At the risk of sounding dumb, are you sure it was in AWD mode? At 6:21 it shows it’s in 2wd. AWD is not automatic and needs to be engaged with the switch to the left of the steering wheel.
I didn't see it in your video, but did you try these runs putting the vehicle into offroad mode? The only glimpse I had of the dash showed you had it in 2WD. I'd be curious to see this attempted again in normal and then offroad mode.
More of these videos. Average or just above average AWD SUV’s with their “off road” packages. Find out what’s just a sticker package and what actually does well in some dirt.
It’s a car, not a truck. None of the Crossovers are really all that off-road worthy except maybe the Bronco Sport or Grand Cherokee. They have no articulation and poor traction control systems.
02:13 Did you have the “AWD” button to the left pressed? It doesn’t look like any torque was going to the rear axle, My understanding is that system pretty much stays in FWD mode until you press the awd button
What's interesting is that we have a Kia EV6, and the all-wheel drive on that is better than anything I've ever driven. But for some reason their gas cars can't figure it out
It's a shame that Chevrolet and GMC do not use the 2 L that is in the Buick envision. That extra 50 hp would really help the equinox, 175 hp out of a 1.5 L on that type of adventure just doesn't cut it.
The 2.0 the Buick uses is made in China and this 1.5 is made in Mexico. GM likely can install this engine for pennies on the dollar compared to the cost of having the 2.0’s manufactured and shipped to Mexico where the Equinox is manufactured.
Yeah, A 1.5 liter turbocharged weedwacker motor just doesn't cut thick grass and it's unable to climb steep parking lot angles like in Sevierville Tennessee. 👎
Seems silly that the algorithm/programming of the traction control system can make such huge differences in vehicles nowadays. Jeep figured out brake lock differential way back in 2007 yet lots of brand new vehicles can't seem to simply brake a spinning wheel and send the traction to wheel that has traction.
What terrain mode did you have it in? You didn't show changing anything on the drive mode (ROUND CIRCLE KNOB LOCATED AT THE CENTER CONSOLE.) that's why I ask. 😊
Companies need to stop using terms like rugged, trail ready, and off-road when they clearly don't mean it. I can understand this from Hyundai, but Chevy knows better
A very small percentage of drivers ever go off-road with their SUVs. The off-road craze is just an insane marketing tactic that has really gotten out of hand.
So, you can buy an SUV that looks like it's legit off-road, but isn't, or you can buy the frumpy 2025 Subaru Forester. I watched another reviewer take the 2025 Forester Sport, with its 235/50/19 All-Season tires, up a shorter hill with similar terrain without any problem whatsoever.
I test drove a 25 forester and it had a pleasant ride. That’s it. No personality, bland interior, and (this sounds nuts) but I HATED the seats. Don’t even get me started on the touch screen
Seriously that is not made for heavy off road use. It did very well for what it is. If you want to drive on stuff like that buy the appropriate vehicle.
Hyundai and kia has better awd system than this but because of the dct transmission it can't perform much time offroad because clutch would overheat. This chevy on the other hand is plain bad i remember the smaller trailblazer performing way better than this car.
Yeah, that's the downside of my 2022 Seltos, I have a great AWD system with decent ground clearance, but the DCT is the Achilles heel. With that said, I have a co-worker with a '24 Seltos that has the 8 speed traditional auto instead of the DCT and it's miles better in offroad scenarios vs mine. If you know how to manage the DCT and know it's limits, it's doable to take it up some rough stuff, but it sucks the fun out out... the 8spd auto doesn't really complain much and just takes it like a champ.
I’m wondering if they changed the drive mode to off-road, maybe that will help with the tire spin? It’s so pretty, I’m not expecting to rock crawl or anything but I’d hope to take it in the mud or some mild off roading/overlanding
Yeah, it’s pretty silly that the video did not even cover the drive mode that they used. Do we assume it was the off road mode, or did they just run it in the default mode?
I had wished that GM had made this vehicle more off road worthy, since the market for off- road vehicles are hot right now. Nevertheless, I believe the Chevrolet Trailblazer might do better since it’s lighter.
That would be like comparing a single hamburger to a Whopper with cheese. The closest comparable Honda would be a CR-V. The Pilot is two classes above the Equinox.
