Winter weather can make for some treacherous driving conditions. This is especially true when it comes to visibility, with snow and ice on the windshield (and on the wiper blades) potentially having a serious negative impact on a driver’s ability to see the road. Heated windshield wiper blades can be very helpful with increasing visibility in these kinds of conditions. We’ve reported on how Chevy now offers this feature on the Traverse as well as on the Blazer EV and now, we’re here to tell you that the heated windshield wiper blades are also offered on the all-new 2025 Chevy Equinox.
This nifty feature comes standard on the RS and ACTIV trims of the 2025 Equinox, but it’s also available on the base LT trim when opting for the Convenience Package II (RPO code ZQ3). This package also comes with ventilated driver and front passenger seats, a six-way power seat adjuster for the front passenger, and automated walk-up lighting.
Along with heated windshield wiper park, the 2025 Chevy Equinox also offers Rainsense wipers, which will automatically turn on when the system detects moisture on the windshield. Not only that, but this feature also controls the speed of the wipers, depending on the amount of moisture on the windshield. Like the heated windshield wiper park, Rainsense are standard on the RS and ACTIV trims, but is also available on the LT trim with the Convenience Package II.
How do heated windshield wipers work? The defroster at the base of the windshield heats the wiper blades while wipers are in the “parked” position. The feature is likely capable of melting snow and ice faster than the windshield defroster can on its own, with a secondary benefit being that a warmer windshield is less likely to crack in freezing temperatures.
Given that the 2025 model year represents the debut of the all-new fourth generation Equinox, the updates go far beyond the windshield wipers. An all-new exterior teams up with an all-new cabin, which features gobs of tech and a substantial amount of safety features. Several new features offered by the 2025 Chevy Equinox will help mitigate the effects of winter weather, including a standard heated steering wheel and heated front seats across all trims.
We tested the new Equinox recently, so hit the play button above to hear what we thought about the all-new model.
Comments
Yes, I’ve seen several now on lots, and the stickers list a $50 credit because the heated wiper park feature is not currently available… shades of chip shortage days. It is a useful feature, I wonder how long it will take to be retrofitted.
If you see one with a credit, and it does not say ‘includes later retrofit’ then there is no retrofit.
As others have mentioned, the heated wiper park will not be available for retrofit.
Minor correction in the title and article. It’s called a “Heated Wiper Park”, not a “Heated Wiper Pack”.
This would be a handy option so I don’t have to grab the wiper as I goes by to tweak it against the windshield to knock the ice and slush accumulation off of it.
Again I make a suggestion. Back in the 50’s Chrysler had a heated front windshield which did the job. When I suggested a front heated windshield to a GM engineer I heard about changing the front pillars, etc. DONT HAVE TO if you have the heating element in the windshield. I am not suggesting the entire front windshield have heating elements . Common sense , a heat strip x amount of inches high . press a button so the wiper will stop on the heating element. I could go on but I elect not to . so I ask GM to put on their common sense hat and for safety sake stop the wipers from icing up. The back window doesn’t ice up if the vehicle has a rear wind defroster. Think about it.
For safeties sake. Heated front windshield element. X inches high by windshield width. Don’t need to redesign any pillars etc. Heated back window works fine . Drop the wipers from loading up with ice .. long over due. A wiper stop position could be included on the smart switch to stop the wipers on the heating element. Common sense .
Well I mean, Jeep and many other brands have offered a heated wiper park area option for YEARS. Why can’t gm actually bring it?
GM used have what they called “Instaclear” windshields on some vehicles back in the 90s didn’t they? I wonder how this is different.
Yes, GM and others had a windshield that included an electrically conductive layer with the lamination that could distribute heat across the entire surface. This new (for gm) system is like a mini version of the rear defroster, heating just the lower portion of the glass where the wipers rest in the “off” position. It’s a nice feature and probably cheaper and more reliable than the old “insta-clear” approach.