MotorWeek announces its 2025 Drivers' Choice Awards - Best of the Year: Chevrolet Equinox EV
Motorweek's Drivers' Choice Awards
OWINGS MILLS, MD, Feb. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MotorWeek today announced its 2025 Drivers' Choice Awards, highlighted by its 2025 Best of the Year winner – the all-electric Chevrolet Equinox EV.
The full slate of Drivers' Choice Awards presented by MotorWeek, now in its 44th season as TV and digital media's original automotive magazine series, reflects the new age of EVs while maintaining the mantle of practicality with an eye toward the future. The Drivers' Choice Awards digital ceremony can be viewed at MotorWeek.org and MotorWeek's YouTube channel.
The Equinox EV builds on the solid reputation of the internal combustion engine Equinox, which has been among North America's most popular compact SUVs for two decades. While sharing a name and purpose, the Equinox EV is an all-new 21st-century standout with its combination of extended driving range, family practicality, and affordable price. It also promises to open up the world of all-electric motoring to a wider audience like no battery-electric before it. That is why MotorWeek's editorial staff awarded the Chevrolet Equinox EV its top vehicle honor.
John Davis, MotorWeek creator and host said, 'While this is not the first time an EV has won Best of the Year honors, the Equinox EV, with over 300 miles of standard range for all models, and just under $35,000 price tag before incentives, is poised to finally make an EV purchase something most families and fleet buyers, large and small, can not only afford but, also, cannot afford to ignore.
'Rarely is a brand able to transform a highly familiar nameplate into a new-era standard bearer, but that is just what Chevrolet has done with the all-new Equinox EV,' noted Davis. 'This Equinox EV is also a real head turner, with some of the best-looking styling to come out of the Bow Tie Brigade in decades.'
Chevrolet has put everything it has learned in nine decades of building SUVs into the ground-breaking Equinox EV. MotorWeek's staff notes the vehicle's airy and modern interior that has room for five adults along with an impressive suite of technology.
'While the gas-powered Equinox has been a standard for small utilities for some 20 years, the Equinox EV picks up the torch for an all-electric driving future,' explained Davis. 'Along with its over-300-mile range, using a Level 3 DC-Fast Charger, the new Equinox EV can add back as much as 70 miles of range in only 10 minutes. So, the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV is so much more than just a new generation of a great selling nameplate, it's a class revolution that delivers better than ever.'
'We are honored to see our best-selling EV receive this recognition,' said Scott Bell, global vice president, Chevrolet. 'It's a vehicle we are extremely proud of – it looks and drives great, is affordable and it just happens to be an EV. There's no surprise it's converting EV skeptics and bringing new folks to the Chevrolet family.'
MotorWeek's production team evaluates more than 150 cars, trucks, and sports utility vehicles every year. Drivers' Choice Award winners, in 12 consumer-driven categories, were chosen based on driving performance, technology, practicality, fuel efficiency, and value for the dollar.
'Our category winners this year cover a wider array of vehicles than ever, not only in vehicle type but in capability and price. Plus, as the award's name says, we love driving all of them' said Davis. 'Prices start (on this award list) from around $29,000. Even with more EVs being introduced into the market, those who prefer traditional internal-combustion-powered cars will find popular brands have not forgotten them and have many updated models on the way. For those uncertain about a full-on transition to EV, many vehicles on our list come with either standard or optional hybrid powertrains. With inventories fully stocked, dropping interest rates, and rising dealer and manufacturer financial incentives, 2025 is shaping up to be a new car buyer's market dream.'
The 2025 Drivers' Choice Award winners also appear on a special episode of MotorWeek (#4423) airing on public television stations beginning February 8. The episode can also be seen on the series' cable partner, the MAVTV Motorsports Network, starting February 16.
MotorWeek and the 2025 Drivers' Choice Awards are nationally sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper-to-Bumper, and TireRack.com.
