The Chevy Blazer Has Gone Electric
The Blazer has been lending its name to great Chevy SUVs since 1969. Back then, the idea of electric vehicles didn’t get much past a golf cart. In those days, gasoline and diesel engines were the only options for drivers who wanted to get around in a rugged SUV like a Blazer. But times change, and so has the Blazer. Where the old Blazers had a very big and rugged design, today’s Chevy Blazer is sleek and sporty. In many ways, the Blazer earns its name from its sizzling hot looks. Things change beneath the hood as well, which is why you can now get a 2024 Chevy Blazer EV, a fully electric version of this popular midsize SUV.
Chevy wasn’t joking when it said changes were in store when it returned the Blazer to its growing SUV lineup in 2019. The 2024 Blazer EV represents a new approach to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), basing them on popular existing models instead of creating a new BEV platform. This is a clever approach as it gives fans of these vehicles features they’ve grown to love with the benefits of an electric propulsion system. At Guntersville Chevrolet, we are excited to offer you the Blazer EV. Stop in today and see why your next Blazer might be electric!
How Do the Blazer EV and the Blazer Compare?
From the outside, it may be hard to tell the two Blazers apart. They both have the same aerodynamic looks—something that gives the Blazer its sporty appearance. However, the Blazer EV is slightly longer and has a significantly longer wheelbase—121.8 in compared to 113 in on the conventional Blazer model. The Blazer EV also has slightly more ground clearance—7.89-inches to 7.5-inches on the Blazer. In addition, the Blazer EV has a different front fascia, sealed, as opposed to its more traditional brother’s open grille. This is because a BEV does not need air intake like an SUV with a conventional gas engine.
One of the best things about building a BEV on an existing platform is that you get an interior that you have grown to love in your Blazer EV. The Blazer is known for spaciousness spread across two rows for up to five passengers. The same goes for the Blazer EV. In fact, the two versions of the Blazer have about the same amount of rear row headroom and legroom, over 38 in of headroom and 39 in of legroom. The same goes for the front row as well. This is because the Ultium design technology places the lithium-ion battery cells for the Blazer EV in its lower frame, which frees up space for passengers and cargo while shielding the battery pack from damage.
This similarity also applies to some of your favorite comfort and convenience features on the Blazer. The front-row seats in most trims are heated, and the higher trims of both models have heated rear outboard seats. This will come in handy on cold days. The engineers at Chevy have also placed numerous cup holders and USB charging ports throughout the passenger cabins of the two different Blazer models.
Finally, if you buy a 2024 Blazer EV, you will get the same set of six advanced driver-assist technologies from the Chevy Safety Assist suite you have been using on the traditional Blazer. This includes a Following Distance Indicator that lets you know if you are getting too close to the vehicle in front of you, as well as Forward Collision Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking that allows you to take evasive action while the system brings your Blazer to a safe stop.
What’s Different About the Performance?
A key difference between the Blazer EV and the conventional Blazer is the powertrain. The 2024 Blazer features a choice of two different gas engines, both paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0L I-4 provides up to 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, with a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 25 MPG on front-wheel drive versions. Meanwhile, the 3.6-liter V6 delivers up to 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. While this gives your Blazer improved acceleration, it doesn’t have the same fuel economy, providing 22 MPG combined for front-wheel drive versions. You can get the Blazer with either front-wheel or available all-wheel drive for improved traction.
The 2024 Blazer EV does not use gasoline. Instead, its motors are powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. There are three different Ultium propulsion system options on the Blazer EV. The LT and RS trims offer a dual-motor version. This gives you eAWD for electronic all-wheel drive, is powered by an 85 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and provides up to 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of combined torque. This trim has a maximum range of 279 miles on a fully charged battery. You can also choose the RS with rear-wheel drive. This places a single electric motor in the rear axle, and it is also powered by an 85 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. However, this improves output to 340 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque and increases your range to 324 miles, the most of any of the Blazer EV trims.
Chevy also offers a Blazer EV SS, which is more sports-oriented. This trim also has a dual motor configuration for eAWD. However, the Blazer EV SS is powered by a more powerful 105 kWh lithium-ion battery. As a result, it provides up to 557 hp and 648 lb-ft of torque. This increases its range to 290 miles and gives the Blazer EV SS the ability to get to 60 mph in less than four seconds using the Wide Open Watts feature.
Each Blazer EV trim comes with a standard dual-level charge cord and an 11.5 kW capable onboard charging module. This allows you to charge the battery on your Blazer EV at home or on the road at any of the more than 134,000 public DC Fast Charging stations. Chevy estimates that you can charge up to 190 kW in just 10 minutes at a public charger, giving you 78 additional miles of range.
What Other Differences Are There?
There are several other differences between the traditionally powered Blazer and the EV. Where the conventional Blazer trim levels offer either cloth or leather seats, the Blazer EV comes with Evotex, a synthetic fabric that shields against stains while providing the same luxury as leather seats. The RS trim also offers perforated suede to compliment the Evotex fabric.
While both Blazers come with a standard infotainment system, the screen on the Blazer EV is larger. The conventional Blazer has a very impressive 10.2-inch diagonal HD color touchscreen. However, the Blazer EV expands this to 17.7 inches and features an advanced color LCD display. Furthermore, the Blazer EV’s infotainment system has a standard navigation system, while this is only offered on higher trim levels of the traditional Blazer. Still, all 2024 Blazers allow you to make hands-free calls and texts using Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. This also lets you access your favorite apps, so you can set your own playlist for your drive.
Who Should Consider the EV Over the Traditional Model?
One thing to keep in mind when shopping for a Blazer is the price difference. A Blazer 2LT with front-wheel drive has a base MSRP of $36,795.[a] This is significantly less than the base MSRP for a 2024 Blazer EV LT, which starts at $56,715.[a]
With this in mind, it probably makes sense to consider the Blazer EV if you want to reduce your carbon emissions while eliminating your dependence on gasoline. While a conventional Blazer gets reasonably good gas mileage, it is not so much more efficient than other SUVs to save you much money at the pump. In contrast, once you purchase a 2024 Blazer EV, you will no longer be reliant on the fluctuating price of gasoline in your neighborhood. While you will make a significant up-front investment in your vehicle, once you have bought a Blazer EV, you can charge it at home for the price you pay for local electricity or go to a public fast charger for a nominal price that should be significantly less than what you are currently paying for gasoline. So, it really comes down to your usage and dependence on gasoline, as well as your personal feelings about the environment.
The Blazer EV Is the Car of the Future Today!
No matter your personal feelings on the matter, Chevrolet and most other brands have decided to move towards electric vehicles. This is partly due to government environmental regulations and a recognition that gasoline is a declining resource. If you buy a 2024 Blazer EV, you will take a step into the future. The best part about it is that you will be doing so in a vehicle you have known and loved for many years. The only real difference is that now your SUV will run on electricity instead of gasoline. Come into our dealership and find out why you should make your next vehicle a Chevy Blazer EV, the car of the future that you can purchase today!
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