celebrity cruises reviews equinox

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Celebrity Equinox Deck Plans & Reviews

Celebrity Equinox

Activities & entertainment

• Sky Observation Lounge
• Sky Conference Center
• Acupuncture *
• Basketball Court
• Bocce _ Lawn Bowling
• Celebrity iLounge *
• Jogging Track
• Fitness Center
• Fitness Classes *
• Hair Salon *
• Whirlpools (6)
• Lawn Club Shop *
• Patio On The Lawn
• Persian Garden *
• Relaxation Lounge *
• Spa Veranda *
• Team Trivia
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• Wine Tasting Seminars *
• Fortunes Casino *
• Hot Glass Studio
• The Lawn Club
• The Library
• Video Arcade *
• Shops On The Boulevard *
• Galleria Boutiques *
• Art Gallery *
• Photo Gallery *
• Camp At Sea _ Kids Club
• X Club _ Teens Club
• The Studio *
• The Retreat Lounge _ Suite Guests
• The Retreat Sun Deck _ Suite Guests
• Guest Relations
• Shore Excursions *
• Future Cruise Vacations *
• Medical Center
• Comedy Shows
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• Silhouette Dining Room - Main
• Blu - AquaClass
• Oceanview Cafe - Buffet
• Passport Bar - Atrium Bar *
• Cafe Al Bacio and Gelateria - Coffee Bar and Gelato *
• Murano - French *
• Tuscan Grille - Italian Steakhouse *
• World Class Bar - Craft Cocktails *
• Qsine - Unique Fare *
• Slush - Frozen Drinks *
• Craft Social - Beer Bar *
• Sushi On Five - Sushi *
• Martini Bar - Martini Bar *
• Crush - Martini Bar *
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• Mast Grill - Pool Grill
• Mast Bar - Pool Bar *
• Pool Bar - Pool Bar *
• Luminae - Suite Guests
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• Room Service *
• Excellent 109
• Very Good 36
• Terrible 11
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Celebrity Equinox

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The 2,852-passenger Equinox was introduced in 2009 and underwent a full renovation in June 2019. It offers a mix of classic Celebrity amenities and unique activities. The ship features 18 premium retail shops, a half-acre Lawn Club and the Hot Glass Show, where professional artists demonstrate glassblowing techniques. Updates include the new Retreat sundeck and lounge, luxurious bedding and all-new amenities. 

Recent cruisers appreciated the variety of dining options on the ship, which include 10 eateries ranging from light fare at Spa Café to craft beer and comfort food at the Craft Social Bar to a frozen cocktail bar on the pool deck. Other highlights include the spa and enrichment programs like cooking demos and dance lessons.

In terms of accommodations, 85% of the ship's staterooms offer verandas. Cabin categories include Inside, Ocean View, Veranda and Suite rooms, and all are appointed with flat-screen TVs, 24-hour room service and sitting areas. Suites offer extra perks like afternoon appetizers and butler service. Past cruisers assured that even if you don't splurge on a butler-serviced room, you'll still receive individualized attention, as everyone from the room stewards to the restaurant servers were friendly and helpful. 

Celebrity Equinox offers a variety of itineraries in the Caribbean and Europe.

Pros & Cons

The staff is friendly and attentive

Specialty restaurants cost extra

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 4.3
• Health Rating » 5.0

Celebrity Equinox ranks # 5 out of 13 Celebrity Cruises Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 5 in Best Celebrity Cruises
• # 15 in Best Affordable Cruises
• # 16 in Best Cruises for Couples
• # 18 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 19 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 21 in Best Cruises to Europe

Celebrity Equinox offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Celebrity Equinox contains 14 decks. Find out which features are available on each Celebrity Equinox deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 1889 guests have reviewed Celebrity Equinox , giving it a rating of 4.3 on a scale of 1-5.

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Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Celebrity Equinox

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Accommodations

From a fresh, new look rivaling the world’s best boutique hotels to our eXhale® bedding featuring luxurious Cashmere℠ Mattresses you won’t find anywhere else, every detail of our staterooms has been elevated, every comfort refined.

Savor remarkable culinary adventures that satisfy your wanderlust and your appetite every night, from sumptuous meals at Tuscan Grille to the Chef’s Table by Chef Daniel Boulud.

