2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

REVIEW AND TEST DRIVE

2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV Review and Test Drive

Chevrolet's capable all-arounder proves a worthy competitor to established electric SUV rivals.

Benjamin Hunting | 

Nov 27, 2024 | 6 min read

Benjamin Hunting

The vehicle comes in LT and RS trim levels. Prices range from the low $50,000s to the mid-$50,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV from the Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, factory that builds it to your local dealership. The Blazer EV may qualify for a $7,500 federal EV tax credit.

For this Blazer EV review, I test-drove the RS version in southern Quebec. It had the available electric all-wheel-drive (eAWD) system, extra-cost Radiant Red Tintcoat paint, and the RS Convenience & Driver Confidence package, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $57,710, including the $1,395 destination charge.

Benjamin Hunting

Is the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV a Good Electric Vehicle?

The Chevrolet Blazer EV isn't without its quirks. Still, this sport-utility vehicle is likely to tick nearly every box for the average buyer and do so at a price that's competitive with rivals such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Nissan Ariya.

Before you go ahead and get a 2024 Blazer EV, though, be aware that the upcoming 2025 model receives meaningful increases in power and range nearly across the board. So while some equipment shuffling might make certain options more expensive, it could be worth waiting for next year's model.

Exterior Looks Are Led by a Light Show

Either version of the Chevy Blazer EV is appealing, but the sporty RS trim is my favorite. Designers have done their best to imbue the bulging sheetmetal with muscle and sinew, and it's largely a successful effort. It's also worth noting how wagon-like the Blazer EV's squat stance truly is, something curious passersby who stopped to chat about it commented upon.

The Blazer EV advertises its battery bona fides through LED lighting embedded in the grille. Welcome lighting performs an elegant dance as you approach with the key in your pocket. And on the road at night, the LED headlights provide an illuminated calling card.

Benjamin Hunting

Inside, the styling veers toward functionality. While the materials are cheerful enough, the presentation is mainly monochromatic, broken up by red stitching if you get the black interior. Red upholstery is the other choice, but only with RS trim.

Most features are available via the sizable 17.7-inch touchscreen on the dashboard, with others accessible through buttons on the steering wheel. The 11.0-inch digital gauge panel offers multiple layouts depending on what information you want to monitor. I also appreciate that Chevrolet keeps at least a few hard buttons under the touchscreen so gloved hands can more easily adjust the climate settings.

With a flat floor throughout the cabin, the Blazer EV makes excellent use of the available interior room and is comfortable for riders front and rear. Cargo space ranges from 25.5 cubic-feet to 59.1, and I effortlessly hauled a set of 16-inch winter tires on rims with the rear seats folded down.

Benjamin Hunting

Unexpectedly, the Blazer EV was remarkably free of noises and squeaks while driving. That is more than I can say for the substantially more expensive Cadillac Lyriq or Chevrolet Silverado EV I drove earlier this year.

Absent Super Cruise, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto Are Misses

If you're looking for Chevrolet's most impressive tech feature — the Super Cruise assisted-driving system — you'll need to wait for the 2025 update I mentioned earlier. My test vehicle came with traditional adaptive cruise control abetted by lane-keeping assist.

Another disappointment is the absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity options. The Blazer EV includes a Google-developed infotainment system handling all media streaming, app downloading, and navigation duties. However, this approach has downsides: primarily, the need to log in to your vehicle using a Google account to take full advantage of its capabilities.

Benjamin Hunting

Anecdotally, an acquaintance who owns this same vehicle has complained to me about the hassle of having to log in and out each time he swaps the driver's seat with his wife — something simply mirroring the phone in your pocket avoids.

I experienced some unusual behavior from the Google built-in system myself. When logged out, the voice command button on the steering wheel did nothing until I paired my phone via Bluetooth. At that point, it brought up the Google Assistant prompt on my phone, but there were no voice commands in the SUV. Weirder still, I could access voice commands with no problem, logged in or not, using the Google Assistant icon on the home app screen.

The Blazer EV eAWD Offers Right-Size Power and Range

Any Blazer EV with eAWD uses two electric motors to produce 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. Those figures can't match the output of some rival all-wheel-drive EVs, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Instead of courting high-performance fans, the eAWD setup balances acceleration, range, and drivability in an easy-to-manage package.

Benjamin Hunting

The range estimate for a 2024 Blazer EV eAWD is 279 miles, 45 miles less than that of a rear-wheel-drive version of the SUV. But both figures align with what you can expect when shopping for EVs. The Chevy's charging speeds are also competitive, with 190-kilowatt DC fast charging available.

As unseasonably warm October weather gave way to early November gray, the colder temperatures affected the Blazer EV's efficiency, dropping it to 38 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 miles versus the EPA's rating of 35 kWh per 100 miles. That's not unexpected from an EV in my experience, though.

I don't think daily transportation needs to offer rocket-like speed, and during my evaluation, I never felt the Blazer EV's forward progress was inadequate. I had no trouble navigating the ups and downs of the two-lane roads bisecting the mountain ranges that wrap around my region. Highway passing was a breeze, and traction was no trouble as temperatures dropped toward freezing.

However, it's hard to hide the mass of an EV like the Blazer, so you'll likely want to temper any cornering ambitions to avoid upsetting the (bright red) apple cart.

Benjamin Hunting

Exiling Apple CarPlay and Android Auto from the Blazer EV's infotainment system felt to me like an error on Chevrolet's part, especially since the Google built-in implementation fails to improve on the absent software. In nearly every other area, however, the Blazer EV is a success, making it a must-drive for anyone seeking a well-priced, do-everything electric vehicle.

Benjamin Hunting

Benjamin Hunting is a writer and podcast host who contributes to a number of newspapers, automotive magazines, and online publications. More than a decade into his career, he enjoys keeping the shiny side up during track days and always has one too many classic vehicle projects partially disassembled in his garage at any given time. Remember, if it's not leaking, it's probably empty.