The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV continues into its third year of production mechanically unchanged but with minor cosmetic changes and a standard charging cable for the new model year.
We recently had the opportunity to spend some time with the 2026 Equinox EV RS in the Riptide Blue Metallic body color, and here are our thoughts.
Design
New for 2026, the Equinox EV LT trim gets two appearance packages. The “Midnight” appearance package adds black styling elements in the logo, grille, mirror enclosures, and wheels, and costs USD 595.
The “Tech Bronze Package” adds 21-inch bronze wheels and all-season tires, bronze decals, black center wheel caps and lug nuts, and a tire pressure monitoring system, and costs USD 3,975. Lastly, Polar White Tricoat has replaced Iridescent Pearl Tricoat for model year 2026.
The Equinox EV is not a conversion-type BEV, and uses a bespoke EV architecture. Thanks to this platform, designers are able to create proportions that differ from the gas-powered Equinox. The front features sleek lines and slim headlamps and intake elements to present a modern EV look. A body-colored mesh pattern faux grille dominates the face.
Moving to the sides, the high belt line and sharp creases above the wheels keep the sporty theme going. At the back, the taillamps feature a smoked look spanning the width of the car with the raked C-pillar and extended roof spoiler continuing the theme.
19-inch wheels are standard on the LT1 and LT2 trims while the RS gets larger 21-inch wheels which are also available on the LT2 as a paid option with a different look. The LT1 gets body-colored roof while the LT2 gets both a black and white option for an additional USD 495, and the RS, pictured here, gets the black treatment standard.
Interior
For 2026, the Equinox EV RS trim gets a rework in the interior where the black with red accents Evotex seat trim color of the 2025 model is inverted to red with black accents.
The cabin continues unchanged otherwise, with seating for 4-5 occupants. It integrates a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 11-inch driver information display as standard across all trims. The HVAC vents on both sides at the front do remind us of the G-Wagen, which is a bit out of place. Ambient lighting with multi-color personalization is available on LT2 and RS trims.
The LT gets black cloth material for the seats while the LT2 gets black with blue accents in Evotex trim for the seats. For cargo, the Equinox EV has 57.2 cu ft of max cargo volume when the second row is folded.
Specifications
For 2026, the Dual-Level charging cable, which has changeable attachment plugs for Level 1 and Level 2 charging, comes standard with the vehicle.
The Equinox EV continues mechanically unchanged for the 2026 model year, and is available as a single-motor FWD or dual-motor AWD for all trims. EPA-estimated range is 319 miles for the FWD model and 307 miles for the AWD on a full charge.
The standard single-motor FWD system produces 220 horsepower and 243 lb-ft of torque while the dual-motor AWD system produces 300 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque. The standard 11.5-kW Level 2 AC charger can add up to 36 miles of range per hour. DC fast charging up to 150 kW enables approximately 77 miles of range in 10 minutes.
Price & Release Date
Positioned below the Blazer EV, the 2026 Equinox EV is available now at GM dealers in the U.S. With offers, the models are priced at USD 33,495 for the LT1, USD 40,295 for the LT2 and USD 42,595 for the RS in the FWD version while the AWD adds a premium of USD 5,300 on the LT1 and USD 3,300 on the LT2 and RS trims on Chevrolet’s website. All prices mentioned exclude any tax, title, license, and dealer fees.
Also See: First Look Review: 2027 Chevrolet Bolt is back for Round Two
In Canada, the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV lineup starts at an MSRP of CAD 49,633 and extends to CAD 58,133 (excluding license, insurance, registration, and taxes).
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