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Our holistic experience begins the moment you step on board, with the ocean as the backdrop to your wellness journey. Whether you seek or desire activity, there’s no better way to find your ultimate state of well-being than miles away at sea.

Discover sun-soaked destinations while you revel in stellar accommodations, world-class entertainment, and modern design and technology.

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Celebrity Equinox® is now making even more waves in the cruise world. From adding elevated design concepts and technology across the ship to The Retreat®, an exclusive experience for guests of The Retreat that includes The Retreat® Sundeck and The Retreat® Lounge, the change is phenomenal. These new venues combined with our award-winning Luminae are sure to please. Slip into new eXhale® bedding featuring Cashmere℠ Mattresses that will surround you in luxury—literally. The very essence of premium cruising. And after some extensive upgrades, that's more true than ever before. With new amenities not available on any other Celebrity ship, prepare to have your expectations exceeded as soon as you step on board. Delight in your choice of ten exceptional dining venues. Enjoy craft beer and comfort food in the new Craft Social and sip refreshing frozen cocktails on the pool deck at Slush. A unique experience at sea, feel grass beneath your feet at the relaxing Lawn Club. Every imaginable comfort complimented by Celebrity's unrivaled guest services promises an unsurpassed cruise experience no matter your destination.

Celebrity Equinox is sailing with Starlink - the world’s most advanced broadband satellite internet - to bring you high-speed connectivity for a better onboard experience.

Inaugural Date

August 08, 2009

Revolution Date

June 1, 2019

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Celebrity Equinox

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Review of Equinox and Retreat from infrequent cruisers

By lukaaj12 , October 27, 2023 in Celebrity Cruises

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lukaaj12 was awarded the badge 'Great Review'

Hi all! This board has been so helpful as I planned a big cruise for the first time in awhile, so I wanted to repay all of the kindness, tips, and tricks I learned and provide a review of our cruise.  We had an amazing experience overall, with just one complaint really about the butler changes, that I'll explain further below.

My husband and I were on the 10/14 ABC islands sailing on Equinox.  We are mid-thirties, and this was our 3rd cruise together, 2nd on Celebrity, but we haven't cruised since 2017 (having kids and a pandemic got in the way for a bit).  This was my 12th cruise overall, having cruised quite a bit with my family growing up.  My first cruise ever was the Celebrity Century sometime in the late 1990s and I've always liked the product/brand so we have stuck with it and my husband basically loves everything about cruising.

We decided to splurge for our first kid-free trip to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, and booked a corner sunset veranda Sky Suite.  We booked about 18 months in advance, before some of these crazy price hikes went into effect, and took advantage through our TA with some price drops, so ultimately I feel like what we paid with the perks included was around the same if not less than if we had a regular veranda and had to purchase drink package/internet separately.  I was initially indifferent about the Retreat areas but my parents were on the Beyond in Retreat about a month before us so gave us a good idea of what to expect, although I knew we were on an older ship with not quite the same areas, but was looking forward to it nonetheless.  Lots of posts on here throughout the summer and fall had me worried about the level of service, food, and ship, but honestly we couldn't have been more impressed.

Since this was our first trip without the kiddos (we had 2 in 2 years during the pandemic!!) we picked this itinerary to have more sea days for relaxation, as well as explore the ABC islands which were new to both of us (requirement by my husband since I've traveled much more than he has).  We almost exclusively hung out in Retreat areas just for smaller crowds and more attention by staff, which was surprising to me as I didn't think we'd use the areas so much.  The Sundeck was fantastic although the drink service was a little slow as they only had one worker get drinks and no bar up there, we'd sometimes pop down to the Mast Bar to grab things ourselves which was no big deal.  We ate lunch out there most days and found the food to be very fresh and served hot.  But overall we preferred the quieter vibe of the sundeck over the pool decks which got quite crowded and a bit rowdy throughout the sea days.

Our cabin (#1666) was HUGE, much bigger than I was expecting, not sure if it was larger than a typical Sky Suite because it was the corner or not.  It was great to have a large porthole side window, and the balcony was large enough for 2 loungers (we had to request the second one) and a table/chairs, although we didn't spend a ton of time on the balcony.  I found the bed to be quite comfortable and our room attendant/Retreat Host was happy to give us some extra pillows.  Everything in the bathroom was spotless and worked great, although the rainfall shower head was surprisingly short over the tub and my 6" husband had to duck to fit underneath!

