real.

    Reply
    1. The 2.0t had to be dropped because of emmissions. I also had 2019 Denali and it towed great. Now have a ZR2, but its also possible the new 2.0t might show up in the Terrain. We will have to wait and see.

      Reply
      1. Yes, the EPA has a boot on the throats of many businesses in some way, shape or form.

        With the CCP’s narrative of the oceans beginning to boil and the ice caps completely melting in the next 5-10 years if someone purchases an ICE vehicle or doesn’t eat a 100% vegan diet, it has become clear who calls the shots. If someone believes that having to dispose of a 2,500lb. battery (that is charged using fossil fuels its entire life), is better for the environment, that is certainly their right. I hope these same people send copious amounts of food, clothing and medicine to the 8 year children that are mining the lithium in China.

        Reply
        1. Congratulations on being a misinformed idiot.

          Reply
          1. Ignore the fool. He’s just looking to see who he can get a rise out of. The only reason he has any “likes” is he put them in himself.

            Reply
    2. Did you even look at the list or did you just run right to the comments after reading the title and start spouting off? The engine is right there in terms of power. 0-60 in the mid 8’s isn’t anemic.

      They tried the larger motor, it didn’t sell. Combined with other factors they 86’d it and look how sales are, they are what, 3rd or 4th in the whole segment and second with in Chevy (3rd in GM). Yeah, seems good they aren’t listening to you…

      Many of the larger options are hybrids, which I am a big fan of and really wish they would offer, but I digress.

      Seems you are infamous for being uninformed, you do realize torque is a measure of power and plays a bigger role in the drivability of this class of vehicle than HP right? That is why the 1.5 isn’t so bad, it has tons more torque than most the competition. Other than the roque and tiguan, there isn’t a vehicle with more torque standard. So no, it isn’t embarrassing, uncompetitive, anemic or paltry. It offers good mpg and driveability, nearly diesel like at that. That engine was lauded by many, all the torque, better driving experience, etc. Well it only had 137 hp but 240 ftlbs. This engine better matched in the middle. It gave up 37 ftlbs but added 38hp, it really is a solid combination without all the emissions issues one has to deal with and higher gas prices.

      Reply
      1. “It has tons more torque than most of the competition.”?

        There are 26 vehicles in the list above (plus the 2 Equinox variations). The base Equinox has 184 lb./ft.. of torque. Every other base vehicle is on par here. They are all within ~10lb./ft. in either direction. Please define “tons”.

        The optional GM 1.5L gets 203lb./ft.. Every other optional model on the list (minus the Toyota’s) has far more torque.

        In the end, if you are happy with paying more and getting less, that is certainly your right. I do not choose to conduct my finances in this manner.

        Reply
      2. Exactly – actually if one looks at HP and Torque curves – GM’s 1.5 is superior (for actual driving) than many of the others. People spout off about the numbers without actually looking at where the hp and torque comes on / stays on. Or better yet actually driving one. Drive it and what you really experience is the 203 ft.lbs constant from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm… this is a differentiator.

        And don’t forget about the power to efficiency balance..

        Reply
    3. You have to love Alex Luft’s line, as long as it moves it’s good enough! Talk about a guy that goes along to get along! It’s almost embarrassing.

      Reply
      1. Actually, I grilled the Equinox team about the engine choices two weeks ago. The realities here are quite simple, but they seem to be extremely difficult to accept… for some.

        As I mentioned previously, I encourage you to spend some time at a Chevy dealer on a busy Saturday afternoon and observe the reactions from actual shoppers (not online trolls) after driving the Equinox. I’ll save you the trouble and refer you to my line, which you so eloquently quoted.

        Reply
        1. Jofa – you’re either misinformed or are just outright lying. I worked for GM before (now retired) and sat through interviews conducted by Mr. Luft. He is the complete opposite of your strange description.

          There were times GM hated him for reporting unpleasant truths and they even stopped inviting him to events, denying interview requests, etc. all because he is one of a very few journalists who asks the hard questions and ruffles feathers in the process by reporting it.

