The Blazer name has had a long history at Chevrolet. In its newest incarnation it offers a sign of the direction the bowtie brand plans to take in an electrified automotive market. But does it live up expectations? Jeff Zurschmiede spent a week with the new Chevy Blazer EV to find out.
The Chevrolet Blazer EV is the first vehicle ever to be offered with a choice of front-, rear- or all-wheel drive.
The Blazer name goes back over 50 years for Chevrolet. The first models to wear that badge were full-size pickup trucks with removable hardtops over the bed. In the 1980s, the company added the compact S-10 Blazer, which was all but forgotten by the time it ended production in 2012. Chevrolet revived the Blazer name in 2019 with a somewhat lackluster crossover SUV to compete in the two-row midsize segment.
That crossover was the basis for the Blazer EV, which launched in 2023. The all-electric Blazer is clearly the best of the modern Blazer models, combining a luxury interior with an advanced tech package and an enjoyable electric driveline.
Powertrain options
One thing about EVs: they offer the potential for a variety of different powertrain packages – as the Blazer EV underscores. It’s the first vehicle — certainly in modern times — to let a buyer choose between front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive with the same nameplate.
Depending upon the trim, the Chevrolet Blazer will use either one or two electric motors.
Buyers have the option to go with a rear-drive system with 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, or an all-wheel drive system rated at 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. The rear-drive version also comes with a bigger battery, sized at 102 kWh rather than the 85 kWh battery that comes with the AWD version. The result of that is an extended range of 324 miles with rear drive, but you still get a healthy 279 miles if you choose AWD.
Chevy plans to add an entry version of the Blazer EV with front-drive by the end of this year.
The advantage of the rear-drive platform extends to charging. The rear-drive Blazer adds up to 80 miles of range in just 10 minutes when using a DC Fast Charger, while the AWD platform adds up to 68 miles of range in the same time. Oh, if you need to pull a trailer, the Blazer EV is rated up to 1,500 pounds towing capacity.
Tech talk
Like all versions of the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV, the RS comes with an 11-inch digital gauge cluster and a 17.7-inch infotainment screen.
The Blazer EV is a great technology vehicle. It uses the single-screen idea, which is really two screens behind a single pane of glass. The driver’s side gives you a configurable information screen, while the 17.7-inch center touchscreen allows access to navigation and infotainment.
Standard safety equipment includes automatic high beams, lane keeping, following distance indicator, and more.
There’s also GM’s optional Super Cruise, the system that lets a motorist drive hands-free on more than 200,000 miles of U.S. limited-access roadways.
GM’s new UltiFi electrical architecture, meanwhile, will allow the automaker to revise or upgrade Blazer’s software – among other things, adding new features in the future – using smartphone-style over-the-air updates.
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Driving impressions
The new Blazer EV gets up to 324 miles range, depending upon trim.
On the road, the Blazer EV is a heavy vehicle. You’ll notice the difference between this and the gas-powered Blazer, but it’s not a bad thing.
The battery weight makes the electric Blazer tip the scales at 5,337 pounds, versus 3,918 for the gas-powered Blazer. So, don’t expect sports car performance out of this EV.
Still, it is smooth and pleasant to drive, and the electricity regeneration under braking works well.
Pricing and availability
The 2024 Blazer with the RS AWD package starts at $56,200. Adding a few options like the convenience and driver confidence package runs the total price to $60,710. But that includes great features like a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, HD surround vision camera system and a camera-based rear-view mirror. You also get heated second-row seats with this package.
The “skateboard” platform used for Blazer can accommodate both 85 and 102 kWh battery packs.
The good news is that you’ll find a wide selection of trim packages – and powertrain layouts to choose from. Here’s what the line-up will eventually include:
- Blazer EV LT eAWD uses two electric motors producing a combined 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque;
- Blazer EV LT FWD won’t be launched until sometime next year and space haven’t been released;
- Blazer EV RS eAWD makes the same, 288 hp and 333 lb-ft as the LT all-wheel-drive package;
- Blazer EV RS RWD makes 340 hp and 326 lb-ft from its single rear motor;
- Blazer EV SS pAWD is the performance option, its front and rear motors delivering 557 hp and 648 lb-ft.
The last word
The bottom line on a Blazer EV is that it’s nice, but expensive compared to competing electric SUVs like the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
If you test-drive the Blazer and like it, that’s great, but I’m more excited about the slightly smaller Equinox EV that will start at just $34,995 and deliver the same 288 horsepower in a front-drive package. If you are looking to buy an electric SUV this year, I suggest shopping the Equinox EV over the Blazer EV.
Ho hum.
Not quite a good as a year-old model.