We typically ate breakfast in the OVC which was fine, albeit very crowded but tons of options and we didn't tire from it.  We ate all dinners but one in Luminae and were blown away by the staff.  We had the most excellent waiter, assistant waiter, and sommelier who really took care of us and made us feel at home the entire week.  If you're going on the Equinox soon and eating in Luminae, ask for Vinod and Sajo!  I am a bit of a picky eater and Vinod had learned my preferences by the second night and would bring me different menus from Blu or the main dining room if he felt like I wouldn't like the Luminae menu, and he really took care of us.  Food was fantastic, really no complaints.  To be honest, I was expecting a lot more sad steamed vegetables and ice cream scoops of mashed potatoes than I had, but we didn't eat in the main dining room so cannot speak to the quality there.

I thought the ship was in great shape, some of the carpets were worn and the public bathroom sinks had some buildup, but I know Equinox is going into dry dock soon so I'm sure those will be addressed.  I had read so many negative things about the ship, I really tried to meter my expectations but honestly was quite blown away and impressed with almost every aspect of our 8 day cruise.

The only thing that didn't work out for us was this Sky Suite butler team.  I read extensively about it through CC posts, and knew what to expect.  We had a card in our room for a Head Butler John, who we never met once during the cruise.  The Retreat Lounge had 2 concierges for all suite guests, Gazelle and Ian who was absolutely fantastic and so accommodating to any request we had.  Our Retreat Host/room attendant Efren was equally wonderful, and was sure to point out different perks and things we got as suite guests (like to disregard the room service charges, etc).  We had called the Head Butler once or twice to assist with a few things, and while he would always answer the phone, he'd tell us to reach out to someone else, or let us know we'd be getting a call to follow up, but there was never anything further.  We leaned on our host and the two concierges who were able to handle everything we needed (nothing major, just some room service orders, and a spa appointment), so we just didn't bother with John after that.  In all it was an annoyance, but there were others to pick up his slack and it didn't detract from the cruise whatsoever.

I love live music and was looking forward to grabbing drinks in various lounges and bars, but I wasn't a big fan of any of the entertainment groups that were on the Equinox.  Plenty talented, just not my personal preference, so we skipped most of that and only went to one of the production shows, which I also wasn't that impressed with.  This was quite different than our 2017 Med cruise on the Reflection where there were multiple musicians we loved and saw alot of throughout the cruise, so just a small disappointment.

We used OBC for 2 different shore excursions.  I'd typically prefer to plan my own adventure but we had received quite a bit of credit, and the excursions were great.  A bit like herding cats in the beginning but well-executed and easy to get off the ship and onto the adventure.  We did a boat/snorkling excursion in Curacao and a kayak/beach snorkle in Bonaire.  We did our own thing in Aruba, heading over to Renaissance Island for the day which included lunch and massages for a flat rate fee (tip I picked up from someone on here- thank you!)

In all, it was a fantastic cruise, everything we were hoping for to celebrate our anniversary and explore some new islands.  I was a bit nervous about the state of the Equinox based on reviews here, but those were completely unfounded.  I do acknowledge that I'm probably not the typical Celebrity cruiser, and I do cruise infrequently, but the brand has held up to me throughout the years and I will cruise on Celebrity again in the future.  It will be very hard to go back to a "regular" cabin after being completely spoiled in the Retreat!

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Share on other sites, montythecat.

Have a look at Holland America for some great live music,

particularly on the newer ships. It might be more your cup of tea.

We were on EQ the cruise before yours as last of a b2b2b. Also disappointed with on board music. Usually that is a highlight of my Celebrity cruise entertainment. These were just OK, nothing I really, really enjoyed as on past cruises. I hope this is not a trend as we are back in Jan. 

We had Vinod many cruises.    We is fantastic.    

Why didn’t you have breakfast, and lunch in a Luminae?    

Happy cruising 🌊 🚢 🇺🇸 🌅

I am sailing on Equinox in a couple weeks. I'm so hoping Vinod is still in Luminae. He was fantastic last year!!

