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Comparing the Designs Of Third And Fourth Generation Chevy Equinox

General Motors unveiled the all-new 2025 Chevy Equinox this past January, revealing the crossover’s latest fourth generation. As expected, the next-gen ‘Nox debuts a long list of updates and features, not the least of which is all-new exterior styling. Now, we’re taking a closer look at the styling presented by the fourth-generation 2025 Chevy Equinox with a comparison to the outgoing third-gen model.

The front end of the fourth-generation Chevy Equinox.

Fourth-generation Equinox

Third-generation Equinox

For starters, it bears mentioning that the new Equinox presents new exterior dimensions in addition to new exterior styling. That includes a slightly longer wheelbase and overall length, as well as an extra 2.3 inches in overall width.

With that covered, let’s compare the exterior styling, starting up front. First and foremost, the 2025 Chevy Equinox presents a completely different fascia design, adopting the Bow Tie brand’s latest styling cues with slim upper lighting signatures that run along the lower corners of the hood line, connected by a prominent grille bar running across the nose. The lighting also incorporates a two-tiered approach with the primary lighting elements mounted lower in the corners of the bumper, while the grille is set in a large, square shape.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS

Fourth-generation Equinox

2024 Chevrolet Equinox

Third-generation Equinox

By contrast, the outgoing third-generation Chevy Equinox shows a sleeker lighting design that combines forward-facing lighting elements and lighting signatures, divided by a slim horizontal styling bar. This bar is also stretched across the nose, but in a smoother, less angular fashion, while the central intake presents a more crest-like shape compared to the blockier grille seen on the next-gen model. Further lighting elements are mounted lower in the front fascia, while the lower air intake presents a wider shape than that of the next-gen model, continuing a downward-slanting styling line enhanced by the lighting and grille insert shape.

Fourth-generation Equinox

Third-generation Equinox

Moving over to the silhouette, the next-generation Equinox combines black lower cladding wrapped in from the front end to underline the body lines and the wheel wells, while the window line slowly rises as it moves rearwards before jutting upwards at a kink around the C-pillar. This C-pillar kink continues into a shark fin-shaped styling element that appears to give the crossover a floating roof design. Speaking of the roof, the 2025 Chevy Equinox is available in two-tone finishes with either a black or white roof available for several different body colors.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Chevy Equinox does not include black cladding around the wheel wells, while the window line rises up towards the rear of the vehicle without the same dramatic kink as the next-gen crossover. The C-pillar is also missing the shark fin-shaped design element and floating roof design. The rear end appears to fall back sharply into the rear hatch.

2025 Chevrolet Equinox ACTIV

Fourth-generation Equinox

Third-generation Equinox

Finishing it off, the 2025 Chevy Equinox shows far more stylization in the tail compared to the outgoing model. The taillights, for example, are much sharper and angular, with a more technical inner graphic. The upper hatch spoiler is more angular as well, while the rear bumper incorporates a more interesting.

By comparison, the outgoing Equinox has a much simpler rear-end design, without all the angles and details seen on the new model. The shapes are simple and blocky by comparison, from the spoiler, the taillights, to the rear bumper.

Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the 2025 Chevy Equinox adopts GM’s Y trim level strategy, placing the outdoorsy Activ and sporty RS trims at the top of the trim level hierarchy, each offering its own unique combination of styling cues.

As a reminder, the 2025 Chevy Equinox features the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine and rides on the updated variant of the GM D2 platform. Production will take place at the GM San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Equinox news, Chevy 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. Yes, the ’25 is better looking but, at 75 inches it’s too wide for my garage. Why was that necessary? That’s the width I expect of a Blazer, not a Nox.

    Reply
    1. Pull in your driver’s side mirror. Just trying to help.

      Reply
      1. Totally agree with Beachy as we have the same problem! Pulling in a mirror doesn’t help, it’s opening the car doors and getting in for driver and passengers that is the issue.

        Reply
        1. There’s a trax with your name on it then

          But most people will appreciate the slightly larger size.

          Reply
  2. Where’s the bigger engine for the bigger car?

    Reply
  3. i wish chevy would add the self closing mirrors.

    Reply
  4. It’s going to take about five years for the next refresh with vehicles I4 turbo engines that replaced the V6 and they produce the promise GM makes on them. If sales are lost to V6 competitors , the V6 may return.

    Reply
    1. They need a phev power train to add power. Look at the rav4 prime, it’s faster than the frickin supra

      Reply
      1. This is complementing the RAV4 or expressing how much of a laughing stock the Supra is?

        The rav4 prime is also more expensive than a Camaro, and no longer has any off road chomps. I’d wager on the trax off road than the RAV4 these days.

        Reply
    2. I’d love to see the 6th gen small block birth another “high value” V6.

      Reply
  5. I have a 2019 with the 1.6 diesel. The 2.0 was a gas hog and the small engine was underpowered. GM thinks if they add a little redesign they don’t have to make upgrades to the drive train. Bring back the diesel…40+ mpg.

    Reply
    1. The diesel definitely had a place in the line up. My 2018 Equinox can easily obtain 50 MPG on a trip driving 65.

      Reply
    2. I believe the idea (and they’re doing this with the Malibu right now as well) is keeping things cheap, minimal powertrain changes, minimal costs and passing it along to the consumer. RAV4’s these days are costing 50K!!!!. Most Noxs will run 35-40.

      Reply
  6. Dave I own a 2.0T equinox it’s much better on fuel then my old V6 was I can get almost 30mpg which to me is great for a gas engine, I say they come out with a hybrid and and diesel offer both and get rid of the Blazer that really doesn’t seem to much anyway it makes sense and should happen.

    Reply
  7. Mary’s asking us to pay for its new good looks with underwhelming power and non-intuitive basic controls. The question remains, are good looks enough to hide its many character flaws?

    Reply
    1. I think it looks better it finally looks like a small SUV instead of a high off the ground station wagon I even watched a video on these I want to see how the new stalk shifter is! I never thought I would see a stalk/ column shifter again.

      Reply
  8. No doubt the fourth generation is sharp and looks a lot better than the third generation. If they would put some decent powder under the hood they would sell all they could build.

    Reply
  9. Major testosterone injection.

    Reply
  10. Bigger in size, yet use the same weak engine and transmission combo?!? Makes so much sense??? What a waste, because this is a very nice rugged/macho looking SUV

    Reply
  11. Nice looking suv – probably competes with the blazer in size. Add a hybrid and I would buy one

    Reply
  12. A promising entry messed up by the usual GM bungling. It’s larger and heavier yet they just couldn’t bring themselves to correct the non moving second row seat. They also could not find some more power from the 1.5T like they do in China on certain applications or offering the 2.0T. No instead we get an unwanted CVT and less torque on the FWD variant and no power increases on the volume AWD that gains weight over last year meaning this version will most likely be slower. Other missteps are deleting the Premier trim and passing off a blacked out off road looking version as top of the line. Then there is the dumb headlight control put into the screen and deleting the LS model which will drive base prices up considerably.
    Obviously some of these things will not affect sales but they are still minuses when comparing to other competitors.

    Reply

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