I am trying to figure out which floor mats and cargo protectors are actually worth the money for my new Equinox EV 2RS before I take it on a long road trip to the coast in two weeks. I just got the car in that nice blue tintcoat and honestly I am terrified of ruining the carpet because I live in the Pacific Northwest and it is basically muddy season 24/7 here. Right now I am stuck between getting the official GM all-weather liners or going with TuxMat. The GM ones look like they fit perfectly and I like that they have the little logo on them but they dont seem to cover as much of the side carpet as I would like for $200. On the other hand everyone on the other subreddits keeps talking about TuxMat because they cover literally every inch of the floor but I am worried they look a little too bulky or maybe too luxury for the sporty look of the 2RS interior? I have about a $450 budget total for interior protection so I have to be careful.
I am also looking at cargo area solutions. I saw some people use those fold-out liners that cover the back of the seats when you fold them down which seems great for when I haul my camping gear but I dont know if the off-brand ones from Amazon are going to smell like cheap rubber or if I should just bite the bullet on the official ones. Then there is the whole screen protector debate. That 17 inch screen is a total fingerprint magnet already and I am worried about scratches but I dont want it to look bubbly or ruin the touch sensitivity.
So yeah if you had $500 to spend on a brand new Equinox EV right now would you go all-in on the high-end floor mats like TuxMat or WeatherTech or would you save some of that cash to get a nice center console organizer and a screen protector instead? I really want to keep the car looking brand new for as long as possible since this is the first time I have ever bought a brand new car from a dealership and I'm a bit nervous about the wear and tear.
Late to the party but I gotta chime in because I've dealt with that cheap Amazon rubber smell before and it is a total nightmare. I bought some generic cargo liners for my last SUV and it smelled like a literal tire shop for months, especially when the sun hit the windows. Honestly, it was a waste of money because the scent just wouldn't leave. Since you are in the PNW, you definitely need high walls but if TuxMat feels too fancy for the 2RS sporty vibe, you might want to consider the 3D MAXpider KAGU Floor Mat Black All-Weather Series. I have used these in my last two builds and they have this carbon fiber texture that looks way more OEM plus than the bulky padded look. They dont slide around at all because of the maxpider backing, which is basically like Velcro but for your carpet. One thing to be super careful about: make sure whatever mats you get dont block the rear HVAC vents located under the front seats. Some of those high-wall mats can restrict airflow if they arent cut perfectly, and then your passengers back there will be freezing while you are roasting. For the cargo area, I would suggest sticking with the GM Chevrolet Equinox EV Integrated Cargo Liner if you want that back-of-seat protection. It looks seamless and handles camping gear without getting that weird oily residue the cheap ones sometimes have. Save the extra cash for a Muslogy Center Console Organizer for Equinox EV because that deep bin is basically just a black hole for keys and change otherwise. Tbh keeping it simple is usually better than over-accessorizing.
Unfortunately expensive mats are often disappointing. I had issues with pricey ones sliding before... definitely suggest SMARTLINER Custom Fit 2-Row Floor Mat Set for Equinox EV to save cash and stay safe.
Congrats on the new 2RS. That blue tintcoat is a solid choice and honestly i get the anxiety about the mud since i deal with the same mess up here. I went through the same debate and ended up very satisfied with TuxMat All-Weather Car Mats for Chevrolet Equinox EV because they really do cover every single corner. For $200ish they basically act like a tub for the car floor and i havent had a single grain of sand hit the actual carpet yet. The look is a bit more premium but it grows on you fast and feels much safer than the GM ones that leave gaps. Since youre watching the budget i would definitely skip the official GM cargo liner and look at Lasfit All-Weather Cargo Liner for Chevrolet Equinox EV. It fits the space perfectly and i found it to be very durable without that weird chemical smell. For the screen i think a protector is mandatory tbh. I grabbed the Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector for Chevrolet 17.7-inch Infotainment System and it really helps with the glare plus it keeps the glass safe from scratches. It is a very methodical install but works well and gives me a lot of peace of mind. You can basically get all three for under $400 if you shop around a bit which leaves you some cash for a center console tray too.
@Reply #2 - good point! Unfortunately, I have found that the technical specs on the official GM gear are pretty underwhelming for the price point. The wall height on those liners is barely 0.5 inches in some critical spots, which is basically useless when you are tracking in real PNW slush. It is a shame because the material density is decent, but the engineering just isnt there for heavy-duty protection. Same goes for the screen... most protectors mess with the light transmission and actually make that 17-inch display look grainy or off-color. I am curious though, are you planning on hauling heavy hard-sided gear or just soft camping bags? The friction coefficient on some of these cheaper liners varies a lot and it really affects how much your stuff slides around back there. Do you need a high-grip surface or just something that stops the mud?