2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

Let’s clear up one thing straight away: This isn’t a regular Blazer where the gasoline engine has been swapped for electric motors. It’s a bit like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and the Mustang. They share a name, but the electric vehicle (EV) is based on a completely different platform, developed especially for its particular application. We should also mention that we really like the new Blazer EV. It does many things well, including energy efficiency — maximum range is 324 miles — and driver engagement. It looks like Chevrolet has a hit on its hands.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of electric SUVs, including the Chevrolet Blazer EV.

The 2024 Chevy Blazer EV is a completely new model making its debut this year, available initially in LT and RS trims. A sportier SS model is in the works, as is a single-motor, front-wheel-drive LT variant that promises to lower the price of entry.

It has to be said that the Blazer EV is not exactly cheap. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, Volkswagen ID.4, and Tesla Model Y all start in the low-to-mid $40K range. Before buying a new Blazer EV SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. The Blazer EV may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 — see if you may qualify.

The 2024 Chevy Blazer EV drives as well as or better than anything in the segment. We’re not totally surprised, because we’ve been equally impressed by the Cadillac Lyriq with which the Blazer EV shares much of its architecture. It simply goes, stops, and turns with remarkable refinement, delivering an exceptionally satisfying driving experience. We’ve found it smooth and easy around town – especially when using the excellent one-pedal driving mode – comfortable on the highway, and more fun than most buyers will ever need it to be. The most common versions – 288 horsepower and all-wheel drive — will do 0-60 mph in about six seconds, which is in the same ballpark as a similarly outfitted Ford Mustang Mach-E and more than quick enough for the real world. 

The dashboard in the 2024 Blazer EV has up-to-the-minute styling and tech, with every model featuring an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a massive 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen. Passenger space and cargo space is great, with the latter enhanced by fold-flat rear seats. We’ve also found that cabin materials are of decent quality. That old Chevy trait of using cheap plastics is a thing of the past — in here, at least. Our only gripe is that the choice of color schemes centers around various combinations of black and red. We’d prefer to see some lighter hues offered, which would work well in sunnier places.

There’s definitely enough of a visual difference between the new Blazer EV and the gasoline-powered Blazer for onlookers to realize that they’re separate entities. The Blazer EV is longer, lower, and generally sleeker. To our eyes, it comes across as the more futuristic of the two.

Infotainment display
At 17.7 inches on the diagonal, this standard touchscreen is bigger than the one in the Mustang Mach-E. It’s also oriented horizontally, which makes a lot of sense when it’s part of a horizontal dashboard. We’ve found that the graphics are wonderfully sharp, the processing is speedy, and the Google-based system itself is user-friendly — digging through menus is kept to a minimum. Shame there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto phone integration, though.

One-pedal driving
The highest level of brake energy regeneration in the Blazer EV enables drivers to speed up and slow down just by varying the pressure on the accelerator pedal. It’s only necessary to hit the brake pedal when a more urgent stop is required.

Remote access
Using the myChevrolet Mobile app, owners can lock/unlock doors, and set the ideal cabin temperature (including heated seats). When this is done while the Blazer EV is still charging, it will use energy from the charger, not the battery.

Convenience and Driver Convenience packages
Not the prettiest names for option bundles, but they do bring things like adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system, and intersection assistance. The RS package also offers a head-up display and heated outboard rear seats.

Super Cruise
This is General Motors’ superb hands-free driving feature that works on more than 400,000 miles of roads in the United States and Canada. It’s an option in the first two trims of new Blazer EV. The SS will have it as standard.

The Blazer EV LT and RS models with all-wheel drive are rated for 279 miles of range on a full charge. The rear-wheel-drive version of the Blazer EV RS has a bigger battery and a maximum range of 324 miles. For comparison, the Ford Mustang Mach-E California Route 1 has a maximum range of 312 miles. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 (long-range/rear-wheel drive) can manage 303 miles. And the Nissan Ariya in Venture+ trim is rated at 304 miles. The class leader, though, is still the long-range version of the Tesla Model Y, at 330 miles.

All-wheel-drive versions of the Blazer EV employ an 85 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery. That’s a pretty good capacity. The Mustang Mach-E has a 91-kWh unit, while the biggest battery in the Ioniq 5 is 77.4 kWh. The rear-wheel-drive RS variant has a 102-kWh battery.

Connected to a public DC fast charger, the RS AWD can take on up to 78 miles of range in 10 minutes. That’s not especially quick. For example, the Ioniq 5 needs only five minutes for 68 miles of range, or goes from 10% battery capacity to 80% in 18 minutes — which is about as good as it gets at the moment.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Chevrolet’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. This is typical among mainstream manufacturers, although Hyundai and Kia offer much better terms. The battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. Chevrolet also includes five years or 60,000 miles or roadside assistance, plus a free first service within one year or 12,000 miles.

Safety

Standard safety features in the new Blazer EV include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and active blind-spot monitoring.