The Chevy Equinox EV will get 319 miles of range and start at around $35,000
GM’s upcoming Chevy Equinox EV, advertised at around $35,000 with up to 319 miles of range, is prompting skepticism over real-world pricing, availability of the base trim, and whether the company can sell it profitably. Commenters debate the trade-offs between larger electric crossovers and the unmet demand for smaller, cheaper EVs, as well as concerns about charging reliability, battery longevity, and dealer markups. Many are also wary of GM’s decision to drop Apple CarPlay in favor of a Google-based system and the broader trend toward data-hungry, subscription-driven in-car software.
Infotainment and Software
- Lack of CarPlay is a major sticking point; several commenters say it’s a deal-breaker and won’t buy GM/Tesla if forced into proprietary systems or subscriptions.
- GM’s Google-based UI is reported as technically decent (not laggy), but many still prefer the phone-centric model with minimal in-car UI (volume knob + simple phone mirroring).
- Some fear low upfront pricing may be subsidized by ongoing software or feature subscriptions.
Vehicle Size, Market, and Regulation
- Multiple comments criticize yet another crossover/SUV, arguing the U.S. needs small, cheaper EVs (~$20k), not larger ones.
- Others counter that Americans largely want bigger vehicles and that safety regulations and consumer preferences make true $20k EVs difficult.
- Discussion touches on fossil fuel subsidies, light-truck CAFE loopholes, and vehicle weight externalities as key distortions; some argue only regulation or Chinese competition will force smaller EVs into the market.
Pricing, Margins, and Dealer Reality
- Many doubt GM can profit at the advertised ~$35k and expect very limited availability of the true base trim.
- Experience with other EVs (e.g., Kona, Lightning) suggests effective prices are higher due to trim mix, markups, destination fees, and options; one commenter reframes the Equinox EV as effectively ~$47k.
- Skepticism that GM’s optimistic pricing claims will match real dealer-lot conditions.
Charging Reliability and Standards
- DC fast-charging reliability is a concern; some Bolt owners report recurring charger–vehicle fault issues.
- Others argue non-Tesla charging networks are often at fault, and CCS dependence is seen as a downside versus Tesla’s network.
Battery Degradation and Lifecycle
- Debate over EV battery longevity: one anecdote claims severe range loss on a Model X, while many others respond that this would be an extreme outlier and likely covered by warranty.
- Several note that EVs avoid many ICE maintenance items, so a future battery replacement might still be economically rational, possibly with smaller/cheaper replacement packs.
Efficiency and Metrics
- Some want MPGe or kWh/100km to be central in marketing, to highlight “joule-hog” SUVs.
- Others argue most buyers don’t prioritize efficiency because fuel/energy is a small share of total ownership cost, especially for EVs.
Privacy and Connectivity
- A subset of commenters want EVs that don’t stream interior or exterior camera data or tightly couple basic car functions to cloud services.
- Workarounds like disabling data sharing or taping over cameras are mentioned but seen by some as unsatisfactory.