          About the Equinox: not many know this, but Equinox production actually increased when GM dropped the 2.0L turbo since the plant was able to make more with the 1.5L engine. It’s basic ROI and cost-benefit analysis. GM doesn’t make any decisions that are not backed by research and data due to the corporate CYA culture. Keep that in mind as you continue your crusade to discredit a solid product.

          Reply
          1. Making decisions on ROI and cost benefit analysis doomed the EV1, the Volt also hybrids. GM management has no vision for coming and future markets. EVs are a long bumpy road from generating any profit.

            Reply
            1. Not even close Rick. ROI and CBA had nothing to do with the commercial failure of either the EV1 or the Volt. The EV1 was way too early for its time. The Volt, although an engineering marvel, was a marketing disaster, with no one outside a select (and educated) few aware of its existence.

              EVs are already generating profit at Tesla. GM isn’t far behind as long as they can get the production bottlenecks resolved. There are many who think that GM’s new EVs are superior to those from Tesla.

              Reply
          2. That’s a bit misleading about Equinox sales without the 2.0. Sales jumped in 2022 and 2023 compared to 2021 but that is because there was a huge dip in 2021 (I assume Covid/production issues but I am not sure?) Anyway the 2.0 was dropped for the ’22 model year, here are current gen’s US sales:

            2018: 332,318
            2019: 346,048
            2020: 270,994
            2021: 165,323 (2022 model year = no 2.0)
            2022: 212,072
            2023: 212,701

            Reply
            1. It depends on how you look at it.

              The reason for the dip in 2021 was, in fact, production issues related to COVID.

              The reason for the dip after 2021 was the stoppage of Equinox production at CAMI. They lost their key plant and never made it up in Mexico. Vee8 is right, SLP was able to increase production *within that one plant* when the 2.0L LTG was dropped.

              Reply
              1. Right, so production increased at the Mexico plant (because they had no other option) and in order to help streamline production the 2.0 was dropped. As you say, depends on how you look at it – but connecting any sales momentum to killing the 2.0 is disingenuous at best.

                Reply
        2. You can go back and forth on weather it’s enough power or not. What jumps out at me when I look at that list is that nearly all competitors have options. GM tried to tell it’s customers what they wanted to buy before and that didn’t work too well. Here we are again.
          I bought a GMC Denali back when it offered an engine you couldn’t get in a Tahoe. Today it’s just a badge. If their market research shows that customers want to pay more for just the name then their market research is flawed and is done only to show them what they want to see.

          Reply
          1. Captain Oblivious….GM does have options with a more powerful engine it’s called the Blazer why build an Equinox 2.0T when you can have a little bit bigger vehicle for a little more money and if you want a smaller engine there’s the Trailblazer and Trax, if you want luxury there’s Buick and Cadillac with the envision and XT4… there is no need for a more expensive overpriced Equinox and say what you want but I had to search a lot to find my 2020 Equinox with the 2.0T there just aren’t that many out in the wild. I would rather have it ride and handle better and have a better interior. Also the competition like say Toyota only has one brand not counting Lexus so the RAV4 is the only one there no Equinox/Terrain so Toyota needs to offer options on its vehicles they have Lexus but I don’t know if the RX is related to the RAV4 or not. Car companies are out to make money not give you everything you want…this isn’t Burger King and NO you can’t always have it your way!

            Reply
        3. I actually own one of each, a 1.5 AWD premier, and a 2.0l AWL mid night edition.
          In day to day driving the 1.5 L does not feel underpowered. The fuel economy is far better and works well on reg gas. We have owned since 2019 and the 1.5 now has 240,000km. Its been extremely reliable and trouble free.
          The 2.0l is a nice working machine , but you pay at the pumps with hi test gas and it burns lots more fuel , especially is you want to use the power of the engine.
          Really for 95% of this segment the 1.5L is the better option.
          If speed and performance is what you want wait and get the electric Nox.
          Down the road i will get a new Nox ACTIV and will not be concerned about the 1.5 as it will meet my needs perfectly.

