Yes, a used Chevy Equinox EV is one of the better-value electric SUVs you can buy right now, and the version to hunt for is a 2025 or newer with all-wheel drive, which got more power and still carries an EPA range in the high 200s or better. Before you hand over money, run the VIN for two things that keep turning up on 2025 cars: a 21-inch Continental tire recall and a pedestrian-alert software fix.
Quick clarification, because the listings mix them up all the time. This post is about the battery-electric Equinox EV that went on sale for 2024. The gas Equinox is a different vehicle with a different platform and a different set of problems, and we cover it in our used Chevy Equinox buying guide. If a dealer ad says "Equinox" and shows a grille, it is the gas one.
2024 vs 2025 and later
The 2024 launch car is the one with the old numbered trims: 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, 2RS and 3RS. Per Car and Driver's 2024 review, front-drive models made 213 hp and were rated at up to 319 miles, while the dual-motor AWD version made 288 hp and dropped to 285 miles. The 1LT got an 11.0-inch center screen; the big 17.7-inch screen was optional on 2LT and 2RS and standard on 3LT and 3RS. Worth checking in person, since a seller photo of the dash does not always match the trim in the ad.
For 2025, Chevy simplified things to LT and RS and bumped output to 220 hp for front-drive and 300 hp for AWD, according to C/D's 2025 review. The same review notes the base 2025 LT was not as well equipped as the previous year's LT, so a "newer" car is not automatically the nicer one. Chevrolet's current Equinox EV page lists 319 miles for front-drive and 307 for AWD and says the newest cars get a standard NACS charging port.
Honestly, the drive is where the trims split. C/D clocked the front-drive car at 7.7 seconds to 60 and called it sluggish, while AWD did it in 5.8. Both versions managed 260 miles in their 75-mph highway test, so you are not giving up much real range by going AWD. Two other gripes they flag on every year: no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and 57 cubic feet of cargo space with the seat folded, which is less than the gas model.
Recalls we found by model year
We pulled the NHTSA recalls API for 2024, 2025 and 2026 on October 15, 2026. The 2024 list was short: one campaign, 25V639, for a pedestrian alert sound that may not change volume enough between stopped and low-speed driving. The fix is a body control module software update from a dealer or over the air.
The 2025 list is longer. 25V012 covers AWD cars whose adaptive cruise may not brake as expected because of brake module software. 25V704 covers 2025-2026 cars on 21-inch Continental all-season tires that can shed tread; dealers check all four and replace tires made in DOT week 4024. 24V925 and 25V878 are more pedestrian-alert software fixes, 24V737 replaced door strikers on cars that were still in dealer stock, and 26V114 is a radio reset so the electronic owner's manual downloads. The 2026 cars share 25V704, 25V878 and 26V114.
So look at the tires yourself. The DOT code is molded into the sidewall, and the last four digits are the week and year. If the car still has original 21-inch Continentals, ask for proof the recall inspection happened. Then run the full VIN with our Chevy recall check by VIN steps, because a model-year list only tells you what might apply.
Battery and charging checks
A history report will not hand you a battery health percentage. What it can show is who owned the car, whether it was a lease or fleet unit, and whether there was crash damage underneath where the pack lives. Our EV battery health on CARFAX guide explains what does and does not get recorded. On the drive, charge to a known level and compare the range guess to the numbers above, and if there is a DC fast charger nearby, plug in for ten minutes. Chevy claims up to about 70 to 80 miles added in 10 minutes depending on which page you read, so a car that adds far less in mild weather deserves questions.
C/D describes Chevy's EV component coverage as standard for the class and says it falls short of Hyundai's. Ask a Chevy dealer to print what is left on the specific VIN before you count on it. If you are shopping on a tight budget and can live with a smaller car, an older used Chevy Bolt is the cheaper GM electric, though it charges much slower.
Pull a fresh history report
A seller's PDF printed before the tire recall went out in late 2025 will not mention it, so pull your own the day you look at the car. Through us a CARFAX is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 for members, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle runs about $6.75; buying direct is usually $39.99 to $44.99. Prices move around, so confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and are not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. CARFAX explains what its reports cover.
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