I believe he is on until January, please tell him Andrew and Allison say hello!

Nice review..you might find music  better on  E class ships.

Happy Anniversary!

On 10/27/2023 at 11:59 AM, lukaaj12 said: We had called the Head Butler once or twice to assist with a few things, and while he would always answer the phone, he'd tell us to reach out to someone else

IMO this answer is unacceptable. The “someone else” I would have called would be the Hotel Director to have him “retrained”. That seems to be a magic word that makes things happen.   

If Celebrity wants to remove butler service for Sky Suites, they should just do it so guests can adjust their expectations. If not, we should simply insist on the level of service we received in the past. Surely someone on this alleged “butler team” can get things done. 

1 hour ago, RichYak said: IMO this answer is unacceptable. The “someone else” I would have called would be the Hotel Director to have him “retrained”. That seems to be a magic word that makes things happen.    If Celebrity wants to remove butler service for Sky Suites, they should just do it so guests can adjust their expectations. If not, we should simply insist on the level of service we received in the past. Surely someone on this alleged “butler team” can get things done. 

What really ticks me off is I have booked 10 cruises in SS while on board because of the butler service and other perks that were in the suites.  They are NRD bookings.    I booked for those services and now they aren’t being provided.   If I cancel I will lose my deposits.   It is a breach of contract.  It isn’t worth suing over as It would cost more legal fees but it may be something to look into for a class action lawsuit.   🤷‍♂️

42 minutes ago, miched said: What really ticks me off is I have booked 10 cruises in SS while on board because of the butler service and other perks that were in the suites.  They are NRD bookings.    I booked for those services and now they aren’t being provided.   If I cancel I will lose my deposits.   It is a breach of contract.  It isn’t worth suing over as It would cost more legal fees but it may be something to look into for a class action lawsuit.   🤷‍♂️   Happy cruising 🌊 🚢 🇺🇸 🌅

Thankfully I have nothing booked and I certainly have no plans to. If I did and received the kind of service I’ve been reading about, I’d constantly be in the face of the Retreat Manager (not the concierges) and the Hotel Director. I suggest that everyone who reads this do the same. 

49 minutes ago, miched said: What really ticks me off is I have booked 10 cruises in SS while on board because of the butler service and other perks that were in the suites.  They are NRD bookings.    I booked for those services and now they aren’t being provided.   If I cancel I will lose my deposits.   It is a breach of contract.  It isn’t worth suing over as It would cost more legal fees but it may be something to look into for a class action lawsuit.   🤷‍♂️   Happy cruising 🌊 🚢 🇺🇸 🌅

Sign me up for that lawsuit.  I signed up for another SS before the bait and switch.  Also an NRD.    

I would cancel but my husband is from that part of the world (Malaysia) and he is already making plans to visit friends and family.

I completely agree with @RichYak .  If nothing changes, I plan to be the worst kind of SOB to the Retreat Manager.  Sorry not sorry but we booked a $14K cruise with a $1400 NRD.

8 minutes ago, RichYak said: Thankfully I have nothing booked and I certainly have no plans to. If I did and received the kind of service I’ve been reading about, I’d constantly be in the face of the Retreat Manager (not the concierges) and the Hotel Director. I suggest that everyone who reads this do the same. 

Full chain of command is Butler -> Retreat Manager -> Guest Relations Director -> Hotel Director.

I assume the Retreat Host (stateroom attendant) still reports to the Assistant Chief Housekeeper but I would take any issue there to the Retreat Manager and up that chain as well as the Retreat Manager is really responsible for your in-suite experience.

7 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:   Full chain of command is Butler -> Retreat Manager -> Guest Relations Director -> Hotel Director.   I assume the Retreat Host (stateroom attendant) still reports to the Assistant Chief Housekeeper but I would take any issue there to the Retreat Manager and up that chain as well as the Retreat Manager is really responsible for your in-suite experience.

Thanks. This is helpful as I’ve never heard of or been introduced to a Guest Relations Director. 

18 minutes ago, zitsky said: I plan to be the worst kind of SOB to the Retreat Manager.  Sorry not sorry but we booked a $14K cruise with a $1400 NRD.