          Reply
          1. Finally some one mentions gas mileage & hi test gas- the first things I check out before considering a new car. I own the 2018 nox with 1.5 (& yes the 2.0’s were available when I purchased).

            Reply
  4. Looks like nearly every competitor has a much more powerful option. Chevy’s one engine for all would make Henry Ford proud. Should make every color option black while they are at it.

    Reply
    1. Power is subjective and the fact the 1.5t gets full torque about 1000k lower than most others it will feel faster to most which is where most people use the available power.

      The only issue I have is I liked my 2019 terrain with 2.0t because of towing. But really how many people are actually towing with these.

      Same people were upset about the 3 cylinder engines, but it seems everyone that has them like them. Remember everyone is not a speed demon and if you think about it these engines have close to v6 and some v8’s power from the late 80’s to the early 90’s

      Reply
  5. If GM really wanted to put their finger on the pulse of the customer they would ask owners of competitive brands why they did not buy a Nox. Maybe when they launch the 2025 Terrain it will have a more powerful option.

    Reply
    1. You do realize they do market studies for stuff like this and not just their owners right? They know what their customers want and buy and what brings people there and pushes them away. If a larger motor would get them 50% more sales they would do it.

      Reply
  6. Coward gm bowing to green politics and govt regulations trying to increase their CAFE numbers. Imagine, there is a 2025 Equinox equipped with the 2.0L turbo, but its only available for the Chinese market. That said I think the 2025 will still be a good seller, as much as I would like the 2.0L turbo to be available for the NA market it would definitely attract a premium price. I say give people a choice anyway.

    Reply
    1. Agreed. gm seems to want to take away fun to drive vehicles for the masses almost like its part of some leftist agenda along with forcing EVs upon us. I truly believe gm missed the boat with hybrids as a stepping stone until EV batteries are better figured out. The whole thing wreaks of some green agenda rather than providing what people who enjoy driving want.

      Reply
      1. GM isn’t taking anything away. The new Trax for example is a very fun to drive model. Alex Luft called it the Corvette of its segment and not because it was fast, but because it handles well.

        Reply
    2. Cowards? There are Federal financial penalties if CAFE is not met. It’s a constant balance of value, customer expectations and Federal regulations.

      Vote with your pocketbook sure.
      But also Vote.

      Reply
  7. My zero turn mower has better acceleration than the 1.5L Equinox…

    I am almost positive that GM is going with a “good enough” approach to the Equinox so that it doesn’t cannibalize the Equinox EV sales or even the Blazer/Envision sales (which have the 2.0L)…almost like they don’t want it to be the perfect car with a good price and good power. I had a ’19 Equinox Redline with the 2.0L/9spd and it was fast…turned it in when the lease was over. Now the cheapest way to get a 2.0L is to go with a Blazer or Envision. If GM wants to offer the 1.5L, that is fine, but at least offer the 2.0L as an upgrade to the RS or Activ. I get the sense that GM is going to make all of their ICE models just “good enough” and put the desirable features on the EV’s to drive sales. Right now, owning an EV is not right for me, so I bought a new Sierra last summer. We will see where EV’s are in about 6-7 years when my truck is paid off to see if they are really more convenient and cost-effective compared to owning an ICE vehicle.

    Reply
    1. 0-60 in the mid 8’s, no mower is touching that. And you lost all credibility when you called the mid 6 second 0-60 of the 2.0 fast.

      Reply
      1. It’s faster than mid-8’s, that is 2 seconds to either get squashed by that 18-wheeler or get out of its way.

        Reply
        1. What dangerous driving are you doing pulling out in front of an 18 wheeler on a road? Sounds like a person problem not a car problem. If you are in any dangerous situation, that is 100% driver, not vehicle. 8 seconds to 60 is less than second behind an 80’s Camaro Z28 or Mustang GT which, I mean, come on…

          Reply
          1. Ever passed a line of cars or an 18-wheeler on a 2-lane? With 3-4 people in the car? Luggage? The Equinox is a fine little about town runabout. It’s sorely lacking as competitive compact crossover compared to a CR-V, Escape, even the new Hornet. The 1.5 is fine as a base offering, GM should bring back to 2.0 or offer a higher tune version of the 1.5 with 190-210 HP.

