Your Guide to the Trim Levels of the 2025 Chevy Equinox

The Chevy Equinox has always been a preferred compact SUV. With compact SUVs quickly replacing sedans as the premiere small-size vehicle, the Equinox is growing more and more popular, meaning there’s more and more of a market, meaning the Equinox has to be even more versatile and appealing. That’s exactly what has happened, and the 2025 model year is a big step forward in that direction! The Equinox has received a significant makeover with major updates for this year, giving it the distinction of being released as the 2025 Chevy Equinox. 

Alongside the new updates comes a trim that, while not new to the Chevy lineup, is new to the Equinox: the ACTIV. As the Equinox evolves to meet increasing demand, we thought it might be worthwhile to provide a guide to the trims of the 2025 model for those of you who might be seeking a Chevy Equinox for sale. With several options to choose from, drivers can optimize their priorities, from budget to luxury to adventure. So, let’s go through the 2025 Equinox’s trims and see what there is for this year…

Setting the Bar High: The 2025 Equinox LT

There’s a temptation to brush over baseline trims, assuming that they’re bland and offer only the bare minimum. While that may have been true of another brand in another time, many baseline trims now still offer the premiere technology features drivers might seek in a higher-level trim, as well as some notable style, comfort, and convenience. The LT serves as the baseline trim in the 2025 Equinox lineup, and it definitely goes farther than you might expect.

The Equinox LT starts drivers out with a strong standard, offering a heated steering wheel and front seats. Of course, anybody can recognize that those are great and desirable features, but if you’re not a car enthusiast, you may not know how remarkable it is for these features to be included in a baseline trim; entry-level trims in other brands rarely, if ever, offer heating for the seats or steering wheel, so the Equinox really does start from a strong foundation. 

The LT trim also gives drivers a generous 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. In every trim, this screen comes standard with great connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing you to stay entertained with your favorite media, looped into your messages, and fixed on your navigation for the whole drive. The 11.3-inch touchscreen pairs nicely with an 11-inch driver information center, giving you the vital statistics you need during the drive. Rather than the classic odometer and speedometer, drivers have an interactive, dynamic display of multiple kinds of necessary information. 

While technically the baseline trim, the Equinox LT sets the bar high and gives drivers great value. However, if you’re looking for something that’s a cut above, the Equinox has you covered…

Street-Inspired Style: The 2025 Equinox RS

The RS trim is the premiere luxury outfit for the 2025 Equinox lineup. While you may not think that a compact SUV can get that stylish, the RS proves that it can indeed. The Equinox RS takes its fashion cues from the ferocity of street racing. The exterior has black badging and hints of black in multiple places, including mirrors, emblems, and moldings. Perhaps the most notable touch of black—and the most notable exterior feature in general—is the available black roof; this gives the exterior a two-tone complexion that draws your eye. 

The grille stands out as very distinct from the LT trim, with wider openings and a high-gloss finish. The RS trim has a confident stance, resting atop 19-inch Carbon Flash machined aluminum wheels. The exterior certainly communicates the vehicle’s street inspiration, but the exterior is meant to draw you inside, which is where things get really good. 

Once you open the door, you’ll see Evotex seats. As nice as that is on its own, the seats are made even better with Torch Red and Santorini Blue stitching. The front seats have a debossed “RS” logo on the headrest, and while the rear seats don’t have this logo, the outboard seats have an available heating option, which is far more preferable. The RS trim has a sporty flat-bottom steering wheel, which is also heated. 

The long and the short is that the RS trim makes the drive more enjoyable by crafting an environment that you want to be in. However, for those who are more focused on the exterior environment they’re driving in, the Equinox has a new addition for 2025…

A New Adventurer: The 2025 Equinox ACTIV

While the Equinox has always been a great compact SUV, it’s taking a huge step forward for 2025 with the introduction of the ACTIV trim. The ACTIV trim had become popular in other Chevy SUVs, such as the Trailblazer, and its Equinox debut is no small feat. Designed for drivers who seek adventures outside of the ordinary, the Equinox ACTIV provides drivers with a style that inspires them to explore beyond the boundaries of the road. 

Sitting atop 17-inch machined-face aluminum wheels with all-terrain tires, the Equinox ACTIV is ready for whatever comes its way. But, sometimes, you might need a little motivation to inspire you to get off the road, and so the ACTIV trim provides the styling that puts you in that headspace. An available white roof, making for a two-tone finish, embraces the look of vintage off-road vehicles, and the rugged front fascia communicates this model’s adventurous nature. 

Inside the Equinox ACTIV, you’ll find a color scheme composed of Maple Sugar and black, giving you a feeling of warmth and comfort in line with the great outdoors. With “ACTIV” embroidered on the driver and front passenger head restraints, you’ll have a constant reminder that your Equinox is designed to seek adventure. But, for those days you’re not interested in adventure, you’ll be able to enjoy great comfort and convenience features like heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and even driver seat memory settings. 

Not only is the Equinox a huge step forward in terms of the Equinox’s capability, but it also provides some of the best style the Equinox has ever had. Whether you’re an off-road adventurer or an on-road commuter, the new Equinox ACTIV will be your new favorite vehicle. 

Covering the Bases

2025 is a superb year for the Equinox. Vehicles don’t achieve the “all-new” title without earning it, and with significant design and tech updates as well as a whole new trim, the Equinox has certainly earned it. Setting the bar very high with a great baseline trim, the 2025 Equinox has worked its way up to providing a stunning street-inspired luxury trim as well as a daring off-road adventure trim with similar amenities. 

For 2025, there is an Equinox for drivers of every taste and preference. For those who are currently shopping, we encourage you to see all three trims for yourself in person to make an educated decision. The Equinox is not a one-size-fits-all vehicle, but we guarantee there is a size that will fit you. After some time behind the wheel, you’ll know pretty quickly which trim is just right for you.