2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV First Drive: This Smart, Fun, Sporty SUV Should Be on Your List
The spirit of Chevy lives Chevrolet Blazer EV; it's sporty and fun with a lot of power, solid range, one-pedal driving and a Google-operated 17" screen - standard
It’s Smart. It’s Techy. And it’s all Chevy.
After spending a day driving the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, one thing is very clear: This all electric SUV is the heart and spirit of Chevrolet, and it represents everything we love about the brand: It’s fun, smart, modern and stylish without being over done or overly complicated. The Blazer EV, priced from about $52,000 and eligible for federal tax incentives, is available with a long or longer electric driving range, power or more power, nicely outfitted or even more nicely outfitted. There are two interior color options, 8 exterior colors and some nice add-ons to really make the experience premium.
The Blazer EV has Google’s multimedia operating system, a really well-done and thorough system, comes with a charger you can use at home and it has true one-pedal driving.
What It’s Like to Drive the Chevrolet Blazer EV
This may be what I like the most: It’s solid. One pedal driving, which is easy to set and stays on once you’ve set it, is great. Anyone new to electric car driving will learn to love this; anyone who has driven an EV and expects one pedal driving, which is the magic of electric driving, will be pleased.
The range and power are good. With between 280 and 320 miles — this depends on which model you choose, rear or front wheel drive or all wheel drive — and a minimum of 288 HP, it delivers all the confidence you need, both in power to merge onto the highway and enough miles to get where you’re going.
The Spirit of Chevy is Alive and Well
This is the other thing l liked the most: The Blazer looks and feels like a Chevy. Earmarked by a sporty sensibility in both style and drive feel, capable of things such as light off-roading and towing, and featuring a nicely edited selection of features — some are options but many are standard — the Blazer EV isn’t overdone, but rather, delivers all you need on all fronts.
It starts with the design of this SUV. We were beyond excited when Chevrolet brought back the Blazer a few years ago, adding this sleek, sporty 5-passenger SUV to the lineup. Blazer set new standards for Chevy’s design language, with a more tight, toned look, sort of like your favorite sport shoe. In the Blazer EV, this continues, though interestingly, the Blazer EV is a completely new SUV from the ground up; other than DNA it shares very little with the gas-powered Blazer SUV.
The Blazer EV is notable for several things: first, a sleek light bar and headlights span the front of the car, slightly wrapping around to the side. The Blazer EV’s tail lights pick up the design, wrapping from the side to the tailgate. The headlights and tail lights are a sort of split vector design, reminding me of the tail of an arrow, giving a sense of motion even when the car is not in motion. These modern lights are the SUV’s ‘signature,’ making it instantly recognizable.
Then, you’ll notice a few other details: side air vents that are not air vents at all; the “vent” on the driver’s side this is where the charge door is. Cleverly, it pops out and down when you touch the lines on the upper left corner of the panel. Touch the button inside and the panel closes. How nice that the charge door does’t stick out while you charge the car.
There are lower gloss panels, gloss wheel arch panels and roof rails. The shape of the Blazer EV, like its namesake, is sleek and toned, with a muscular front end, a sloping roof line and nicely sized 19” or 21” wheels.
Choose Your Power And Range
Interestingly, Chevy kept the options to a minimum in terms of trims — there are 3 — but offers lots of options in terms of power and drive type. The “power plant” is GM’s Ultium electric car battery and motor system; the company built this proprietary system to power all their EVs. Here is how the trims and power options break down:
- The 3 trims are LT base model, RS sport model and later in 2024, the SS performance model will be introduced
- The LT model starts at $51,800 comes with an 85kWh battery, generates 288 HP, and is offered in AWD with a 279 mile range; a front wheel drive model will be offered later
- The RS model starts at $56,200 comes with a 102 kWh battery in the rear wheel drive edition which generates 340 HP and has a range of 324 miles; there is an 85 kWh battery option which generates 288 HP, has AWD model and a range of 279 miles
- The SS, when it goes into production, will feature the 102kWh battery with AWD, 557HP, a sport tuned suspension and WOW (or, wide open watts) mode for an extra boost of power on demand.
It’s important to know exactly what you need: If you need all wheel drive you’ll have to sacrifice a bit on range, though this is the case across all electric cars. If you really want a sporty performance experience, real wheel drive is a good option. But if you want the longer range and need the benefits of AWD — good traction in occasional snow and on hills — front wheel drive may be the best option.
And, personally I’m excited to see the SS name return; it’s Chevy’s performance mark and with all the power that the Blazer is capable of, it will no doubt provide a fun way to get to work the trail head.