            Reply
  8. So this article basically reiterates what 90% of the posters here have been saying. The 1.5T is adequate for basic commuting duty but subpar in higher costlier trims, especially Active or Denali models that weight more and have larger tires etc.

    Reply
  9. “Nobody cares about power in this segment”.
    “As long as it moves.”

    When did GM Powertrain get so lazy? I get the fact that these aren’t race cars, but your all-new entry isn’t middle of the pack in terms of power, it would be dead last if not for a non-competitive Mitsubishi offering that is going into its 8th model year in 2025. Beyond power, I am curious about fuel economy, because the 1.5 is/was not competitive in that area either. It remains to be seen if the CVT and 8 speeds help it.

    Reply
    1. How about you just ignore torque all together as that isn’t important right? It has tons more torque at a lower rpm that most. That is more important in a family mover…

      Reply
      1. I haven’t ignored anything. Look at the chart again, it is middle of the pack in peak torque and where ranges are available it is not particularly unique in where that peak is achieved. The GM 1.5 in the Equinox has long been criticized in the trade publications, even Consumer Reports describes it as “lackluster”. You may not think it matters but people look at this stuff. Again, if the point is to build a truly class-leading vehicle in this crucial segment, a carry over motor doesn’t cut it.

        Reply
      2. Also did you ignore the fuel economy portion of my comment? Because I think we can agree that is a big deal in this segment. These are all the base non-hybrid numbers

        (Current) Equinox 26/31
        Nissan Rogue 30/37
        Ford Escape 28/34
        Honda CRV 28/34
        Toyota Rav4 27/35
        Hyundai Tuscon/Kia Sportage 26/33

        Again it will be interesting to see what the CVT and 8 speeds do to improve fuel economy but I’m not expecting it to suddenly become class-leading in that regard.

        Reply
      3. The problem here is two fold. For 2025 the torque drops by 19 on the FWD versions and any 1.5T I have driven or rented loses power in hot weather especially with the A/C on. Power is noticeably better in cooler denser weather. It also looks like weight will increase a bit for this larger new version which won’t help. The CVT and 8 speed may help make up for the weight increase but time will tell how it works out.

        Reply
    2. The problem is not with GM Powertrain, but rather the inept product/marketing teams that have no sense of what it takes to be a leader. They refer to these vehicles as “units” and have no passion for what a great vehicle needs to be.

      Reply
  10. Mary Barra knows what she’s doing. GM stock is up. Lean and mean.

    Reply
  11. Here is MY OPINION lol….having had the 2.0L turbo myself in the terrain and multiple family members having the 1.5L, the 1.5L does just fine for day to day driving and has plenty of passing power. Sure I loved the 2.0L turbo and it was a lot of fun to drive (in straight line performance only, I wouldn’t dare try and kick around corners because it wasn’t built for that) but that is just me. All my other family member couldn’t care less about the power and were more than satisfied with the 1.5L. These engines make a lot of torque at very low RPMs which makes it peppy and fun to drive. To me, torque is more important than HP. I would rather have a turbo engine over a NA. We even have the encore with the 1.3L and I love it! feels like a little go-kart for how nimble it is. I even took the 2.7L sierra over the 5.3L lol and for anyone wanting more power you could just go up to the similar sized blazer, the prices aren’t that far off or….. the equinox EV AWD which I think is going to be our next car 🙂

    Reply
    1. There is always someone like you in the comments. One, that wasn’t the topic I was discussing. I was stating that they have plenty of power. Two, why do I care how it performs at 200K miles? I lease. And so do millions of people. Three, I know plenty of people who have bought these engines and they are doing just fine. My friend had a 1.4L turbo cruze and drove it 200k miles before giving it to her dad and he is still driving it. And it was beat the sh*t out of but the engine ran fine. She now has the 1.5L equinox over 100k miles and has no problems, it still runs smooth and she hasn’t even replaced the spark plugs. If you take care of any engine, it will go far.

