Chevrolet Equinox EV launched at $US30,000

The covers have come off the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox EV in the US, marking the bow-tie brand’s third zero-emissions model this year after the Silverado pick-up and the Blazer crossover.

But Chevrolet’s new mid-size SUV – previously sold in Australia with a combustion engine, when Holden still existed – is a different proposition for General Motors, with entry pricing for the new battery-electric model set at $US30,000 ($A44,277) in its home market.

There are no moves yet to offer the Equinox EV in Australia via GM Specialty Vehicles (GMSV), but a green light could shake up the burgeoning local electric car market if it started below $50,000.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the Equinox EV marked a “turning point” for the consumer market “where EVs will be the mainstream choice for the next generation of customers”.

“With the flexibility of GM’s Ultium Platform, we are bringing to market vehicles at nearly every price point and for every purpose,” she said.

Going on sale in North America next year as an MY24 model, the Equinox EV with be available at launch in five trim levels and three powertrains, the latter spanning single-motor and dual-motor power units in front- and all-wheel drive layout respectively.

Electric motor outputs vary from 157kW/328Nm to 216kW/469Nm.

No battery capacity specs have been published, but GM says the Equinox EV is capable of covering 402-483km on a single charge, depending on the model.

All models can be charged at up to 150kW when using a DC fast-charger or 11.5kW when using an AC wallbox, the former adding 112km of range in 10 minutes, according to the car-maker.

A gutsier 19.2kW AC charging package is also optionally available for improved recharging times.

The five core Equinox EV trim levels are 1LT, 2LT, 2RS, 3LT and 3RS.

The 1LT comes with an 11-inch infotainment screen, 11-inch digital instrument cluster and rides on 19-inch alloy wheels.

The 2LT ups the ante with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat (the 1LT is manual-adjust), heated front seats, heated steering wheel, an LED light bar and heated wing mirrors, while the 2RS goes a step further again with a D-shaped steering wheel and darkened 20-inch alloys.

The 3LT is fitted standard with heated and ventilated front seats, six-way power adjustment for the passenger’s seat, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, a bigger 17.7-inch infotainment interface, 21-inch alloys and a powered tailgate.

Finally, the 3RS takes all of these goodies and throws in heated rear outboard seats, a heated wiper park feature (which keeps the area around the wipers clear of ice build-up) and 21-inch alloys.