2025 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards
Best of the Year… Chevrolet Equinox EV
Drivers' Choice Individual Categories
1. Best Family Car Toyota Camry
2. Best Luxury Car Mercedes-Benz E-Class
3. Best Sport Sedan Genesis G70
4. Best Sport Coupe Dodge Charger Daytona
5. Best Performance Car Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
6. Best Small Utility Chevrolet Equinox
7. Best Midsize Utility Acura MDX
8. Best Large Utility Toyota Grand Highlander**
9. Best Luxury Utility Lincoln Nautilus
10. Best Small Truck Chevrolet Colorado*; GMC Canyon*
11. Best Fullsize Truck Ram 1500
12. Best EV Chevrolet Equinox EV; Porsche Macan Electric; Volkswagen ID. Buzz
*Denotes Repeat Winner from 2024 **Denotes Returning Winner from 2023
About MotorWeekTelevision's longest-running and most-respected automotive series, MotorWeek launched a new TV genre in 1981 by becoming the first weekly series to offer consumer-oriented car and truck reviews, do-it-yourself car care tips, and the latest auto industry news. The winner of numerous automotive journalism awards, MotorWeek is a trusted source of automotive news on television and the web.
Maryland Public Television produces and distributes the series nationwide and overseas. It airs on 90 percent of PBS stations. Viewers can find the days and times their local public television station airs MotorWeek by going to the station listings page on MotorWeek.org. MotorWeek can also be seen on the MAVTV motorsports and automotive enthusiasts' cable channel, and Spanish-language viewers can catch the show on the V-me network.
Current episodes can be streamed 24/7 on mobile devices and streaming boxes or sources by downloading the free PBS app, while the latest episodes are also available for free at pbs.org/motorweek. Recent seasons of MotorWeek are also now available on the free streaming service Tubi. Hundreds of MotorWeek-archived road tests and features, including popular Retro Road Test Marathons, can also be accessed at youtube.com/motorweek, reaching nearly three million viewers each month.
For additional 24/7 access to all things MotorWeek, download the free MotorWeek app with its unique 'EVerything' tab offering specifications of all the electric and plug-in vehicles, both new and used, on the market today.
MotorWeek is also the source for up-to-the-minute automotive news, instantaneous driving impressions, and exclusive videos at MotorWeek.org. Viewers can also follow the series on Facebook, as well as download complete shows on iTunes.
For commercial licensing opportunities regarding the 2025 MotorWeek Drivers' Choice Awards including the use of the logo, contact David Eng of PARS International Corp. at (212) 221-9595 x145 or David.eng@parsintl.com.
Attachments
Chevrolet Equinox EV - MotorWeek's 2025 Drivers' Choice Awards Best of the Year
Motorweek's Drivers' Choice Awards
CONTACT: Tom Williams Maryland Public Television 4105814031 tomwilliams@mpt.org
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
GM wows with Corvette, Cadillac concepts at Monterey Car Week
CARMEL, Calif – GM brought some Detroit muscle to the rarified air of Monterey Car Week — with a twist. While the Corvette nameplate falls under the Chevrolet brand, more and more it stands out on its own. At The Quail event in Carmel Valley, where multi-million dollar Paganis are displayed alongside priceless gullwing Mercedes SL coupes (and the parking lot is a show in and of itself), Corvette showed off two concepts that showed where the sportscar is headed in the future. The CX and its racing-inspired twin the CX-R, evoke supercar looks that go beyond the current 'C8' Corvette. The two concepts feature fighter jet-style interiors, with a trick canopy opening to boot. The twist — the CX is all electric, which is becoming a rarity at the higher end, and the CX-R features hybrid power. The racy CX-R will also be a drivable car in the Gran Turismo 7 racing game on PlayStation. And the response, beyond the oohs and ahhs, was strong for vehicles that aren't going on sale. 'We've had a number of customers that have already said, 'Could we buy one of those vehicles today?,'' said Rory Harvey, EVP and President of Global Markets, from the Quail Event to Yahoo Finance. Harvey, who essentially leads on all GM brands globally, noted that customers were asking to buy a vehicle with no pricing info, and wouldn't even be released. It was a good opportunity though, to collect future client info from buyers who typically own multiple cars. 'Just listening to the customers, the enthusiasts that are on the stage, I mean, the feedback is outstanding,' Harvey said. The UK-born exec noted that Corvette, in his opinion, was already at supercar levels, with competitive lap times at places like the Nurburgring in Germany, and 38% market share in the luxury sports car segment, making it the leader. Harvey's purview extends to Cadillac, where the luxury brand showed off its 'Elevated Velocity' concept, a cross-over style EV SUV meant to evoke the high-desert landscape. The new design language may hint at more curves and swooping design, as opposed to Cadillac's traditional angular features and vertical light bars. Regardless, Cadillac as a brand has been on a winning streak with its combination of traditional gas powered cars like the Escalade and CT5 sedans, and EVs like the Lyriq and Optiq. 