FOR TESLA OWNERS DUMPING THEIR RIDES: THE CASE FOR THE 2025 EQUINOX EV

And then a flurry of reports came in just this past month. Many Tesla owners are seeking to ditch their cars after recent remarks and actions by CEO Musk created a public relations nightmare. The press reported on Teslas being set on fire, spray-painted with graffiti, and owners being flipped off with middle finger jesters in traffic. Some protesters have resorted to slightly more cordial tactics, like placing flyers on windshields that say, “Sell your swasticar. Don’t be carplicit.”   

So, this article is meant for my friend and niece along with other Testa owners seeking to switch electric vehicles without spending an arm and a leg—i.e., primarily the owners of the base Model 3 or Y looking for an equivalent EV from a non-Tesla brand. Accordingly, this article is not aimed at the owner of a Tesla Model 3 Performance seeking to get equivalent performance from another make, or the owner of a Model S Plaid seeking something that can provide equivalent thrills (save that for another article).  

But this article is also not meant to throw shade on Tesla. A lot of good people continue to work for the company, and they make good cars. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD, in my opinion, remains one of the best buys for consumers looking for a mid-size sedan.

From One EV Base Model to Another

For those base Model 3 and Y owners interested in an equivalent or cheaper base EV, we turn our attention to the car MotorWeek awarded as the 2025 Driver’s Choice Best of the Year.

That car is the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Here’s what MotorWeek says about why this car won the award: 

“[I]t’s a familiar story, as the Chevrolet Bolt EV won this award eight years ago for mostly the same reasons, making EVs affordable and practical by delivering real-world range with the functionality people expect in SUVs.

Putting specific numbers to that, all versions of the Equinox EV clear the 300-mile threshold, with as many as 319 available; and pricing starts at a more than reasonable $34,995. It has more and more people thinking “hmmm… maybe I can do an EV.”

EPA-Rated vs Real-World Range

Regarding that 319-mile EPA-rated range high mark—it includes the $34,995 base model. And here’s a revelation that may come as a surprise for some Tesla owners: Not every car company’s EPA range ratings are as inflated compared to real world conditions. 

To explain: Tesla's range display operates on a calculation of EPA range multiplied by the battery's state of charge—an alternative method of estimating range allowed under the EPA. Unlike many other EVs, Tesla's estimated range doesn't continuously adjust to account for real-time driving conditions, such as speed, temperature, or terrain. 

So, when Edmunds tested the 2025 base $34,995 Equinox EV LT, they were pleasantly surprised to find that its actual range bested the EPA rating. Here’s how Edmunds put it when it reviewed the 319-mile EPA-rated Equinox EV:

“On the Edmunds EV Range test, we managed 356 miles, which is a massive number for such a reasonably priced vehicle. Our result is a 12 percent improvement [over the EPA rating]...The fact that a $35,000 vehicle went this far on our test is impressive. This puts the Equinox EV alongside much more expensive vehicles on our range test leaderboard.”

So, what else do you get for $34,995? 

Aside from the outstanding range, the Equinox EV is a surprisingly roomy in the passenger compartment, with more legroom front and back than the Tesla Model 3, but less than the Model Y. The Equinox EV lacks a frunk (compartment space under the front hood), but makes up for it by providing more trunk space than the Model 3’s frunk and trunk combined (however, not as much as the Model Y).

The Equinox EV provides a smoother ride than either the pre-2024 Tesla Model 3 or pre-2025 Model Y. This isn’t a total surprise since the Teslas are tuned more for sport sedan-like handling while sacrificing some ride comfort. The Equinox is tuned more for ride comfort in mind. While it’s no sports car, the low center of gravity resulting from the position of the battery pack keeps this SUV relatively well-planted around corners. Editor’s note: We haven’t compared the Equinox EV to the “Highland” version of the Model 3, which started production in 2024, nor the “Juniper” version of the Model Y, which was just introduced this year.  

Consistent with the ride comfort, the seats in the Equinox EV seem to provide more cushion than the Teslas. Noise in the Equinox EV passenger compartment also seems to be quieter than the Model 3 or Y. Much of this could be the lack of a fixed glass roof on the base Equinox EV, which has the conventional closed and insulated ceiling.  