This is how to effect change. Celebrity needs to be informed of their failures and be graded accordingly. 

16 minutes ago, RichYak said: Thanks. This is helpful as I’ve never heard of or been introduced to a Guest Relations Director. 

They are basically in charge of the customer service aspect.   The Front Desk Manager,  Concierge Team also report to him/her.   Maybe Future Cruises to some extent but they also get lots of direction direct from Miami.

The front desk agents all report to the Front Desk Manager.

I've been amazed at the bloat of the middle managers (1-2 stripe) in the last several years.  You see them all over and rarely are they directly interacting with passengers.  (4 assistant bar managers is one example).  In the current environment of cost cutting it seems that the customer facing positions are being reduced but these positions remain.

In my years in the IT industry when things got tight the middle management layers were hit hardest often removing entire layers.

1 hour ago, wrk2cruise said: I've been amazed at the bloat of the middle managers (1-2 stripe) in the last several years.  You see them all over and rarely are they directly interacting with passengers.  (4 assistant bar managers is one example).  In the current environment of cost cutting it seems that the customer facing positions are being reduced but these positions remain.

@lukaaj12 , great review.  Thanks. 

@wrk2cruise  We observed these 1-2 stripe walkie talkie/ phone and ipad crew members on the two cruises we took.  We found it annoying that they'd be standing just a step or two away from another crew member but rarely engage directly with a customer.  In hindsight, we rationalized this as they were for quality control and their roles were a result of low cost labor and the ship caste system.  That may still be the case, but it also could result in the feeling no one was responsible or owning a particular issue and inefficiency.  In some ways I hope it keeps crew on their toes.  But, the impression made might get worse now in light of the cutbacks.  How many crew does one need to interact with for [fill in the blank] or to make a decent meal?  The answer may or has become it won't matter, because the middle management and the crew don't have the right material, ingredients, parameters to be customer centric. 

Agree with @zitsky  and @RichYak  - We'd take any customer service issue directly to the top (Hotel Director) and let them sort it out in the absence of anyone clearly taking ownership and being reliable.  If they can't handle it they can appoint a designee, and report back to HQ that the new team doesn't work.  (Not that anyone seems to care at HQ). 

Of course, it's possible the Hotel Directors and Retreat Managers won't care about customer service.  I haven't read anyone comment on that yet.  Given the changes and orders from HQ, the days of relying on the Hotel Director to care may be numbered.  At some point they may be fine with Retreat customers being given the run around and back of the hand by the head butler or whomever. 

There are possible solutions to the service issues that could be implemented, but all involve wanting to be customer centric and giving customers access to things that cost money, including food.  The changes are still very disappointing, and seem like a bait and switch.  

Was recently at a top hotel in a top tourist city known for hospitality and found the physical hotel had seen better days including cleanliness and other areas that could be helped by active management and staff.  Some physical issues won't be helped by the staff, but would be looked over if the service was better.  Yet, the manager was never present and didn't do a thing when the issues were brought to their attention.  Hopefully that isn't what the shipboard experience becomes on Celebrity.  

8 hours ago, Cap_D said: Of course, it's possible the Hotel Directors and Retreat Managers won't care about customer service.  I haven't read anyone comment on that yet.  Given the changes and orders from HQ, the days of relying on the Hotel Director to care may be numbered.  At some point they may be fine with Retreat customers being given the run around and back of the hand by the head butler or whomever. 

Well, then all we can do is name names and give the back of the hand on post cruise surveys. I have no problem calling out customer service issues. I've never really had one on any of my past Celebrity cruises until Summit this past August where there I had numerous issues.

And to be clear I plan to be as pleasant with the front line staff as I can be.  But if the butlers try to pass me around to my cabin attendant I will give them and the Hotel Director some feedback.  Loudly.

The OP stated they enjoyed the cruise, with maybe a hiccup or two..yet many of y'all take that as a sign to go off on Celebrity.

18 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said: The OP stated they enjoyed the cruise, with maybe a hiccup or two..yet many of y'all take that as a sign to go off on Celebrity.  Some of y'all can't be pleased, I'm positive of it.  

positive review ..... they were happy with X and said they would book again.