'Cadillac now has done 12 consecutive quarters of year-on-year growth, which is absolutely superb. But in quarter two, Cadillac is now the number one luxury brand for EVs. So again, that's really, really strong,' Harvey said. 'We've launched so many new products over the course of the last two years, and that momentum continues to build. So we're looking at, how do we keep our foot on the accelerator pedal and build even further?' Harvey said he wasn't terribly concerned over the upcoming loss of the EV tax credit, because the brand would be able 'flex' into its other gas-powered offerings like the XT crossovers if its EVs were not price competitive. While a nice game plan, it doesn't address the fact the company invested heavily in EVs, and might take a hit to sales. Another challenge is tariffs, where GM took a big hit in the second quarter and stands to feel more pain in the second half of the year. Harvey noted the trade deals in place are mostly preliminary, so when the details come out the company will have a hard look at its manufacturing footprint, product portfolio in terms of territory, and where the company can minimize its tariff exposure. 'We've publicly stated that we believe that we can mitigate approximately 30% of the impact of tariffs; so, we're in a strong position at the moment,' Harvey said of GM's ability to pivot around President Trump's tariff war. Harvey still believes GM is in a great spot regardless of tariffs, and it's because of products like the current Corvette and Cadillac portfolio — cars that are selling well in the marketplace. 'If you looked at just General Motors sales in the US, we are the fastest growing brand, full stop. And if you look to the nearest competitor, they're about half the level of growth that we've got. So customers love our products.' Pras Subramanian is the lead auto reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNET
8 hours ago
- CNET
GPT-5's Voice Mode Can Hold a Decent Conversation, but Please Don't Talk to ChatGPT in Public
Sitting in the lobby of the auto body shop waiting for a repair estimate, I realized I'd forgotten my earbuds. Normally, that's not a major issue, but I was talking to my phone. And I wasn't talking to another person. I was talking to ChatGPT. It felt as embarrassing as asking Siri a question from across the room or joining a Zoom meeting sans headphones in an open office. I'm testing the advanced voice mode that comes with GPT-5, OpenAI's latest version of the generative AI model behind ChatGPT. GPT-5 dropped this summer after many months of speculation and delays, promising AI users a faster and smarter chatbot experience. The jury's still out on whether or not OpenAI has delivered. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) GPT-5 includes improvements to its advanced voice mode, which is essentially a way for you to literally talk to ChatGPT and have it respond in the voice of your choosing. Free users like me now have access to the advanced version (free users previously only had access to basic voice mode), and paying subscribers will receive higher usage limits. Another new GPT-5 feature allows you to choose what kind of personality you want your AI to mimic, including sassy, nerdy and robotic avatars. To use voice mode, open ChatGPT, tap the audio button next to the prompt window where you would enter an instruction and begin chatting. You can change which voice ChatGPT uses by tapping the settings icon in the upper right hand corner on the mobile app (two bars stacked on top of each other with circles on them). More human AI voices? How my experience went I decided to try to speak to ChatGPT like I would a friend, like a more enthusiastic version of myself. The AI laughed when I started the call with a spirited "Heyyyy girlfriend!" which felt both funny and condescending. ChatGPT's voice flowed very naturally in a familiar cadence, similar to the way I would talk to a particularly friendly customer service agent. That made sense as the chatbot itself told me that the upgraded advanced voice mode helped make it sound more human. The voice I used, ember, would often take pauses for breaths, like a human would during a longer sentence. I thought that was kind of weird, since while ChatGPT was doing its best impression of a human, we both knew it didn't actually need to pause to catch its breath. In my conversation with ChatGPT, it was more empathetic than I expected. It asked me how I was doing, and I said not well and told it about my car accident. In our five-minute chat, it would bookend many of its responses with empathetic statements, like saying it was sorry I was having a bad week and agreeing that dealing with insurance can be a headache. (Has ChatGPT ever had to call an insurance agent or even experienced a