Those of us old enough to remember the ‘90s might remember Recycle Rex and his hit song: “Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and Close the Loop.” It’s an earworm, to be sure, and it, alongside programs like Captain Planet, taught us it was cool to care about the environment. In the case of the song, though, it did so in the wrong way. Kind of.
In later years—once recycling was no longer a novel concept—we’d learn that while the ideas are good, they’re presented in the wrong order. To be a good friend of the Earth, you first reduce what you consume, reuse whatever you can, and then recycle the rest. When done right, these steps help limit the amount of pollution we put out into the world. And, as it turns out, following these steps seems to be a good way to build cars.
Let’s apply that thinking to the Chevrolet Blazer EV you see here. By now we know that EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions (‘cause no tailpipe) and use fewer parts than traditional gas-powered cars, so that covers the reduce part of this equation. Its GM Ultium platform underpins everything from Cadillacs to entry-level Equinox EVs to offerings from Honda and Acura, so now we can check off that reuse box. Recycling? Not only does the most recent GM sustainability report (from 2023) state that the company used over 39 million pounds of recycled plastics when making its vehicles, this Blazer’s battery pack has been specifically designed to make it easier to recycle.
And speaking of recycling, I think I’m about to recycle some old review content, ‘cause I swear I’m about to review the same vehicle for the fourth time in a row. Sure, those previous drives were technically in the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Acura ZDX A-Spec and Acura ZDX Type S. But outside of some sheet metal differences, those EVs largely feel identical to the Chevrolet Blazer EV RS AWD you see here. So if this content feels a little too similar to the reviews I’ve done before, well, just consider it me doing my part for the Earth.
It’s not boxy, but it sure looks good
It seems like only yesterday internet comment sections were ablaze with people bemoaning the fact that Chevy’s Blazer had turned into a crossover—and then this EV—instead of a Bronco-like nostalgia-designed off-roader. I was never a domestic or off-road guy, so the Blazer’s evolution into a sleek, Coke bottle-shaped family hauler never really bothered me.
Besides, Chevrolet’s design—especially in the EV space—is really good. The Blazer EV feels both futuristic and tough with its sleek lighting signature front and rear, bulging fenders and “just right” stance over its 21-inch alloy wheels. I’m kind of a sucker for its Galaxy Gray Metallic paint, which pops with subtle purple highlights when the light hits it just right. It’s a sophisticated way to add some fun to a segment that’s still dominated by all things grayscale.
A nice interior that misses that special something
That special something? Well, it’s three special somethings: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a proper on/off button. I ranted about this a bit when I reviewed the Equinox EV, and the fact that Acura includes all these things on its GM-built ZDX shows that the parts and software exist. Click here if you want to see the old-man-yells-at-cloud bit about the tech. Otherwise, let’s talk about what’s unique to this Blazer EV.
It is, generally, a nice place to be. Seats are comfortable front and rear, everything is made of high-quality materials and is screwed together well, and as one who has yet to outgrow their inherent tuner tendencies, I like the all the sporty red accents. And though it is heavy on screens, there are still enough tactile controls for the things I use most—like the volume and temperature control knobs. Those big ol’ vents make it easy to shoot hot or cold air right where you need it, too.
As is the case with other Ultium-based vehicles, given how big things feel on the outside, the interior does feel kind of small. A lot of that, naturally, is due to the fact that the battery requires a lot of space, and that takes away precious inches from the inside. To once again repeat that Equinox EV review: cargo space is lacking. Chevy’s press site states that this Blazer EV has 25.8 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats. The smaller-in-every-dimension Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, by comparison, has 37.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats.
A familiar driving experience
Drive one mainstream EV and it seems like you’ve driven them all. And that’s especially true when you drive an EV whose underpinnings can be found (per a quick Google search) across 17 different vehicles. Thankfully, GM’s Ultium platform seems to be a good one, so the Blazer EV’s drive is comfortably familiar with plenty of power, smooth delivery of said power, a comfy and quiet ride, and reasonably direct handling. It’s exactly what the mainstream wants out of a crossover, and it makes my daily commute that much easier to manage.
As for battery specs, here you go: This Blazer EV RS is the AWD variant, so it gets an 85 kWh battery, a permanent magnet motor up front, and a bar-wound induction motor in the rear. Power output is rated at 300 horsepower and 355 lb-ft of torque, and yes, all that twist is available from 0 rpm. It’s EPA-certified range is a respectable 283 miles on a full charge. Find a 150 kW DC fast charger and you can add up to 68 miles of range in about 10 minutes. But you know the drill: actual charge times and range may vary.
Final Thoughts
This time I’ll recycle my thoughts from my time with the Acura ZDX models and state that, while I think the Blazer EV is a great ride, its price tag may limit its appeal. This specific Blazer EV RS AWD, as tested, rings in at $60,735. But that includes $6,440 in options—like SuperCruise, a panoramic sunroof, and some minor tech features—that can be tossed and not necessarily missed. Getting rid of those brings the suggested price down to $54,295. At the time of this writing, not only does the $7500 tax credit still exist, but Costco members seem to be able to get an additional $1250 discount, suggesting that it might be possible to get an all-electric AWD Blazer for a more wallet-friendly $45,545. And again, at the time of this writing, you can buy that with a 0% 60-month loan, which makes getting into one of these look that much more tempting.
But this is an EV, and despite all its features and conveniences, you need to live in an EV-friendly area to make a Blazer EV (or any EV) make sense for you. Got a house with a garage and charger, and live in a city with a ton of public charging options? This Chevy isn’t a bad way to go. If you don’t have access to either, though, you’re still better off getting something that still runs on gasoline—even if Captain Planet wouldn’t approve.
Justin Kaehler has been covering all things automotive for 20 years, and has been an active part of the car scene for much longer than that. Though he’s grown to love all cars, he’s still particularly fond of the ’80s and ’90s Japanese metal he grew up on. And for those of you who grew up playing The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift game for the PS2 and PSP, yes, he’s also that JDM Justin.