There are other threads to air grievances with Xs "Butlergate". 

Would like to hear more from new X cruisers!

21 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said: The OP stated they enjoyed the cruise, with maybe a hiccup or two..yet many of y'all take that as a sign to go off on Celebrity.

How do you get from taking issue with, and acting on, the attitude and performance of a head butler to going off on Celebrity? Don't be so melodramatic.

Pennstatedj

We were on the same cruise and were in mdr. I agreed with all you said. We are also Zenith and experienced retreat bar. All service was great in retreat bar and all dining. I have the same opinions about bar entertainment around the ship. I am over 70 and like acoustic guitars singers. In July on the Equinox there were two great performers, this time jazz and classical genres were the tune. Not our cup of tea. They were good but made us seek out the house band and party band. We still had a great cruise. This is why I like X, every cruise is different when it comes to entertainment. We still enjoy cruising. 

2 hours ago, PTC DAWG said: The OP stated they enjoyed the cruise, with maybe a hiccup or two..yet many of y'all take that as a sign to go off on Celebrity.

You read a comment from a few cruisers saying they would give Celebrity feedback about service levels and you’re confused?

On 10/27/2023 at 11:08 AM, montythecat said: Have a look at Holland America for some great live music, particularly on the newer ships. It might be more your cup of tea.

Comment struck a chord. Please forgive moving off target a bit. On Apex the vocal groups seemed to be controlled by someone running a computerized mixing board. The sound was muddy and 'artificial'. I felt that they may have been using background music tracks in their performance. Very disappointing.

Love HAL with their live music venues where you don't have to ask 'is it Memorex' (an ancient reference from the 70's which referred to the sound difference between recorded and live music). Thanks for the indulgence.

CruisinShips

Good review, thank you.  But being the child at heart that I am, I did chuckle at this bit of TMI:

"Everything in the bathroom was spotless and worked great, although the rainfall shower head was surprisingly short over the tub and my 6" husband had to duck to fit underneath!"

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2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe starts at $104,000 in Canada

Owner may face $50k fine for trying to sell tesla cybertruck, motor mouth: the ev battery wars are just getting started, best car wax—the top rated car waxes online, garbage truck: angry locals dump on illegally parked pickup, first drive: 2024 chevrolet equinox ev.

The all-new all-electric compact SUV offers good driving dynamics and intuitive controls—in short, the thing is just really good

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The Equinox is one of Chevrolet’s top-selling vehicles, and that level of name recognition is not quickly nor easily built up for a new model. So while the all-new 2024 Equinox EV has a similar look overall to the gasoline version, it’s built as an electric vehicle from the ground up, and mechanically only shares that already-familiar name.

First Drive: 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV Back to video

It joins Chevrolet’s all-electric lineup alongside the Blazer EV , the new Silverado EV , and the Bolt — which was discontinued but will now return as a redesigned model . The automaker said it expects the Equinox EV to be the “most affordable” electric vehicle in Canada, offering more than 500 km (310 miles) of range, and its starting price of $48,199 for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) variant makes it eligible for the $5,000 federal “green” rebate, as well as any applicable provincial cash-backs.

That price is for the 2LT trim, while a one-step-below 1LT trim, presumably with an even lower starting price, is expected to join the lineup later this year. All-wheel-drive (AWD) is available on all current trims.

What’s the difference between the gas and electric Equinox?

Learn more about the cars, 2024 chevrolet silverado 1500.

MSRP  $44,899 to $86,699

2024 Chevrolet Equinox

MSRP  $28,945 to $36,645

2024 Chevrolet TrailBlazer

MSRP  $26,699 to $32,999

2024 Chevrolet Colorado

MSRP  $35,399 to $57,699

2024 Chevrolet Traverse

MSRP  $47,999 to $62,899

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Dimension-wise, the Equinox EV is longer and wider, but not as tall, as the gasoline Equinox . It has marginally less headroom; more front-seat legroom, but slightly less in the rear seat; and its 747 litres (26.4 cubic feet) of cargo space trails the gas model’s 846 litres (29.9 cubic feet). The Equinox EV’s motor is under the hood, so there’s no front trunk, or “frunk,” for extra storage as with some EVs. Both the gas and electric Equinox models can tow up to 1,500 lbs.

