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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GM better cozy up to Toyota and take the hybrid engine from the RAV4 and put it in the Equinox and the Terrain
GM is focusing on EV'S all other manufacturers have multiple options with ICE, Hybrids and PHEV'S Ms. Barra needs to get her act together and start offering vehicles for every buyer in the marketplace.
If nothing atleast a more powerful hybrid option. That way they can not only offer a more powerful option but also a hybrid option too. Will it kill GM to offer more options while maintaining simplicity or no...a perk for China only?
I currently drive an '18 AWD Equinox Premier, with the 2.0 and love it.(In addition to my '23 C8 HTC) The Equinox has enough power for passing and the mountains, and it gets great mileage...23-24 in town and near and sometimes over 30 highway. I agree with Joe and Wesley. I'll not be buying an Equinox with 175hp. Will have to look @ BMW M1 with 250 hp.
You don't need to tell me. I have the LSY in my 22 XT5 (the successor to the LTG you have in your Nox). I find it to be a pleasant and underrated engine. It doesn't feel overworked, its smooth, quiet, fuel efficient, and while it doesn't have the get up and go of the High Feature V6, its still peppier in my heavier XT5 than my 16 Rav4 which is a lighter vehicle and has the same power as this 1.5L. The one thing though with the 1.5L LSD, its supposed to be high on low end torque for its class. So like Paul below says, its fine for those typically buying these vehicles. Nobody is buying an Equinox to blow people away at the light.
My 2025 Equinox LT has excellent acceleration. I can easily pass other cars when I need to do so. I do not tow a trailer and that would be one of the only reasons for a bigger engine. The 1.5 liter is just fine.
I am very happy with my 2025 Equinox RS. The 1.5 with the 8 speed is very comparable to my 2018 2.0 that I previously owned. Recently driving from Detroit to Upper Michigan almost 500 miles it averaged 29.1 mpg and ran flawlessly at 75 to 80 mph. Don’t knock it until you drive one.
Thats good to know - especially if you had the 2.0. It's hard to believe the 1.5 competes with the 2.0, but we will have to go for a test drive.
I would like to see the 3.6L that I have in my Impala in it. Would be nice to get a "naturally asperated" engine as turbos fall and wear out. With the insane prices of vehicles, I would like to see longevity over power in small packages.
PS. Keep that AFM/DFM and auto stop BS out of it as I'm just going to disable it anyway.
We have the 2020 Equinox with the 2.0 - 252HP. Awesome driving vehicle. Power to pass and driving is great! Would have bought the new Equinox as a replacement if it had the 2.0. without it we will NOT buy it.
Only 0.1 liter more displacement than the older Trax/Encore/Cruze LUV and LE2 tells you all that you need to know.
This engine should have never been in the 'Nox. I hope Trump blows up CAFE standards.
Big V-8's are a thing of the past---so..........switching to a V-6 seemed to be the way to go. BUT---now you can't even find a V-6 anymore!? Why? I, for one, am not part of "they" that decided we needed to go with 4 cylinder engines. This also explains why I am holding onto my V-6 equipped vehicles---a 2008 Uplander and a 2017 Traverse. NOTHING out here that GM offers interests me anymore!!!???
J'ai eu un Equinox 2018 2.0L turbo. Excellent véhicule, très fiable. J'ai été très satisfait de ce véhicule. J'ai opter pour le Buick Envision en 2021 et je viens de louer un Envision 2024, évidemment les 2 Buick avec le 2.0l turbo. C'est la bonne combinaison. J'ai fait l'essai du Equinox 2025, sur lequel il peut même y avoir un attache-remorque! Mais l'Equinox 2025 avec son moteur 1.5l, ça ne marche pas. C'est un moteur pour envoyer les clients chez la concurrence! Moteur 1.5l, pas fiable, sous-puissant, pas économique en essence. Moteur théorique en terme d'économie et d'anti-pollution. Tout est faux sur ce 1.5l., moteur conçu pour un véhicule comme Trax. GM doit au minimum, offrir le choix aux conducteurs. Tout ça sans tomber dans la démesure dans le coût de l'option.