      Reply
      1. I wasn’t making the argument of reliability, long term ownership costs, resale value etc. I was talking about performance. You are trying to make an argument out of nothing. Grow up.

        Reply
        1. Brandon really likes mediocrity and ignorance.
          Your junkmobiles say enough about you.

          Reply
  12. I am going to type what’s on my mind…first the Equinox base engine is comparable with other base engines in it’s class, two I I currently own a 2020 equinox 2.0t while it’s a quick wagon you pay for that in MPG if you have a lead foot the gas doesn’t last very long, three I see people complain about towing… really with an equinox I have yet to see an equinox or any other CUV im this class towing anything, finally these Equinoxs are pretty darn reliable as they are why mess with Success I mean the engine could use a bit more power other then that it’s a proven engine according to my mechanic this is engine is near bulletproof, and finally four you can get the 1.5 and get the Trifecta engine CPU tune which brings HP and Tourqe up to almost the levels of the current 2.0T the Buick envision and Cadillac XT4 for like $600 dollars which to me is worth it. Now if Chevy drops the ICE Blazer then maybe just maybe will the equinox get the current 2.0T.

    Reply
    1. Well said! I completely forgot about that engine tune! I got it for my terrain and the car came alive! and MPGs were about the same.

      Reply
  13. GM is missing a hybrid vehicle in every segment. And the EV push is stalling. But hey, I guess GM knows best.

    Reply
  14. GM wants their gas models to be very slow, so that they can use acceleration as a selling point for EVs. people are saying 2.0 was discontinued for emissions, i dont understand how a 2.0 turbo is going to have more emissions than a 1.5 turbo. this is all BS

    Reply
    1. Larger engine, it is simple physics…

      Reply
      1. That is the old LTG 2.0T engine. The newer LSY 2.0T has lower emissions and better fuel economy with a corresponding loss in HP. They could easily use the newer LSY engine in these vehicles moving forward and it would both easily pass the same emissions as the 1.5T and get similar real world MPG.

        Reply
  15. Should have just left the 2.4 Ecotec in the Equinox. I have one in my wife’s 2015 Buick Verano and it has been bulletproof. Could have tuned it for a little more HP and torque. Doesn’t GM learn anything from Toyota. They have been sticking with the 2.5 NA I4 for eons, because it just works. These tiny turbo motors are nothing but trouble down the road. 1.2 I3, 1.3 I3, 1.4 I4, 1.5 I4. will all be in the junkyard within 8 years of manufacture.

    Dave

    Reply
  16. WOW!!! That gutless engine gets destroyed by all the rivals who offer a more powerful optional engine! Such a joke!! GM has a very attractive looking vehicle and they don’t give the customer an OPTION to get a more powerful engine…….pathetic

    Reply
  17. Wonder if this came from my comment yesterday comparing them all? As I stated, outside of the Tiguan and Rogue, no standard engine has more torque which is much more important in this class of vehicle, really all mainstream people movers which is why vehicles like the Traverse, Highlander and Explorer have gone smaller turbo charged for that low end torque boost.

    They have done countless studies both with in GM and 3rd party (I know, I get asked to participate in studies for other makes every once in a while, it is fun and make a little money. Years ago one study I was in has the G8 ST (that el camino pick up they were thinking of bringing from Australia), but it had the GTO interior. Many of these studies are across all brands and they share it with all.

    Either way, the Equinox is in what, 3rd or 4th place in segment which is one of the largest and most competitive, they must be doing something right. This is an enthusiast market, they aren’t trying to stuff a 400hp turbo motor in these. It is for the starter family that wants reliable, smooth, comfortable and well priced transportation. They aren’t the demographic flying all over 15+ mph over the speed limit and passing at 80mph on a two lane road. Chances are these drivers are the ones holding everyone up, they don’t need or want 300+ hp, 175 with an abundance or torque is more ideal. For the few on here that says I won’t go with another because it doesn’t have 250hp from a 2.0T, there are hundreds in your place and there is a reason it was cut.