headache? I think not). While a sympathetic robot ear might not seem like a big deal, it can be a sign of a bigger problem. Sycophantic AI, the term used to describe when AI is overly affectionate or emotional, can be frustrating for users just looking for information. It can also be dangerous for people who use AI as therapists or mental health counselors, something OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned ChatGPT users against. Previous versions of ChatGPT have been pulled and re-released after issues with sycophantic tendencies. I also asked ChatGPT more factual questions, like the average cost of car repair labor in North Carolina and where I could go to get a second repair estimate. It responded more like a friend would than a chatbot, which may not be the most helpful. For example, when I typed the same request into ChatGPT on my laptop, it pulled up a map with the list of stores, along with more information like pricing info and store hours. But when I was chatting with ChatGPT voice mode, it brought up fewer options and described them based on what I assume are the shop's marketing language and customer reviews, using phrases like "They've been around for quite a while" and saying that one shop is "known for quality service". You also don't get any links or sources with voice mode, which I don't love. ChatGPT automatically transcribes voice chats, so you can see the difference in the level of detail given in regular text prompts (left) and voice chats (right). Screenshot by Katelyn Chedraoui/CNET Using ChatGPT voice as a sounding board One of the things voice mode is well-suited for is being a brainstorming partner, a literal wall to bounce ideas off of. I asked it to help me plan a sky-diving-themed birthday party, and it both helped me develop new ideas and refine the ones I already had. I interrupted ChatGPT while it was speaking a couple of times, and it was able to pivot quickly. I also tend to talk quickly, and the chatbot kept up and didn't miss any of my thoughts. I let myself ramble and steer the conversation off track, and ChatGPT didn't blink a virtual eye. Most importantly, when I asked it a question about an earlier topic, it could pick up where we left off. Improvements to ChatGPT's memory are to thank for that important consideration. Now Playing: The Hidden Impact of the AI Data Center Boom 05:13 Should you use ChatGPT voice mode? Overall, I think voice mode is nice as another way to use ChatGPT, but it's only situationally useful. If you need in-depth research and more detailed information, voice mode isn't going to be right for you. But if you just want to talk to someone (rather, something) or work through a problem out loud, voice mode is a nice alternative to having to articulate your thoughts and type them out. I still believe that we haven't normalized talking to AIs in public spaces, especially without headphones. But it can be a useful alternative for people who think better aloud. For more, check out how AI is changing search engines and the best AI image generators.
San Francisco Chronicle
20 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Ryan Preece earns 2nd career pole position in hunt for NASCAR playoff spot at Richmond
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Ryan Preece will start from the pole position Saturday night at Richmond Raceway while trying to lock in a spot for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. Preece earned his second career pole in 212 Cup starts with a lap at 121.381 mph around the 0.75-mile oval in his No. 60 Ford. 'What a great car,' said Preece, whose previous pole came at Martinsville Speedway in April 2023. With two races remaining in the regular season, Preece still can make the playoffs through the points standings, but a win would secure an automatic berth. Tyler Reddick, who can lock into the 16-driver playoff field on points with a strong result Saturday, qualified second. AJ Allmendinger will start third despite his No. 16 Chevrolet failing prerace inspection twice, which resulted in a loss of pit stall selection and the ejection of car chief Jaron Antley. Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five in qualifying. Sweeping the top three starting spots, Preece, Reddick and Allmendinger were joined by six other winless drivers qualifying in the top 15: Brad Keselowski (sixth), Alex Bowman (ninth), Michael McDowell (10th), Austin Dillon (11th), Chris Buescher (12th) and Carson Hocevar (15th). It'll be a tougher slog to get to the front for Ty Gibbs (22nd) and Kyle Busch (28th). Three-time Cup champion Joey Logano, a two-time winner at Richmond, will start last in the 38-car field after being unable to turn a lap in qualifying. Logano hit the Turn 4 wall in practice because of a right-front tire problem on his No. 22 Ford. Starting position is critical at Richmond, which tends to have long green-flag stretches when it's easy to fall a lap down. Last August's race had only three caution flags, which is tied for the fewest on a short track since the 2022 debut of the Next Gen car. ___
