By Len Ingrassia
Automotive columnist

How much should an electric car set you back and how practical is one in your daily driving? Good questions as consumers wrestle with limitations of electrics, pricey acquisition costs and time needed to charge.

A newcomer entered the pack this year with the Equinox EV, not a new name but this SUV has a driving range of up to 319 miles while not sacrificing its SUV roominess and sporty looks.

The Equinox will soon be available in five trim levels ranging in price between upper $30s to low $50s depending on your penchant for options.

Our test car for the week was the top-of-the-line 3RS, an all-wheel drive dual motor version that drops to 280 miles range.

Fortunately, all trims include an 11-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and an extra-large nearly 19-inch center touchscreen featuring Google apps combined with an Android-based infotainment system.

Both are adequate for short term and urban driving but you will need to schedule your charging on longer trips. With a 240-volt garage charger, the EV will take approximately 10 hours for a full charge. While a 110-volt cord is available, the charge time is a week or longer for a full charge. Conversely, an ultra-fast commercial charger will shorten the time to several hours.

Our tester included one-pedal driving, a feature that uses the accelerator pedal to accelerate and decelerate to a stop with an adjustable regenerative braking system that slowing the SUV using the motor instead of regular friction brakes while optimizing vehicle range.

The 3RS outputs a combined 288 horsepower and 333 lb.ft of torque using GM’s Ultium platform with 85-kWh battery pack. The 2025 models increase to 300 and 355 respectively.

Upper trims utilize 21-inch black aluminum wheels while all feature a center lit headlamp bar marking its electric – ness. Exterior lines are bold and side panels appear larger than they really are. LED head and taillamps set off a sporty look while approach and walk-away lighting add a nice touch along with flush door handles that extend when walking nearby.

We found the infotainment system easy to maneuver although on several occasions our screen blacked out and the adaptive cruise system faltered. The interior is roomy with front and rear legroom accommodating four adults. With rear seats folded, cargo space is a generous 58 cubic feet.

Cushioning around the center console, door panels and dashboard could be better.

Acceleration is brisk but lacks the oomph present in many electric rivals. Suspension is firm but can get spongy with potholes. Steering is stiff at times and body lean is noticeable. We found the Equinox delivered a compliant ride in highway travel with minimal cabin noise.

GM’s Super Cruise highway driving system ($2,700) works on mapped interstates throughout the country while delivering hands free driving and lane changes providing your eyes are kept on the road although we found it tends to hug the right lane.

Rivals to consider include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, VW ID4 and Tesla Model Y.

Contact independent automotive columnist Len Ingrassia at editor@ptd.net

What was reviewed:

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV 3RS

Engine: 85 kWh battery rated energy, 288 horsepower, 333 lb.-ft torque

MSRP/as tested: $45,400 / $49,495

EPA mileage: 108 MPGe

Assembled: Final assembly at Ramos Arizpe,CZ Mexico U.S./Canadian parts content – 62 percent. Major source of foreign parts content, CN – 15 percent. Country of origin; motor and transmission – Mexico.

Crash test ratings: Neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had rated the 2024 Equinox EV.

Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper to bumper; 8-year/100,000-mile electric vehicle propulsion battery warranty, first maintenance visit.