    As an enthusiast I would love tons of power in what I drive, but I am also realistic in which class of vehicle I am driving who and what it was designed for. And the 1.5 makes more sense.

    Then again why the 2.0 from overseas isn’t here is beyond me, but it must have to do with emissions, production, costs, etc.

    Reply
  18. Seems to me just about everybody here agrees the 1.5L is a perfectly adequate base engine, but does anybody honestly believe GM is not leaving sales on the table by not offering another powertrain option? The list above is littered with powerful optional engines and/or hybrid powertrains. I supposed next GM is going to say the customers don’t want hybrids either because this engine gets adequate gas mileage. LOL.

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  19. I spend a lot of time in rental cars, so have my fair share of experience in 1.5L Equinox and Terrain. My experience is the 1.5L is great around town with very strong torque off idle and a smooth, linear build in power until about 3000 rpm where it runs out of breath. Fine around town but No Bueno on the two-lane roads around the south with 40-70 mph passing performance is quite important. A couple of people and some luggage and a 1.5L ‘Nox struggles to get around slow moving tractor trailers, etc. I don’t need a race car, but poor mid-range acceleration is a deal breaker.

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  20. Looking to buy a GM CUV but can’t find anything that excites me. I like the Buick Envision for engine size 2.0L & 220hp but a bit freaked out about it coming from China. Will GM still be in China in 5 years?
    I need two thing to win me over to the new 25 Equinox -more power & and a lighter colored interior option.
    I currently have a factory ordered 2013 Equinox with the 3.6L/301 hp and the lighter interior option. Best vehicle I have every owned

    Reply
    1. The 2025 Equinox Activ gives you the lighter colored interior, but the power issue is still there unless you go to the aftermarket for a tune from someone such as Trifecta.

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    2. You might want to take a spin in the Blazer with the 3.6L V6.

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    3. The LT has an option for Artemis (gray-green) vinyl interior, I like the color in my Trax. Although it has a black dash, carpet and partial door trims, the Artemis seats and door trim inserts break that up a bit.

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  21. Maybe GM should pay attention to the fact that not one of their SUVs is rated more than 30-32mpg. For the same money you can buy a Honda or Toyota hybrid SUV that gets 40mpg or more! How about we work on that?

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  22. I have two 1.5 Turbo NOX’S. They are nice vehicles and have sufficient daily driver power. They do have better around town torque. They are average on a four-lane highway. I owned the 2.4 NOX. It was a slow, weak death trap. I also had a 2.0 NOX. It was fun to drive but wasn’t easy on fuel. It averaged about 4-5 mpg less than the 1.5 Turbo.
    I guess the issue is with some of the folks on this site is the fact that over the years we have been used to engine options. I’m old. In 1967, I bought a used 1963 Chevy Impala. It had the 283 cu. in. V-8 with 195 hp. My next door neighbor had the same car with a 409 cu. in. motor with near 400 hp.
    Back then you had a ton of options, colors, etc. The cars changed every year. Sadly, the world has changed!!
    The good news is, it’s America. You have choices.

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  23. If GM doesn’t want to offer a bigger engine in the Nox then why not just do what GM did with the Colorado and Canyon trucks?
    Just offer different power levels.

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  24. So the new equinox base is a CVT with lower torque and if you want to retain the torque of the old model and get a decent transmission you have to get four wheel drive, WOW a new updated version that is worse.

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  25. You need to have a 2.0 turbo available for the terrain

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  26. Nobody is racing these Alex, doesn’t mean we have to be thrilled about revving the crap out of these things to get on the highway or pass someone. For 30K, I expect adequate performance and maybe a little fun. I’m not expecting to take these to the drag strip, but almost 10 seconds to 60, along with having to plan passes unless you want to mash the pedal is something I’d expect from an econobox, not something where you’re gonna be in the mid-30s for reasonably equipped.

