Three Weeks with the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV: Real-World First Impressions from Winnipeg

By James Hart | True North EV Consulting | Spring 2026

Three weeks ago, we drove home in a brand new 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT. After years in the EV world — starting with our 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric, then moving to a 2016 Tesla Model X — this is our next chapter. And I want to give you the honest, real-world version of what it has been like so far. Not the brochure. The Winnipeg version.

This post covers our first impressions of the vehicle, the rebate picture that made our purchase decision a lot easier, and a preview of an EV camping trip we have coming up this summer. There is also a big update on the Manitoba provincial EV rebate program that every Manitoba driver needs to hear about.

HOW WE GOT HERE

My EV journey started in 2019 with the purchase of our 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric. That vehicle changed everything for me — not just how I thought about driving, but how I thought about energy, infrastructure, and what the future of transportation could look like. It is also what pushed me to get more involved with the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, which existed before we bought the Kona, but which I became much more committed to once I was living the EV life every day. When you are in it, you want to help others get there too.

From the Kona, we moved into a 2016 Tesla Model X. The Model X was a genuinely impressive machine — the performance, the range, the autopilot, the over-the-air updates. For its time it was in a class of its own, and we loved it. We also camped with both of those vehicles over the years, so EV camping is not new territory for us.

But by 2026, a ten-year-old Tesla is a ten-year-old vehicle. Technology moves fast in this space. And when we started seriously looking at what the broader EV market was offering now — particularly the Equinox EV at its price point, and with the incentive programs available to us — making a change made a lot of sense.

THE REBATE PICTURE: HOW WE STACKED OVER $10,000 IN INCENTIVES

This is the part I am most excited to share, because I think a lot of Manitoba buyers are not fully aware of how these programs can work together.

Federal EVAP Rebate — $5,000

The federal EV Affordability Program provides up to $5,000 off the purchase price of an eligible new EV, applied right at the dealership at the point of sale. No paperwork after the fact, no waiting for a cheque — it comes straight off the price. The 2026 Equinox EV LT qualifies. This one was seamless.

Costco GM Vehicle Rebate — $1,200

We are Costco Executive members, and Costco Canada runs a GM vehicle rebate program on select new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac models. As Executive members we were eligible for up to $1,200 off. Non-Executive Costco members can receive $1,000. You register at costcoauto.ca before purchasing. If you are a Costco member buying a GM vehicle, please go check this out — it is worth it and it stacks on top of your other incentives.

Manitoba Provincial EV Rebate — $4,000

This is the big news. The Manitoba Electric Vehicle Rebate Program was originally set to close at the end of March 2026. A lot of people were watching that deadline nervously. But in Budget 2026, the Manitoba government announced the program has been extended.

Here is what the program offers:

- $4,000 on the purchase of a new eligible electric vehicle

- $2,500 on the purchase of a pre-owned eligible EV

- $1,000 to $4,000 on leasing a new EV depending on lease term

Vehicles must be purchased from a Manitoba dealership with a maximum MSRP of $70,000. The application is handled through Manitoba Public Insurance at evrebate.mpi.mb.ca, and once approved, MPI issues a cheque. We received our approval and that $4,000 cheque is on its way.

One important note: Tesla and EVs manufactured in China are not eligible for the provincial rebate for purchases made after March 19, 2025. Check the full list of eligible vehicles at manitoba.ca/lowercosts/evrebate/eligible-vehicles.html.

And PHEVs qualify too — one of our friends joining us on our upcoming camping trip picked up a used plug-in hybrid and was approved for the $2,500 used EV rebate.

The combined total across all three programs: over $10,000 back on our purchase. That is money that genuinely changes the cost of ownership math.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: THE VEHICLE

The Equinox EV has been a very welcome surprise in a lot of ways. My wife is genuinely happy with it — she loved a lot about the Tesla experience, and what she found in the Equinox EV is that it delivers a lot of those same qualities she valued: a premium cabin feel, smooth and quiet drive, great technology — now in a brand new vehicle at a much more accessible price point.

On the tech side: the Equinox EV does not have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. What it does have is Google built-in, with access to the Google Play Store right in the infotainment system. You download the apps you want. Google Maps is native, Google Assistant is there, and coming from Tesla's closed proprietary ecosystem, having an open app environment has been a genuinely welcome change for us.

The rated range on the LT trim is 515 kilometres. We charge to 80% as our daily routine — better for long-term battery health — and at that level we are consistently seeing around 450 kilometres of indicated range. When you work that back to a full charge equivalent, we are actually tracking at or slightly above the rated range. That is a pleasant and encouraging result for real-world efficiency.

The Equinox EV LT also comes with a heat pump standard, which is significant for Manitoba drivers. A heat pump is far more efficient in cold weather than a resistive heater, and the difference in real-world winter range between a heat pump-equipped EV and one without is meaningful. We still caught some cold nights in the first few weeks and the heat pump handled it well.

