There’s a lot to love about the all-new, fourth-generation 2025 Chevy Equinox. Although the updated compact crossover carries over the same platform and engine as the previous generation, it gets a thorough styling update with a boxier profile, a larger overall size, and a new trim lineup, bringing visual variety to the Equinox.
One of the new styling elements that make the 2025 Chevy Equinox look a bit more truck-like is the U-shaped wheel wells. All three preceding generations of the Equinox had decidedly round wheel arches, giving it a more car-like aesthetic. However, the fourth generation marks something of a visual reinvention of the Chevy Equinox in an effort to bring more of what Chevy calls “truck DNA” to the humble crossover.
That “truck DNA” applies to every Chevy pickup truck currently in production. The Chevy Colorado, Chevy Silverado 1500, Chevy Silverado HD, and Chevy Silverado EV all have square wheel wells. The wheel arches on the Silverado 1500 are the least square of the bunch, but the squareness is more pronounced on the ZR2 model.
The new wheel designs for the 2025 Chevy Equinox enhance the truck-like aesthetic. This is especially true of the new Equinox Activ, which comes with 17-inch Dark Android machined-face aluminum wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires.
With some exceptions, like the second-generation “Action Line” C/K Series, which had round wheel wells, Chevy trucks have had square or square-ish wheel arches going all the way back to the Chevy Task Force series of trucks introduced in 1955. So, giving the Chevy Equinox square wheel wells not only makes it look like the current generation of Chevy trucks, but it’s a nod to Chevy Truck heritage that goes back over half a century.
Furthermore, the U-shaped wheel wells on the ICE-powered Chevy Equinox further differentiate it from the Chevy Equinox EV. Although the two crossovers share a name, they have nothing in common mechanically, and the Equinox EV has a decidedly more sleek and wagon-like design compared to the more rugged-looking Equinox. In some ways, the Equinox EV looks more like a spiritual successor to the third-gen Equinox than the fourth-gen Equinox does.
What do you think of the new wheel arch design of the Chevy Equinox crossover? Do you like the more truck-like aesthetic or do you prefer the more car-like, round wheel wells on the third-gen model? Tell us why you voted how you did in the comments.
Comments
We had a Equinox built and now it’s going to take two more months to be shipped. I don’t understand why it takes so long to get here. The dealer is getting cars in weekly. This is a sold car you would think thay would want it here to get paid.
Probably not a GM thing, co-worker bought a Camry, was told 6 weeks to get it, ended up taking 10 weeks.
TOO high. It’s never going to see off road, it can sorta have truck characteristics, but they’re just to high.
We have an RS ordered and waiting
2018 equinox we have is the most fun to drive.
I had a 2019 Equinox premier all-wheel-drive with the 2.0 motor dual exhaust trailing package and chrome. Bring all this back please my 2022 premier all-wheel-drive is a dog.
I have a 2025 Red/Black Equinox RS. I love this car but we do have a Problem with it. At 1800-2000 RPM there is a Rumble and Vibration Sound in the right front Door and you can feel it in the Back Right door. in the Car Only went you have the Back Seat down. If you Put it upright you don’t have the sound. The Sales Man And the Boss of the Place took a ride and got to see what it sound like LOUD and they want to put it up on the lift to see if thee is something that would do that. I have had it back to the Garage here at Chevrolet Twice and They said the sensors are OK. Tomorrow I will be bringing it back again for the Third time to see if they can fix it. I only have 600 Miles on the car and that has been spent going to the Dealer and they have been running around with it to find the problem, plus a tank full of Gas . I will kept you in touch as this is something that needs fixing and I am sure other people have had this sound in their RS’s. Is there a sensor in the back Seat? Let me know what you think.