    Reply
    1. “Nobody is racing these Alex”

      Thanks for repeating the obvious 🙂

      “For 30K, I expect adequate performance”…

      Adequate performance is is EXACTLY what this vehicle delivers and has been delivering for the past three generations.

      I’ll also add that if you’re “revving the crap out of” this vehicle to get on the highway or pass, you’re doing something wrong. The turbo keeps the revs down, making getting on the highway not all that difficult.

      I must ask – have you even driven the Equinox with the 1.5L turbo?

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      1. I have owned 2 of them. They’re slugs, especially compared to the 2.0 we now have in our Blazer despite the extra weight.

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      2. You may be on to something Alex. Maybe that can be Chevrolet’s new tagline. “Hey we’re adequate “.

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  27. Too many people look only at HP and torque numbers, and not the power curves. From a standing start to about 50 mph, it’s torque does the accelerating, not HP. And it’s where in the power curve that max torque is at…2000-3000 rpm is where most people accelerate to and from in every day driving.

    If the lack of a high power engine means that you won’t be buying an Equinox, you’re clearly out of step with the vast majority of GM buyers, who after all is who GM listens to.

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    1. Keep trying to make excuses for mediocrity. The GMC Terrain already has seen sales slip nearly 20% in the past year.

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  28. I wouldn’t buy unless it had a more powerful engine option.

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  29. My 2010 dog 2.4 Equinox with no turbo has more horses than 2025 Equinox. Come on man.

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  30. B.F.D. Little engines for little minds.

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  31. And this is why CRV and Rav-4 will continue to outsell the Equinox by a wide margin. Better vehicles in almost every respect. Check resale value.

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  32. Gm give us motor choices and stop looking at pure profits as a business. Your already making these other choice motors. If we could order our motor choice u could group these models orders up and manufacturer once or twice a year, and keep a loyal/happy gm consumers. Smart business try to satisfy customers. There’s a lot people on this site that would prefer the larger motor.

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  33. Mary Barra just announced today that GM is bringing back hybrids. This is due to pressure from dealers. Apparently the public does not want EV’s at this time they want hybrids! Don’t be surprised if GM in the near future add’s a hybrid powertrain to the Equinox portfolio! I could also see the Traverse, the Trailblazer, the Blazer and if we get a new Malibu, that will also receive a hybrid powertrain as well. Is it as easy as bolting two electric motors to the 1.5 liter turbo?

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  34. While I have never owned an Equinox, I have driven most of the variants over the years. My 60 something mother leased a few, and female friends of mine have had some as well. My mother last had a 2019 Premier with a 2.0T and 9spd. At the same time, a gf of mine had a 1.5T 6spd, both AWD. I drove them back to back many times. The 1.5T was a buzzy turd at WOT, while the 2.0 was impressive. Around town at part throttle, picking up groceries, the 1.5T was adequate.

    I was disappointed when GM dropped the 2.0T during Covid. When it came time for my mother to lease something new, she moved to a 3.6L Blazer (pretty quick for what it is), as I wasn’t putting her in that 1.5T buzzbox. Hopefully the 8spd will help with the 2025 model. The 6 speed wasn’t a good paring with the 1.5T. And a CVT paired with the new 2wd version? Yuck. I think they nailed the looks on the new generation, but I’ll never be a buyer with the current powertrain options. I’ll admit though, I’m not the demographic GM is marketing this platform to.

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  35. I’m 80 years old and I own a 2023 Equinox AWD 1.5t engine. I like and I don’t think it’s underpowered, as a mater of fact, I’m surprised how well it performs. The wife and I took a drive through the hills in the Arkansas Ozarks averaging 31.9 MPG. I’m very satisfied with it.

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  36. Vee8 I have 3 chevys in my garages and I have never had any one give me a poll or data from my experience’s as a new owner of there products. That would be 2018,21,22 all purchased new. So much for data driven!

