The 2025 Chevy Equinox debuts the crossover’s latest fourth generation, bringing with it a variety of fresh updates and changes, including new styling, an overhauled cabin, and a bevy of new tech features. Notably, the new ‘Nox also carries over the same turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine as the preceding generation. Which leads us to ask – does the Chevy Equinox need a more powerful engine option?
For those readers who may be unaware, the 2025 Chevy Equinox offers the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD gasoline engine in two different output levels. For models equipped with front-wheel drive and a CVT, output is rated at 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm, while models equipped with all-wheel drive and the GM eight-speed automatic are rated at 175 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm. By comparison, the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LSD under the hood of the 2024 Chevy Equinox is rated at 175 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 203 pound-feet across the lineup, with both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models equipped with the GM six-speed automatic transmission.
Since the release of the 2025 Chevy Equinox, some enthusiasts have expressed an opinion that the crossover should offer a more powerful engine option. Some of the possibilities suggested include the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG gasoline engine, which was rated at 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque in the 2018-through-2020 Chevy Equinox, or the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine, which is rated at 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque in the Buick Envision.
Earlier this year, GM Authority spoke with Vehicle Performance Manager Stephanie Ernster, asking why the next-gen Equinox didn’t offer a more-powerful engine option. According to Ernster, GM didn’t receive “any feedback that says [the Equinox is] underpowered for what customers need,” so instead, the automaker “focused on the individual transmissions to at least be able to deliver a bit better fuel economy and drive quality.”
To back that assertion, the more powerful LTG engine option offered for the 2018-through 2020 model years accounted for only 15 percent of the Equinox sales volume.
Nevertheless, we want to know – do you think the Chevy Equinox need a more powerful engine option? Tell us by voting in the poll below, and remember to voice your opinion in the comments as well!
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I'm saying yes, simply because the rest of the vehicle is upgraded and livelier than the outgoing model, it deserves more oomph.
We have a turd of an engine, already with problems, and it gets terrible fuel economy. It's as if GM is pushing Equinox buyers into the EV, kicking and screaming. It won't work.
I had a 2022 Equonix as a company car, put 105k on it. The 1.5t never impressed me at anything. It ate coil packs, burned oil, turbo went out at 90k, sounded horrible and went pretty slow. All while delivering 21mpg lifetime. I live out west, the speed limits are 80 and flow of traffic is closer to 90 so the short gearing did the powertrain no favors. I now have a 2025 awd Equinox, the 8 speed is a largely improved on the highway. It no longer revs as high and passing is greatly improved. Fuel economy 2k miles in at 25.3 on the same loop.
Does it need more power? I still think the transmission and fuel efficiency are the larger issues. The 2025 has this bizarre pause between shifts, its nearly a full second of no power when it shifts from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th....its so strange, it doesn't happen if you shift it manually in L mode. The fuel economy is truly pathetic. I had a 2019 rav4 AWD and it got 36mpg on the exact same loop....it also was quicker. Didn't have turbo torque but i'd trade midrange torque for the fuel economy and ultimate power. I rent vehicles frequently when traveling, the 1.5t is by far the worst engine in its class. I thought the 8 speed would improve fuel economy and acceleration a lot more than it did.
Needs the 6.2L in there.
Indeed. The small displacement boosted engines just don't last.
YES!!!!!!!!!!!! Put the 2.5L that's in the Acadia/Traverse in it. With all it's TQ, this thing would NEVER struggle at any speeds and get very good MPGs. Heck the old 3.6L got just as good mpg's as the old 4 cylinder 2.4L in the older generations. This new equinox is very attractive looking. especially in person.
You can't even get GM to put the LSY in in these things because they are worried it'll complete with the Envision and XT4, yet some how you want them to leap frog their internal competition and take on the Traverse? Wild take.
These things should come with the 2.0T though, at least in the higher trims, and if they're worried they'll cannibalize sales from Buick, then toss the 2.5T into the Avenir trims. It's an easier sell having a 2.5T in an almost 50K SUV vs mainstream Equinox.
@Zoom zoom
They already tried the 2.0L and they axed it. Putting a motor that got axed BACK into the same vehicle probably wouldn't sit well with consumers. Offering a brand new engine with more HP/TQ and it would get around the same MPGs is more enticing. Might as well try for a HOME RUN!!!
How about using the rear E-AWD and 1 or 2 Ultima batteries and make it a plug in Hybrid ?
If this has to be asked then you know the answer to the question.
This motor isn't even competitive in its class. Sportage and Rogue look better on paper without driving them.
Yes
After a half dozen Equinox's in the past 10 years. I can honestly say that they are underpowered. My 2023 is a great vehicle but very average on power and fuel economy. I had a 2020 2.0 and it was quick and fun to drive but the fuel economy was at least 4 mpg less than the 1.5. The 2.5 out of the Blazer would be a great option. GM is focused on the EV and the ICE Equinox is secondary. When GM goes bankrupt, nobody will remember the slow Equinox!
At the bare minimum the higher trim Equinoxes and Terrains should have more power. Ideally trims like the Active/RS and Denali should have the 228 HP LSY 2.0T for the prices being commanded. The fact that these new models actually see a drop in the highway ratings, especially the FWD Equinox which loses a whopping 3 MPG, even with new transmissions tell us this engine is working too hard. The 1.5T works fairly well in the Malibu which is around 3100 LBS. The Equinox/Terrain start out at 3428 with FWD and ends up at 3629 with AWD. Add in some cargo and passengers and your well over 4K. That is a lot of weight for only 175 horses to deal with.