Did you try the different drive modes, and you didn't take the other suvs up the same holes and I watch all your vídeos you always went up. The right side with less holes
MALLCRAWLING is its TRUE CALLING. Disagree with Kase. This suv doesn’t belong even on hiking trailhead finding missions. This would fail to get to a bunch of trailheads beyond slight slope and maintained gravel roads.
I will do An Off-road Test on the Old 2005 Chevrolet Equinox and The Brand New 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. Let’s take Both of them offroad. See How’s it Going.
See this video for answers to why agencies are wanting to ban AWD vehicles from off road trails. AWD requires slippage before traction technologies kick in and causes much more damage. 4WD vehicles more or less distribute power to 4 wheels from the start (locking differentials not withstanding).
@@jimmyr1683 None of the crossovers are any good off road. Get a used 4Runner instead of a new RAV4. A 5th Gen 4R in good condition with 100k miles will easily outlast a new RAV4.
Not buying into a 1.5 Liter engine ever. Even with 4 Turbos. That engine will last maybe 40,000 miles. How wimpy is the transmission. This reminds of the 200 Metric GM/Chevy old transmission, junker.
Although I think a well-maintained turbo 1.5 four banger will probably last longer than your prediction of 40K miles, in general I'm right there with you in terms of skepticism of the whole package.....especially from an American auto maker. I just don't think there will be many of these Equinoxes in the future with particularly high miles/long lives.
Brake based traction control doesn't really require any sort of special hardware, why do these crossovers have such poor systems vs land rover, MTS in some Toyotas, BLD in some Jeeps, etc?
As someone whos done offroading in 2016 front wheel drive and a 2024 all wheel drive equinox this is a welcomed option... Mostly all forest roads in georgia, so nothing too extreme. I use my wrangler for the real offroading
Without regard to its lack of robust performance for even a mild off-roader, the intense wheel spin showed this is a poorly developed AWD drive system. I don’t know the mechanicals, but prefer to blame the software.
It’s an improvement over previous models. I had a GMC Terrain for about 5 years with the 2.4L 4 cylinder and it had like 160 hp. My 0-60 was “eventually.”
only two minutes in, but I fail to grasp why a manufacturer would create and advertise a car for one thing but cannot do it at all. What is Chevy thinking? "here's an offroad rig that you cant take off road."
Were there other drive modes that would have changed its results? Would be good to show the cargo area. Not a great performance but at least the transmission did not overheat like so many other crossovers.
Some domestic trucks are better now but this is typical American made hot garbage. They just don't get quality. Tiny turbo motors that die prematurely coupled with CVT (not this one). As a retired auto tech I can tell you this is going to cost A LOT to keep as a long term vehicle. They don't care what a rabbit hole you end up in after 100k miles. Sad.
My 10-year-old Subaru's with their manual transmissions can make it up this. What a pathetic display by a supposedly-rugged trim level of a crossover. Shame on General Motors for even hinting at an ounce of capability. I'll give credit where credit is due. It does have some half decent all-terrain tires.
At the risk of sounding dumb, are you sure it was in AWD mode? At 6:21 it shows it’s in 2wd. AWD is not automatic and needs to be engaged with the switch to the left of the steering wheel.
You ain't kidding it's in 2WD 😂
I didn't see it in your video, but did you try these runs putting the vehicle into offroad mode? The only glimpse I had of the dash showed you had it in 2WD. I'd be curious to see this attempted again in normal and then offroad mode.
Makes the Bronco sport badlands look like a rock crawler by comparison.
I do like that Bronco Sport.
More of these videos. Average or just above average AWD SUV’s with their “off road” packages. Find out what’s just a sticker package and what actually does well in some dirt.
Wow. I liked the way this thing looked but that's pathetic.
yea
It’s a car, not a truck. None of the Crossovers are really all that off-road worthy except maybe the Bronco Sport or Grand Cherokee. They have no articulation and poor traction control systems.
Lmao, people rock crawling to HEB dude.
Compared to What???
Bronco sport would absolutely mop the floor with this. So with my Cherokee trailhawk. It would absolutely destroy this.
