Volvo XC60 vs Chevrolet Equinox EV

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are smart for certain consumers. They allow people to give electric vehicle ownership a try before diving into the deep end of the pool by acclimating people to nightly plug-ins and the benefits of electric-only driving.

At the same time, they eliminate a phenomenon called “range anxiety,” which is the mild panic EV drivers may feel when their battery gets low. That’s because they also have a gasoline engine, and that means you can take a cross-country trip in one without ever needing to find a charging station.

Talk about a win-win situation. And among luxury PHEVs, the 2023 Volvo XC60 Recharge is an appealing choice. But it certainly does not come cheap.

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV trades on the established Equinox nameplate to help ease the transition to battery-electric power, but the Equinox EV is just that: an EV, from the ground up. Its dedicated architecture is wholly independent of the internal-combustion-engined (ICE) Equinox compact SUV. In Canada, it’s available in 2LT, 2RS, 3LT, and 3RS trims. Accounting for current availability puts base MSRP at $48,199 before fees for the 2LT, but that will fall when the 1LT trim level becomes available in 2025.

Verdict: The Equinox EV does exactly what its name promises, offering the benefits of electric power in a comfortable package, and at a price point that’s hard to beat.