Infotainment Idiosyncracies

While we’re on the subject of the interior sound, the standard six-speaker audio system in the Equinox EV won’t win any prizes. The sound is decidedly lean in the lower registers. Some GM sound systems have been known to improve after a sufficient break-in period for the woofers, so time will tell if that holds true for the Equinox EV. 

As for the infotainment system itself, Chevrolet decided to follow Tesla in one consequential way: It doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. For many consumers that enjoy CarPlay or Android Auto, it can be a deal-breaker. My daughter initially missed it on her 2024 Equinox EV, “but I overcame it. Spotify can be accessed through Bluetooth or through the car’s internet.” It can also access Google Maps and Waze. Chevrolet does include free connectivity for eight years.

A Word on Hands-Free Driving

I was asked by a Tesla owner (seeking to switch brands) “what EV that’s not a Tesla offers the best hands-free driving system?” In its October 2023 report, Consumer Reports ranked 17 active driving assistance systems and top-rated the Ford/Lincoln BlueCruise system, followed closely by the Chevrolet/GMC/Cadillac Super Cruise system. Tesla’s Autopilot was ranked eighth in this review. 

In the same month, Edmunds used the streets and freeways in Los Angeles to compare Tesla’s $12,000 Full Self Driving (Supevised) beta system with BMW’s Highway Assistant, Ford’s Mach-E GT with BlueCruise 1.3, and Cadillac’s CT-4 V with the Super Cruise system. The result? The first place node went to GM’s Super Cruise system. Second was Ford’s BlueCruise, third was BMW’s Highway Assistant, and Tesla’s Full Self Driving anchored the pack. 

It should be mentioned that all of these hands-free systems undergo continuous updates. The Ford BlueCruise system is now called Version 1.5. BMW has a Level 3 system available on European 7 Series vehicles called the Personal Pilot L3, but it’s not available in the USA. 

The good news: Every 2025 Equinox EV is available with GM’s Super Cruise system, but you’ll need to include Active Safety Package 3 and it will set you back $3,355. For that, you’ll get three years of Super Cruise, Safety Services, Wi-Fi, and In-Vehicle Apps, connected by OnStar as well as Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist.

The Federal Tax Credit

For those who can do without hands-free driving, you can pick up a base Equinox EV for a bargain. The Equinox is one of the few EVs that still qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit, which is factored in at the time of sale and brings the price down to $27,495. In the event the federal tax credit is rescinded, the State of California has pledged to step in with comparable Zero Emissions Vehicle rebates. Funding for the state rebate will be drawn from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which itself is funded by polluters under the state's cap-and-trade program.

Access to Tesla’s NACS Charging Stations

The Equinox EV now has access to Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) Superchargers. There’s a GM-authorized adapter available that’s covered under the car’s warranty. One small glitch: Many of the older Tesla chargers have short cables, requiring you to angle the Equinox EV for proper connection. This may result in taking up two spaces, which won’t endear you with the Tesla owners at the station.

The Bottom Line

As previously mentioned, this review is directed to the Tesla Model 3 or Y owner seeking an EV replacement that offers high value for low cost. For those willing to pay more, there are plenty other good options available (the Hyundais Ioniqs, Kia EVs, the GM-based Honda Prologue, the Volvo EX30 and the Mustang Mach-E from Ford come to mind). Editor’s note: The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 requires assembly in North America as well as North American battery component sourcing to be eligible for the federal tax credit upon purchase; eligibility is more relaxed for EVs that are leased.  

$27,495 (factoring in the tax credit) for an electric SUV with more room than a Tesla Model 3, that’s EPA-rated at 319 miles but seems to promise longer real-world mileage, rides comfortably and quietly should make it on the short list for any consumer seeking a high value EV at an affordable price. 

For icing on the cake, also consider what comes standard on the base model Equinox EV: adaptive cruise control, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian and Bicyclist Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Blind Zone Steering Assist, Reverse Automatic Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Braking, Intersection Automatic Braking. It all adds up to an EV bargain.