02:13 Did you have the “AWD” button to the left pressed? It doesn’t look like any torque was going to the rear axle, My understanding is that system pretty much stays in FWD mode until you press the awd button
TFL group is upgrading their look with these kids!🤣
@@chrisscott7113 no it’s just good to be the son of the guy who runs it
@@alexanderjones8787except Casey has been with TFL for years and Jen is not related to Roman.
@ not talking about these two individuals.
With the female anyway.
What is Jen’s relation to TFL, Office manager, editor or a test driver?
Hyundai and Kia: We make the worst AWD system in the USA.
Chevy: Hold my Beer.
What's interesting is that we have a Kia EV6, and the all-wheel drive on that is better than anything I've ever driven. But for some reason their gas cars can't figure it out
It's a shame that Chevrolet and GMC do not use the 2 L that is in the Buick envision. That extra 50 hp would really help the equinox, 175 hp out of a 1.5 L on that type of adventure just doesn't cut it.
They used to offer the 2.0t as an option for most trims until just a few years ago
With 5 passengers and luggage in the mountains the driver will learn what EWOTO means (hint: Extended Wide Open Throttle Operation).
The 2.0 the Buick uses is made in China and this 1.5 is made in Mexico. GM likely can install this engine for pennies on the dollar compared to the cost of having the 2.0’s manufactured and shipped to Mexico where the Equinox is manufactured.
@@haroldbeauchamp3770The Chevy Avalanche was assembled in Mexico. I've owned 2 of them with no regrets whatsoever.
Yeah, A 1.5 liter turbocharged weedwacker motor just doesn't cut thick grass and it's unable to climb steep parking lot angles like in Sevierville Tennessee. 👎
Seems silly that the algorithm/programming of the traction control system can make such huge differences in vehicles nowadays. Jeep figured out brake lock differential way back in 2007 yet lots of brand new vehicles can't seem to simply brake a spinning wheel and send the traction to wheel that has traction.
What terrain mode did you have it in?
You didn't show changing anything on the drive mode (ROUND CIRCLE KNOB LOCATED AT THE CENTER CONSOLE.) that's why I ask. 😊
Jenn is doing a great job! Kase being a good Off Roading teacher as well. Good video!
The car however, was.. well, less impressive.
Apparently Jen channels Nathan off road! Woo hoo!! Her videos are gonna be fun!!!! 🤣🤩
A highway car clearly.
Companies need to stop using terms like rugged, trail ready, and off-road when they clearly don't mean it. I can understand this from Hyundai, but Chevy knows better
A very small percentage of drivers ever go off-road with their SUVs. The off-road craze is just an insane marketing tactic that has really gotten out of hand.
So, you can buy an SUV that looks like it's legit off-road, but isn't, or you can buy the frumpy 2025 Subaru Forester.
I watched another reviewer take the 2025 Forester Sport, with its 235/50/19 All-Season tires, up a shorter hill with similar terrain without any problem whatsoever.
I test drove a 25 forester and it had a pleasant ride. That’s it. No personality, bland interior, and (this sounds nuts) but I HATED the seats. Don’t even get me started on the touch screen
Well, that was disappointing, it does look good, prop on the tires, but it needs a LOT of working on that traction control
Jen is a great addition with Kase makes a great team to watch great job 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸
Great job, I love that Equinox.
At least the dash didnt light up like a christmas tree like some crossovers do (cough cough Dodge Hornet)
Seriously that is not made for heavy off road use. It did very well for what it is. If you want to drive on stuff like that buy the appropriate vehicle.
Hyundai and kia has better awd system than this but because of the dct transmission it can't perform much time offroad because clutch would overheat. This chevy on the other hand is plain bad i remember the smaller trailblazer performing way better than this car.
Yeah, that's the downside of my 2022 Seltos, I have a great AWD system with decent ground clearance, but the DCT is the Achilles heel. With that said, I have a co-worker with a '24 Seltos that has the 8 speed traditional auto instead of the DCT and it's miles better in offroad scenarios vs mine. If you know how to manage the DCT and know it's limits, it's doable to take it up some rough stuff, but it sucks the fun out out... the 8spd auto doesn't really complain much and just takes it like a champ.
that drivetrain is going to be unreliable af.
Love the colour scheme, white over cactus green. Great job as usually, Kase.
Looks like they forgot These cars have to be put into AWD. Looks like they forgot.
Indeed, the vehicle's behavior did seem like the way a front-wheel-drive car would behave.
