Would You Buy The Chevrolet Blazer EV?
The hunky crossover is available in four trim levels, covering front-, rear- and all-wheel-drive derivatives.
After an enticing teaser campaign, Chevrolet has finally taken the wraps off the Blazer EV in production guise. On paper, it seems to have all the bases covered. Even the starting price, around USD 44,995, isn’t a deal-breaker considering the space, performance and comfort it can deliver. That price, by the way, is for the base variant – the 1LT. Apart from that, there are three others – 2LT, RS and SS. In the same order, their starting prices are likely to be USD 47,595, USD 51,995 and USD 65,995.
Why did I use ‘starting’? You see, there are a few options available, which, if opted for, will drive up the price. First, the 1LT will have a front-wheel-drive (FWD) setup, offering up to 398km of range. Next is the 2LT, which has almost the same package as the 1LT but can travel up to 472km. However, Chevrolet will offer an all-wheel-drive (AWD) setup with the 2LT, which should provide more power but a lesser range.
Third, the RS. As standard, you can have this derivative with either an FWD or a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration. Optionally, you can even have an AWD Blazer EV RS. So, depending on what you settle for, the price will be different. Also, one of the RS derivatives will be the most frugal of the lot. Chevrolet claims a range of up to 515km for that.
Last, and by far the most sporty to behold, the SS. With a range of up to 467km, it will only be available with an AWD setup. The Blazer EV SS also forms the basis of a PPV version. That stands for Police Pursuit Vehicle. The PPV-spec Blazer EV’s interior will be different from the civilian versions, as it will offer spaces for the law enforcement officers to store their gear.
Let’s talk about power and charging capabilities. Depending on the variant chosen, the Blazer EV will have up to 557hp/879Nm on tap. That’s enough for a 0-100kmph sprint time of around 4 seconds. Now, Chevrolet hasn’t revealed the battery sizes that will be available. But, it has been confirmed that the Blazer EV will have an 11.5kW AC charger onboard, while DC feeds of up to 190kW are also supported. So, under ideal conditions and the fastest recommended charger, the electric crossover can gain up to 126km of range in 10 minutes.
Features? Full LED lighting, 19-inch wheels, a 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster are available by default. The RS and SS derivatives rope in a powered tailgate with hands-free operation, heated and ventilated front seats and a heated and flat-bottomed steering wheel. Also, the RS will ride on 21-inch wheels, while the SS will don 22-inch alloys. Other features, such as Super Cruise, a head-up display, panoramic sunroof, Advanced Park Assist and regenerative braking tech, are also available.
Finally, the launch timelines. The Chevrolet Blazer EV will go on sale in the USA in the summer of 2023 as a 2024 model. Only two trims will be available at that time – 2LT and RS. The SS will be introduced later in the same year, while the PPV version will only be ready in the first quarter of 2024.
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