CES 2022: $40K Chevrolet Equinox EV previewed

General Motors has committed to launching a battery-electric version of its Chevrolet Equinox mid-size SUV in 2023 priced from around $US30,000 ($A41,500).

To be fitted with new-generation Ultium batteries and powertrains, and riding on GM’s scalable Ultium architecture, the Toyota RAV4-sized Chevrolet Equinox EV is pitched at an affordable starting price far below most other electric cars.

Shaped under the direction of GM’s Aussie design director Mike Simcoe, the sharp-looking new Equinox was previewed during GM CEO Mary Barra’s 2022 CES keynote address.

It was rolled out in addition to the reveal of the full-size Chevrolet Silverado electric pick-up.

Barra also confirmed a larger Blazer SUV EV was on the way but no images or indicative pricing was supplied.

The Equinox is especially significant because on pricing it will line up next to the troubled Chevrolet Bolt small EV family, which is fitted with old-tech LG Chem batteries.

In a short press release issued to coincide with Barra’s teaser, Chevrolet vice-president Steve Hill made no bones about the importance of introducing an EV at a lower price point.

“The Equinox has always played an important role for Chevrolet as the second-highest selling brand nameplate,” he said.

“Providing an affordable EV option in the industry’s highest volume segment proves Chevy is going to make EVs available to everyone.”

However, this far out, GM is not offering any performance or powertrain capacity details about the electric Equinox.

Petrol and diesel Equinox models were sold by Holden in Australia from late 2017 until the brand’s demise in 2020.

Holdens replacement, GMSV, currently sells the V8 petrol Chevrolet Silverado and Corvette sports car in Australia.

If the electric Equinox EV was to come to Australia and start under $50,000 it would be one of the most affordable EVs on the market and provide a bona fide green family-car choice. 

We’ve reached out to GMSV for comment and will update this story if one is provided.

The new EV will sell alongside the combustion-engined Equinox in the US and be offered in fleet and retail versions including LT and RS model grades. It will be available in the third quarter of 2023.

The illustrations issued by GM show the Equinox RS trim in red and another high-spec model in silver. The cockpit features a digital screen covering two thirds of the dashboard.

The Blazer, of which no detail was offered, will come in the second quarter of 2023. Like the Silverado and Equinox, it will be based on new-gen Ultium tech.

Related: CES 2022: Chevrolet Silverado EV revealed