I think Jen likes what she sees. Not talking about the suv😂
I see what you did there.
What you think she likes kase he is pretty handsome 😂
I’m wondering if they changed the drive mode to off-road, maybe that will help with the tire spin? It’s so pretty, I’m not expecting to rock crawl or anything but I’d hope to take it in the mud or some mild off roading/overlanding
Yeah, it’s pretty silly that the video did not even cover the drive mode that they used. Do we assume it was the off road mode, or did they just run it in the default mode?
I love watching grocery getter vehicles go off road
If you had gone to the Wright would have made it
I had wished that GM had made this vehicle more off road worthy, since the market for off- road vehicles are hot right now. Nevertheless, I believe the Chevrolet Trailblazer might do better since it’s lighter.
I want to see a comparison between this and the trail sport pilot
That would be like comparing a single hamburger to a Whopper with cheese. The closest comparable Honda would be a CR-V. The Pilot is two classes above the Equinox.
Did you try the different drive modes, and you didn't take the other suvs up the same holes and I watch all your vídeos you always went up. The right side with less holes
It's junk offroad.
@@TimeMarinerno 💩. It’s never been advertised as a big bad off-roader.
@@DiaperGranny11 but it has. And it's not.
Yeah I think they took a pretty bad line for this car, a bit more to the right would have helped
@@TimeMariner show me a commercial where it is advertised as a rock crawler
Pretty sad that the traction control in the Jeep Renegade from years ago is better than this latest GM offering.
I have one of these. Put in Off road mode with traction control off.
MALLCRAWLING is its TRUE CALLING. Disagree with Kase. This suv doesn’t belong even on hiking trailhead finding missions. This would fail to get to a bunch of trailheads beyond slight slope and maintained gravel roads.
Good Evening. By any chance, did any of you review this vehicle as a daily driver? Many Thanks, Graham.
This was not to a Bronco Sport. Gravel and dirt roads, but not rock crawling. Great video nonetheless.
Oh Chevrolet, how do you still exist?
Silverados
What a piece of horse sh*t ,GM is good for givng u the LOOK ,…but nothing else junk vehicle
@@TEXAN_SHADOW tahoe and suburbans
Colorado
Corvette
if you climbing the rock hill like that you need to put in AWD mode, I see your dash cluster showing only 2WD.
is there an off-road mode?
Yes it has a knob in the center console
Interior looks great, but the software team needs to put in some overtime on that traction control system.
The “off road” trims of crossovers aren’t for actual off roading. They exist so women and grandmas can drive over curbs and not damage the car.
This SUV looks good, but it's only for street driving
Was AWD mode engaged?
Well I like the new Equinox.
By Chevrolet.
I will do An Off-road Test on the Old 2005 Chevrolet Equinox and The Brand New 2025 Chevrolet Equinox. Let’s take Both of them offroad. See How’s it Going.
Interior is fire.
Did you try the Off Road mode in the drive modes???? 🤔
See this video for answers to why agencies are wanting to ban AWD vehicles from off road trails. AWD requires slippage before traction technologies kick in and causes much more damage. 4WD vehicles more or less distribute power to 4 wheels from the start (locking differentials not withstanding).
The main question is : why G.M doesn't make a vehicle with 3 lockers that will compete with the Rubicon and the ford Bronco ???
Colorado Bison
Not a bad suv, but I would like an engine option.
How would the Rav 4 do?
Worse lol
My rear drive Taco with auto lsd engaged goes many places my AWD RAV4 won’t.
@user-tb7rn1il3q Guess I'll look for something else
@@jimmyr1683 None of the crossovers are any good off road. Get a used 4Runner instead of a new RAV4. A 5th Gen 4R in good condition with 100k miles will easily outlast a new RAV4.
Not buying into a 1.5 Liter engine ever. Even with 4 Turbos. That engine will last maybe 40,000 miles. How wimpy is the transmission. This reminds of the 200 Metric GM/Chevy old transmission, junker.
Although I think a well-maintained turbo 1.5 four banger will probably last longer than your prediction of 40K miles, in general I'm right there with you in terms of skepticism of the whole package.....especially from an American auto maker. I just don't think there will be many of these Equinoxes in the future with particularly high miles/long lives.