How the Chevrolet Blazer EV Compares to the Blazer Gas-Powered Model
If you’re thinking that the Blazer EV is just the same Chevy Blazer with an electric power train swapped for the gas-powered engine, that’s not the case at all. Not only are all the mechanicals different, but the entire car is unique, other than a few Blazer-branded details.
However, where they are similar is in cost when similarly outfitted models are compared. The Blazer EV carries more premium features, even in the base LT model, than lower priced gas-powered Blazers, so a fair comparison is between the top of the line gas-powered Blazer and the Blazer EV RS with a few add-ons for parity. And, because the Blazer EV is built in North America, it qualifies for US federal tax incentives which can shave $7,500 off the price of the car. Local incentives in many states can add another $2,500 or so, and starting in 2024, dealers can offer those discounts at purchase (though, the onus is on you to be sure you qualify).
Comparing the top of the line EV RS AWD model, which generates 288 HP, equipped with the Convenience package (head up display, adaptive cruise control and more) with the similarly-optioned gas-powered RS AWD V6, which generates 308 HP, the gas model comes in at $$51,010 including $1395 destination. The EV RS with federal incentives comes in at $52,715 including destination. Many states offer additional incentives; New Jersey waives sales tax; New York offers a $2,000 rebate.
Now, not all buyers will qualify for tax incentives, and gas-powered models may have discounts at the dealership, so you’ll have to do your own math, but it’s a compelling puzzle to solve.
The Beauty of a Computer On Wheels
This is what so many buyers love about electric cars: They are essentially a computer on wheels. With Google’s operating system, it can be updated with over-the-air updates, just like your phone or computer.
The system, which operates on a 17” screen, integrates beautifully with the car to offer maps, music and messages as well as many of the functions on the car itself, from the headlights to the one-pedal driving system. You can set the height the tailgate opens and even set the gate to open when you stand behind it with the key.
The system will also monitor your driving and navigation, allow you to set your favorite charge locations or find new ones, and you can set it to charge at home when electricity rates are lowest.
And, it has “Hey Google” voice activation. I simply love this feature; never take your eyes off the road, just ask for what you want and Google accommodates. It’s so lovely, and it’s standard.
A Few Extras Make it Special
There are actually not a ton of extras buyers can add on to the Blazer EV (other than small things like wheel locks and floor mats); the LT trim has all the basics and the RS adds more standard features. Some of the more premium features are only available on the RS model. But they are good and worth contemplating. They Convenience Package is an extra $2,620 and includes: Head up display, surround view camera, adaptive cruise control, digital rear view camera and heated rear seats. You can also add a panoramic sunroof for $1,500 and a trailer hitch for $895.
And for drivers who want it, Super Cruise hands-free driving will be an option, too.
Standard features include:
- 17” multimedia screen and 11” driver display
- Home charge cord with both 110-v and 240-v options
- 8 years of OnStar basic
- Power front seats
- WiFi hotspot
- Buckle-to-Drive
- USB-C ports
- 19” wheels
- EvoTex leatherette upholstery
- Smart key
- Phone app with remote start
- 25 cubic feet of cargo space
- 8 year/100,000 mile electric component warranty
How Kids Car Seats Fit in the Blazer EV
I never think men pay attention to kids car seats. So as I was getting a tour from one of the male engineers, I asked if he had installed kids car seats. He said he hadn’t personally, but a colleague has two rear facing kids car seats in his Blazer EV. I was stunned; I usually get a blank stare when I ask that question.
And I was glad to hear it, but not surprised. The rear seats are quite roomy and have a pitch of nearly 39”. That means that rear facing car seats will fit comfortably without impeding front seat space. And, the center seat is quite wide; I didn’t measure it but it should easily fit a rear facing or forward facing car seat (depending on the seats) and you’ll still have room for third car seat or a passenger. That’s another beautiful thing about electric cars: They have a lot of interior space, and the Blazer EV doesn’t fall short.
Overall, a Delightful Electric Car
For buyers who want a fun to drive car with lots of space and great technology, who want (and like) an SUV, and who love the sporty sprit of Chevy, this is the car you’ve been waiting for. It’s well outfitted, the tech is top notch and GM’s Ultium power plant is a proven winner with a solid range, true one-pedal driving and quick charging.
I wasn’t as much a fan of the red interior as the black (though I’m hoping that a lighter color makes its way into the offering), and I can see paying the extra $995 for the White Pearl paint; with the black accents, the front light bar and rear tail lights, it’s quite the chic combination that, like the solid power and battery options, will deliver as much confidence as it does sporty fun.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Chevrolet for this test drive. Travel and accommodations were provided but all opinions are my own. Additionally, A Girls Guide to Cars may earn a commission from affiliate links in this story.
Categorized:Car Reviews Electric Cars
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