Chevy Equinox EV Scores Below Segment Average in J.D. Power 2026 Study

General Motors pitches the Chevrolet Equinox EV as an affordable entry into electric ownership. But new data from J.D. Power shows the model trailing much of its competition in owner satisfaction.

In the 2026 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Study, the Equinox EV scored 722 out of 1,000. That places it below the mass-market segment average of 727.

Equinox EV ranks near bottom of mass-market segment

Only two vehicles scored lower in the mass-market category: the Chevrolet Blazer EV and the Honda Prologue. All three ride on GM’s BEV3 architecture, also known as the Ultium platform.

At the top of the mass-market rankings sits the Ford Mustang Mach-E with a score of 760. It is followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 6 and the Kia EV9.

The study evaluates satisfaction across ten categories during the first year of ownership, including driving enjoyment, battery range accuracy, charging access, cost of ownership, quality, and reliability, according to GM Authority.

While the overall mass-market average ticked up from 725 in 2025 to 727 this year, the Equinox EV failed to keep pace with the broader segment improvement.

GM platform faces owner approval gap

The results raise questions about how GM’s Ultium-based models are resonating with buyers. The Prologue, developed through GM’s partnership with Honda, also landed near the bottom despite sharing core architecture with the Equinox EV.

Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power, noted that overall EV satisfaction continues to improve even as market share has softened following the end of federal tax credits in late 2025.

Owners cited gains in public charging access and battery technology across the industry. Still, those broader improvements did not translate into a stronger showing for the Equinox EV.

For GM, the rankings come at a time when the company is working to scale EV adoption in the mass market. The latest study suggests there is still work to do on owner experience.

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