If gm put a true g80 locker in the rear, it might have a modicum of off road worthiness.
Is this the easy line.....?
Looks good, performs poorly
You should start showing people where these are manufactured.
😂 moving along
Brake based traction control doesn't really require any sort of special hardware, why do these crossovers have such poor systems vs land rover, MTS in some Toyotas, BLD in some Jeeps, etc?
I'd love to see you do the EV version.
if you get stuck, turn off traction control.
GM has some work to do with the awd programming.
As someone whos done offroading in 2016 front wheel drive and a 2024 all wheel drive equinox this is a welcomed option...
Mostly all forest roads in georgia, so nothing too extreme.
I use my wrangler for the real offroading
No one remembers asking😂
@@randyparmesan1383it’s a free platform. No one asked for your opinion, either. You, however, opened yourself up to some potentially fun responses
What a POS I guess it'd be good for the moms going over the shopping curbs to get the groceries. Lol
You can figure out where the cost savings went
Without regard to its lack of robust performance for even a mild off-roader, the intense wheel spin showed this is a poorly developed AWD drive system. I don’t know the mechanicals, but prefer to blame the software.
My 2002 Trailblazer 2wd would have done better. That 4.2 was a beast.
That was funny, my baby Suzuki would of walked that. 😂
not a fan of the gas powered Equinox but would consider the ev version.
I drove this one last week from dealer . I love the look for the vehicle but you proven my view its not for off road. $50,000 is too much.
I will stay with my 2015 Subaru Forester with X -Mode.
TC off
Right pedal
I will keep my Wrangler, tks.
Clearly, this Equinox is OFF my list.
Texture and patterns nice to look at but suck to clean.
Not even 200 hp is crazy even Honda makes more power with the same displacement
It’s an improvement over previous models. I had a GMC Terrain for about 5 years with the 2.4L 4 cylinder and it had like 160 hp. My 0-60 was “eventually.”
@ still underpowered you should at least have 200 hp in the vehicle this big especially in an off-road package
only two minutes in, but I fail to grasp why a manufacturer would create and advertise a car for one thing but cannot do it at all. What is Chevy thinking? "here's an offroad rig that you cant take off road."
GM shouldn’t of discontinued the the 2.0T
No thanks on the turbo
White wheels?
Wow. They put the disposable 1.5T in it? Ugh
Should have tried L mode and stuck to low gear.
Makes me think of the old Subarus they have tested - they did better than this and most of them had more street-based tires 😮
First rule of offroading.. turn off traction control
Tech sucks off-road geez, just put power to the tires…. At least it’s not CVT and burns up in 20 seconds
I have always liked the Equinox, the new model looks nice on the outside and inside.
So the tires are lipstick on a pig...
You two need to be taking that kind of car to a bed and breakfast, not a Jeep trail!
Were there other drive modes that would have changed its results? Would be good to show the cargo area. Not a great performance but at least the transmission did not overheat like so many other crossovers.
Why don't you guys use your brakes as you drive forward? Im an avid off roader, and using your brakes in an AWD works closely like 4lo
ok ill keep my 20 year old s10s ;-)
What the even hell is that😂😅😂😅
Sounds like Walter White shoving Jesse's solo bag of meth back in his face!
Bigger engine ,no turbo ,then I'm in till then I'm out!!
Oops I'm out all together fast walking
Who’s Jen?
New person that joined staff. Trying to expand their viewer base to more women.
@ I approve😄
Some domestic trucks are better now but this is typical American made hot garbage. They just don't get quality. Tiny turbo motors that die prematurely coupled with CVT (not this one). As a retired auto tech I can tell you this is going to cost A LOT to keep as a long term vehicle. They don't care what a rabbit hole you end up in after 100k miles. Sad.
I’ll stick with my ‘75 FJ40.
My 10-year-old Subaru's with their manual transmissions can make it up this. What a pathetic display by a supposedly-rugged trim level of a crossover.
Shame on General Motors for even hinting at an ounce of capability. I'll give credit where credit is due. It does have some half decent all-terrain tires.
Highway tyre pressure right? If you dropped down to 10-15psi you probably would have made it easy
Lol
struggle 🚌
ready, set, terrible...'23 Renegade TH has better torque (210 ft lbs), and hp (177) 😂 go Renegang!