CITY DRIVING IN WINNIPEG

One-pedal driving is one of those things that sounds like a novelty until you live with it for a few days, and then you cannot imagine going back. With regenerative braking engaged, lifting off the accelerator slows the vehicle by feeding energy back into the battery. In city stop-and-go driving, you are barely touching the brake pedal. It took about an hour to feel natural. We have hardly touched the brakes since.

Home charging: we do not have a garage. Our Level 2 charger is mounted on the back of our fence with a weatherproof flap to protect the connection. We plug in at night and wake up every morning to a charged vehicle ready to go. Starting the day at 80% on a 515 km rated range is more than enough for any normal day in Winnipeg.

And I will be honest — I do not miss gas stations right now. With fuel sitting at around $1.70 a litre in Winnipeg, driving past a gas station and feeling completely indifferent is a genuinely satisfying experience. Electricity in Manitoba is some of the cheapest in the country. The cost-per-kilometre comparison is not even close.

The ride quality on the Equinox EV has also been a pleasant surprise. Over Winnipeg's post-winter roads — which are, as always, character-building — the suspension handles the rough stuff better than the Model X did. The Equinox is honestly more comfortable to drive day-to-day. That was not something I expected going in.

HIGHWAY EXPERIENCE

We have done a few highway runs and the Equinox EV is a comfortable and confident highway vehicle. Quiet, stable, smooth at speed. Real-world highway consumption has been around 20 to 22 kWh per 100 km, which is reasonable for this class.

One honest complaint: the lane keep assist tends to ping-pong slightly from one side of the lane to the other when active. It is not a safety concern and it is easy to manage, but it is noticeable and I find it a bit annoying. Worth being aware of if you are test driving.

The DC fast charging network along Manitoba's main corridors has improved significantly. The Equinox EV supports up to 150 kW DC fast charging, and a stop from around 20% to 80% takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes — typically at a Tim Hortons or Petro-Canada Electric Highway location where you would stop anyway.

HOW IT COMPARES TO THE MODEL X

The honest version: the Model X was impressive for its time and we have a Tesla service centre here in Winnipeg, so service access was not the issue it can be in some markets. But driving a ten-year-old vehicle in 2026 means driving ten-year-old technology.

The Equinox EV at its price point — especially with the incentive stack we discussed — is a genuinely compelling modern vehicle. The range is excellent. The ride is actually more comfortable than the Model X was. The technology integrates with the rest of our daily lives in a way that feels natural.

Do I miss the falcon wing doors? Honestly, no. They were spectacular to watch, but the Equinox EV has normal doors. Normal doors are underrated.

EV CAMPING: BEEN THERE, DOING IT AGAIN

EV camping is not new for us. We camped with the Kona Electric. I did a full episode last year on camping with the Tesla. Our approach is straightforward: we tend to camp at destinations within a comfortable range of Winnipeg, so we do not usually need charging stops along the way. We leave with a full charge, arrive with plenty of range, and if the campsite has an electrical hookup we plug in overnight and wake up ready to go. It is honestly less complicated than most people expect.

This summer we have a camping trip in the works with a group of friends. My wife has been coordinating with her friends, which means — as I always say — it is actually going to happen. When the wives organize it, it gets done.

What makes this trip particularly interesting: we are going to have two electrified vehicles in our group. Our Equinox EV and one of the couples just picked up a used plug-in hybrid. A fully electric vehicle and a PHEV, camping together in Manitoba. I will do a full trip report episode when we get back.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Three weeks in, the 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT has been an excellent vehicle for our life in Winnipeg. The range is beating expectations, the ride is comfortable, the day-to-day ownership experience is everything I want it to be, and we stacked over $10,000 in incentives to get here.

If you are a Manitoba resident who has been considering the switch to electric, now is a genuinely good time. The federal EVAP rebate is active. The Manitoba provincial rebate program has been extended in Budget 2026. Check whether you are a Costco member. Do the math — the numbers are compelling right now.

And if you want help figuring out which EV is the right fit for your life — your driving habits, your home charging situation, which incentives apply to you — that is exactly what True North EV Consulting is here for. We help Canadians make a comfortable transition to electric. You can reach us at truenorthev.ca.

LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MjelkLXQ3Ra6YmB2rqa8O?si=fMEAL21ZQU2F_lilHSaLow

This post is based on the latest episode of the True North EV Podcast. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe so you do not miss the next episode.

Email: truenorthev@gmail.com

Facebook: @truenorthev

Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association: manitobaev.ca

Manitoba EV Rebate Program: gov.mb.ca/lowercosts/evrebate

Eligible vehicles list: manitoba.ca/lowercosts/evrebate/eligible-vehicles.html

MPI rebate application: evrebate.mpi.mb.ca

Costco GM rebate: costcoauto.ca