Three vehicles wear this badge, and only one deserves your attention. The Equinox EV promises 250+ miles of range for potentially under $25k after tax credits, if GM actually ships the base trim instead of burying it under dealer markups and option packages. That's legitimately game-changing pricing for a long-range EV, though ditching CarPlay will cost them sales. The current gas Equinox (2018+) is competent appliance-grade transportation that's genuinely improved from the pre-2018 disaster years, but noisy cabins and cheap plastics remind you it's built to a price. Pre-2018 models earned their bad reputation with timing chains that jump and engines that burn oil before 100k miles. If you're shopping the EV and can live without CarPlay, it's the value play of the decade. If you're considering a used gas model, 2018 or newer only, and even then, a RAV4 will age better.
This subcompact crossover stretches your dollar with space and style, but the powertrain is where Chevy cut corners. The 1.3L turbo-three has GM enthusiasts actively warning people away, it's the same problematic small-displacement turbo motor that's earned a reputation for issues across the lineup. StabiliTrak failures, ABS malfunctions, and infotainment freezes within the first year are showing up on 2021-2023 models, which is worrying for something this new. The cabin is roomy and the lease deals are tempting, but if you're buying used, get the AWD version with the real automatic instead of the CVT. A Honda HR-V or Mazda CX-30 will likely serve you better for similar money, especially if you plan to keep it past warranty.