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  37. It looks better but it is truly a bigger trax with same engine.. might as well get the trax

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    1. No, this is not the same engine as a Trax. Trax is a 1.2L three-cylinder engine. This is a 1.5L four-cylinder engine…

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  38. All the experts here – and yet no one has driven a ’25. Will be different and much better with the 8-speed and associated tune. Get em out there, drive them, and then all the opinions might be valid. As of now, it’s just people with their biases and mag-spec-based opinions.

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  39. Here in the Phoenix area you need merging power to get on the busy congested freeways. If you aren’t getting on the freeway at 60 MPH you are going to get cut off and tailgated. I am not saying a race car, but in our bigger cities you need to merge on the freeway everyday without getting the middle finger or honked at. It’s the wild west out here and I see it all the time —the low powered vehicles merging on the freeways with 6 cars on their butts.

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  40. S10 lover not much of a deference in motor output and let’s not forget about the added weight with the equinox. Put 4 passengers or five with the ac on and go up a steady incline this little 1.5 will not be able to get out of it’s own way.

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    1. What a dopey reply

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  41. Hey dopey I own a trailblazer 1.3 awd I also own an equinox 2.0. I know from experience, u know squat about the difference in the motors. Going to the grocery store won’t tell u if the engine is adequate, load up the car and turn on the ac. Or stress that little motor and see how long it lasts. Dopey

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  42. The 1.5t is awful and not class competitive in power, power delivery and fuel efficiency. I have a 2022 equinox as a company car, put 70k on it in the last 15 months, previously had a 2019 RAV4. The RAV4 got legitimately 10 mpg better in the real world. I averaged 36.5 mpg lifetime. My equinox gets 25.8, on the same loop. Same tires. Same driving. The equinox is painfully slow. The 1.5t makes no power anywhere. It somehow has turbo lag, no power, isn’t efficient and is unreliable. It eats coil packs and consumes oil at an alarming rate. The IC freezes and the power surges often. Runs awful in summer too, misfires are a common occurrence. The 8 speed may help, the thing only has any power from 2800-4k rpm. It’s the narrowest powerband I’ve ever experienced. The 6 speed shifts 4 times going 0-60, truly insane. It revs near 3k at the 80mph speed limits out west.

    The 1.5t isn’t the worst part of the vehicle though, the seats are torture devices. The safety tech is dangerously bad, the build quality makes my f body look like a Rolex. It’s the worst vehicle in its segment. The new one looks cool and might actually have space to store more than a pack of gum!

    Stop patronizing this engine, it’s not competitive and an awful driving and maintenance experience.

    Reply
    1. So right. The RAV4 and the Honda CRV are far superior vehicles in every respect to the Equinox. That is why their sales easily surpass the Equinox. 2025 probably not going to change this.

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  43. Ya know I keep hearing about how bad the 2.0T is on gas mileage compared to the 1.5T but put yourself in my shoes I went from a 2010 Equinox V6 AWD and the gas mileage was horrible I couldn’t even get a full week on a single tank I think got high teens for fuel mileage tops…so to me my 2020 2.0T is much better on the MPG FRONT!

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  44. I average 29 Mpg yr round mainly rural hilly roads with my 2018 , 2.0 L and I have never put in anything but mid grade fuel. Engine runs great, never a knock. . I’ll take my 29-31 mpg over the 1.5 anytime. Keep your foot off the turbo and u should easily get high 20s

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  45. I know of a few entities that love the 1.5; Hertz, Avis, National, Thrifty, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise…. as long as its cheap, they don’t care at all about performance.

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  46. The buyers will speak. Check Equinox retail sales results through 2024. Buyers more and more are aware of quality, reliability, performance and resale value.
    Get them all right and you get a vehicle like the Corvette C-8 Z06. Expecting mine in August after a long wait. Our first gm new vehicle purchase since 2003.

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  47. The problem with a tune is it usually requires premium fuel. Not to mention if u do it on your vehicle it probably voids your warranty

    Reply

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