General Motors is implementing a “Y Trim Level Strategy” across all four of its U.S. brands (Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC), with the 2025 Chevy Equinox offered as one of the latest examples of that strategy. At the top of the 2025 Chevy Equinox trim level lineup, customers can choose between the RS and Activ, which are similar in terms of price, but offer distinctly different appearances and personalities. This strategy is also leveraged by the new Chevy Trax and Chevy Trailblazer, both of which offer RS and Activ trims with identical pricing, but unique personalities.
2025 Chevrolet Equinox Activ
2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS
The 2025 Chevy Equinox debuts the crossover’s all-new fourth generation, with updates including new styling, an overhauled interior, new safety features, and more. In addition, the 2025 model year debuts the new Activ trim level, which offers a more-rugged personality for those customers that enjoy outdoorsy activities.
The new Activ trim slots in alongside the RS as opposing branches in the 2025 Equinox Y Trim Level Strategy, with the LT offered as the entry-level model of the lineup.
Differentiating the sporty 2025 Equinox RS from the outdoorsy 2025 Equinox Activ is a number of features that play well with each trim’s respective theme. For example, the 2025 Chevy Equinox RS incorporates a unique front grille, black mirrors, emblems, and badging, standard 19-inch wheels, and optional 20-inch wheels, while the Activ features its own unique grille and fascia treatment, plus 17-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. Both models also offer additional features over the base-model LT, such as Evotex seats, roof rails, and branded headrests.
The 2025 Chevy Equinox Equinox looks to follow a broader industry trend to offer rugged-looking models that lack any mechanical upgrades to make them more capable or sportier. A few examples of this might include the Ford Escape ST-Line, the Toyota RAV4 Adventure, and the Hyundai Tucson XRT.
The 2025 Equinox and Chevrolet are some of the latest to adopt GM’s Y Trim Level Strategy, with the same strategy also in place at GMC, Buick, and Cadillac, as GM Authority covered previously.
As a reminder, the 2025 Chevy Equinox features the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine and rides on the an updated variant of the GM D2 platform. Production will take place at the GM San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico.
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Comments
Give us a Premier with shiny wheels and bright trim. Not EVERYONE wants black wheels and emblems at the top end of a vehicle these days.
Yeah especially when you have a wife that defaces the rims each time she parallel parks. I’m done with fancy black rims. The chrome ones will atleast be less noticeable.
800 pound towing for front wheel drive models 1500 for awd, I’ll pass
Big deal…
Active features/rugged looks that can’t even tow a pop camper. Maybe just look at a magazine and pretend you’re equinox can take u out to nature. At least my 2018 2.0 nox doesn’t suggest it can do any trail roads
“Y” ? Just another stupid appearance only trim level
I have a feeling this strategy of removing the luxury trims of Chevrolet models is to try to push these customers over to Buick and GMC. So now if you want a premium focused compact SUV instead of going for an Equinox the idea is you look at either a GMC Terrain Denali or a Buick Envision.
This is commonly referred to as bait and switch. If your going to your Chevy dealer looking for a new Equinox premier your friendly salesman will promptly re-direct you to a Buick Envision. Looking for some power and towing. You will be redirected to a Blazer or some other larger costlier vehicle. Time will tell if they actually bring a legitimate top of the line model back but these rugged blacked out editions are not top models despite what they tell you.