But unlike the gas-powered Equinox, the electric version is built on General Motors’ EV-specific Ultium platform, with the battery as an integral part of the frame. The platform can be adapted to larger or smaller vehicles, and the battery’s size and range modified by the number of cells and their position.

What powers the Chevrolet Equinox EV?

The Equinox with FWD powers those front tires with an electric motor that makes 213 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The move to AWD adds a second motor to the rear axle, and the two combined produce 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque.

What’s the range on the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox?

The Equinox comes in four trim levels – 2LT, 2RS, 3LT, and 3RS – and in FWD, all are rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at up to 513 km (318.7 miles) on a charge. With AWD, that drops to 459 km (285 miles). Of course, real-world range will depend on such factors as ambient temperature, how much stuff you have packed into it, and where and how it’s driven – hills and highways make a difference.

Its 85-kWh battery is capable of 150-kW DC fast-charging, which can add about 124 kilometres in 10 minutes. Most owners will charge at home, and to that end, the event included a visit to a house equipped with a system from GM Energy, a subsidiary of the automaker.

The electric Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado are capable of bidirectional charging, and as an illustration, the house’s electricity had been shut off and one of the vehicles was powering it through the GM Energy system. The company will also be offering stationary home energy storage, including from solar panels. However, GM Energy is only in the U.S. right now, and GM Canada is just “exploring” the possibility of bringing it here.

What’s the Chevrolet Equinox like to drive?

Quite simply, it’s very good. I spent most of my time in the FWD version, and while you can feel the vehicle’s weight – EV batteries are heavy – it doesn’t detract from the driving experience. It accelerates smoothly and has no issues with quickly getting up to speed on a highway ramp.

The steering has just the right weight: heavy enough for confidence, but light enough that it’s easy to handle. There’s a decent amount of feedback through the wheel, too, so you know exactly how the Equinox is behaving with the road surface. Of course, it’s an SUV and not a sports car, but it takes curves and corners well, since that chassis-mounted battery creates a low centre of gravity that keeps it well-planted with a minimum of body roll. The ride is smooth, composed, and quiet, too. Selectable drive modes include snow, sport, and a customizable setting.

I also drove the AWD model, which to me felt a bit lighter and more agile. That’s just perception from the driver’s seat, since that second electric motor will make it heavier than the FWD model, so I’m assuming the extra horsepower and torque, plus the assistance from the rear wheels, improved the performance to give me that perceived if not technically accurate impression.

As electric vehicles do, the Equinox EV uses regenerative braking, which captures and stores otherwise-wasted energy during deceleration. It slows the vehicle as it does, and the resistance can be set to increasingly-strong levels, including “one-pedal,” where the vehicle comes to a stop without using the brake pedal, and you can drive with the accelerator alone. One-pedal performance is better on some vehicles than others, and the Equinox is, again, very good with its smooth operation.

The Equinox EV also offers Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free highway driving assist . It works on pre-mapped roads, with more than 640,000 km of those in Canada and the U.S., and a promised 1.2 million by the end of 2025. It’s still primarily for limited-access highways, but some two-lane roads are now included in its range. Super Cruise is pretty slick and can even change lanes by itself, either automatically or when you tap the turn signal stalk. However, once the trial period is up, it requires a subscription to remain active and receive over-the-air updates.

What’s the Equinox EV like on the outside?

It bears some family resemblance to the gasoline Equinox – which will get a substantial update for 2025 – but as mentioned, it’s longer, wider, and lower. The entry 2LT trim wears 19-inch wheels, as will the upcoming 1LT, while all others have 21-inch wheels. Also included are roof rails and a hands-free power liftgate, while upper trims can add LED lighting with a “welcome” pattern as you approach; heated wiper park; and black accents.

What I truly hate are the door handles. They’re flush-mounted, as they are on many EVs to improve aerodynamics, and they pop out as you approach. First, I prefer simple and foolproof regular handles; but even worse, the Equinox’s are long, thin ones that come out on an angle like oversized Popsicle sticks. I’ve used similar ones in winter, where my gloved hand repeatedly slid off the end of a handle that was icy and wet. It’s simply a lousy design for northern climates.

What safety technology does the Equinox EV have?

All trims come with a long list of driver-assist technologies, including emergency front braking with pedestrian detection and intersection assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, rear pedestrian alert, side cyclist alert, adaptive cruise control, rear park assist, panoramic camera, blind-spot monitoring with steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, teen driver controls, and a “safety seat” that vibrates a warning if any of those detect an issue. Super Cruise and a self-parking feature are standard or optional, depending on trim.

What’s the Equinox EV like on the inside?

I also drove the new Silverado EV pickup truck on this event – of course also based on the Ultium platform – and the dash and console are almost identical. A 17.7-inch centre touchscreen is standard, overlapped by an 11-inch digital instrument cluster screen. The icons and menus in the touchscreen are easy to figure out and use; and there’s a stereo volume dial, and buttons and dials for the climate functions, which helps reduce distraction.

The screen includes a three-year subscription to Google Maps and a voice assistant, although you’ll need to pay after that to keep it going. If you set a route, it can find public charging stations, and pre-condition the battery so it’s at optimum charging temperature when you arrive.

There’s no start button; instead, sitting in the seat turns the Equinox on. I like a button better — if I get out but leave my passenger inside, I have to activate a setting in the screen to keep the climate system running. But some love that sit-to-start feature, even if I can’t comprehend why, so the Equinox should keep them happy.

The seats are supportive and comfortable, and there’s generous legroom for everyone. Depending on the trim, features include heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, dual-height cargo floor, and multi-colour ambient lighting.

How much does the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV cost?

In FWD, the 2LT starts at $48,199; the 2RS at $49,999; the 3LT at $50,899; and the 3RS at $52,399. All trims can be optioned with AWD for an additional $3,500. Those prices are before a $2,500 delivery charge, plus fees and taxes; and before any “green” rebates. The compact SUV market is very popular, and the Equinox faces several electric rivals, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 , Kia EV6 , Tesla Model Y , Toyota BZ4X , and Volkswagen ID.4 . They all have their strong points, but for its range, driving performance, comfortable interior, and its price, it’s a definite contender, here.

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Jil McIntosh

· Professional writer for more than 35 years, appearing in some of the top publications in Canada and the U.S.

· Specialties include new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and “How It Works” columns that explain vehicle features and technology

· Member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) since 2003; voting member for AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards; juror on the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards

Jil McIntosh graduated from East York Collegiate in Toronto, and then continued her education at the School of Hard Knocks. Her early jobs including driving a taxi in Toronto; and warranty administration in a new-vehicle dealership, where she also held information classes for customers, explaining the inner mechanical workings of vehicles and their features.

Jil McIntosh is a freelance writer who has been writing for Driving.ca since 2016, but she’s been a professional writer starting when most cars still had carburetors. At the age of eleven, she had a story published in the defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper, for which she was paid $25; given the short length of the story and the dollar’s buying power at the time, that might have been the relatively best-paid piece she’s ever written.

An old-car enthusiast who owns a 1947 Cadillac and 1949 Studebaker truck, she began her writing career crafting stories for antique-car and hot-rod car club magazines. When the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos started up in 1987, dedicated to the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist starting with its second issue; the newspaper is still around and she still writes for it. Not long after the Toronto Star launched its Wheels section in 1986 – the first Canadian newspaper to include an auto section – she became one of its regular writers. She started out writing feature stories, and then added “new-vehicle reviewer” to her resume in 1999. She stayed with Wheels, in print and later digital as well, until the publication made a cost-cutting decision to shed its freelance writers. She joined Driving.ca the very next day.

In addition to Driving.ca, she writes for industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Over the years, her automotive work also appeared in such publications as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean’s, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader’s Digest. Her non-automotive work, covering such topics as travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews, has appeared in publications including Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit.

Major awards won by the author

2016 AJAC Journalist of the Year; Car Care Canada / CAA Safety Journalism award winner in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, runner-up in 2021; Pirelli Photography Award 2015; Environmental Journalism Award 2019; Technical Writing Award 2020; Vehicle Testing Review award 2020, runner-up in 2022; Feature Story award winner 2020; inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994.

Contact info

Email: [email protected]

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilmcintosh/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JilMcIntosh

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