Driving The Chevy Blazer EV

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Final summer time, I obtained a name from my neighbors Dave and Dana asking for my Tesla referral code. They’d pushed my Mannequin Y and determined to get one for themselves. Nobody had requested me for that data earlier than, so it took just a little digging to search out it. A couple of days later, I obtained an electronic mail from Tesla saying my referral bonus — dinner with Elon or one thing like that — had been confirmed. I didn’t hear something extra for some time and simply assumed there would quickly be one other Mannequin Y within the car parking zone. Then I used to be knowledgeable that my referral bonus had been cancelled. Shortly after that, I appeared out my window solely to see my neighbors stepping out of a fireplace engine pink Chevy Blazer EV.

So right here’s the story. Apparently, they made the error of visiting their native Chevy seller and obtained seduced by this Blazer sitting on the lot. The automobile actually is RED! Dana has given it an affectionate nickname. She calls it The Cherry Bomb! And it does look good. The place the Mannequin Y is all fluid strains, the Blazer EV is extra chunky. GM has been designing vehicles for a very long time. It as soon as had the world well-known Harley Earl as the pinnacle of its Artwork and Coloration part, the place he created a string of iconic vehicles, together with the epic Buick Y Job. The corporate has all the time had its finger on the heartbeat of American tastes, and the Blazer EV does an important job of tapping into the place American automobile tradition is at the moment.

It’s decrease than a Suburban, however undoubtedly not a sedan. There’s a little bit of a station wagon vibe as nicely. If you happen to squint just a little, you possibly can see only a trace of the Chevy Nomad that truly upstaged the Corvette in 1955. The Nomad was a go-anywhere, do-anything automobile that was an ideal match for the “See the USA in your Chevrolet” advert marketing campaign made standard by Dinah Shore. Bringing that vibe into the current and including a little bit of brawn to seize the design idiom of at the moment is a grasp stroke by Chevrolet. It’s straightforward to see why Dave and Dana discovered themselves smitten with this automobile. And did I point out it’s RED?

The Blazer EV has had some teething issues. It was late entering into showrooms due to a number of software program points that bedeviled the early vehicles. When Edmunds purchased one for its check fleet, the automobile refused to perform correctly. On a visit to San Diego — to attend a Chevy media occasion — the automobile displayed eight totally different warning messages in a single day. “In only one journey from Los Angeles to San Diego and again, the Blazer EV went from completely effective to completely on the fritz. And that’s solely the start,” Edmunds says. Alongside the way in which, “the window switches refused to work. Then the infotainment show fully melted down, caught in an infinite loop of shutting off, turning on, displaying a map centered in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, and turning again off once more. It did this till we pulled off the freeway and restarted the automobile. All was nicely after the reset, however an hour later, it occurred once more.” Chevrolet truly stopped promoting the vehicles for a time till the glitches had been mounted.

At first, the Blazer EV was presupposed to be obtainable with 4 trim packages — LT 1, LT 2, RS, and SS. The only-motor LT 1 and the SS aren’t but obtainable, so consumers have a alternative of an LT or an RS model. Each have an 85 kWh battery and twin motors. The LT value, based on the Chevrolet web site, is $43,690*. See that asterisk? That’s the place Chevrolet explains: “MSRP much less incentives. Tax, title, license and seller charges further. Residency restrictions apply. Not obtainable with another affords. See seller for particulars.” The value for the RS is $47,095 with the identical asterisk. Each vehicles have an EPA vary estimate of 279 miles. The RS is gussied up with some extras, however the LT my neighbors bought was removed from a barebones automobile. It had each obtainable characteristic, together with a big tilt-and-slide sunroof.

This evaluation shouldn’t be about technical particulars. I didn’t dismount the wheels to measure the diameter of the brake discs, as an example. The aim was to get some seat time in a Blazer EV and examine it to the Tesla Mannequin Y I’ve been driving for the previous 3 years. My impressions began with the looks. I prefer it! The automobile shouldn’t be as svelte because the Tesla, however that’s intentional. It has a extra visceral attraction, like a jungle cat on the brink of pounce. Dana says she finds the hood to be longer than she is used to — their earlier automobile was a Chevy Bolt, which is significantly shorter than a Blazer EV.

So, what’s it wish to drive a Blazer EV? In a phrase — pleasant. It has the identical urgency below acceleration because the Mannequin Y, and the identical aggressive regenerative braking, that are two of the options of an electrical automobile that drivers appear to understand essentially the most. There may be extra whine from the electrical motors than I’m used to, however that isn’t a nasty factor. Actually, I think the Chevy engineers thought of that an important deal and determined to present the automobile a extra sturdy sound expertise than the Tesla. The place the Mannequin Y wafts alongside in close to silence, the Blazer purrs. But in steady-state driving, it’s as quiet because the Mannequin Y. Totally different strokes for various people. It’s why they make Coke and Pepsi — folks like selections. The automobile can also be fairly roomy inside, with beneficiant head and hip room.

I like that the Blazer EV nonetheless has knobs that may be twiddled to regulate the fan pace or quantity of the radio, and precise stalks on the steering column. It felt like somebody may hire one and really feel at house virtually instantly — a great factor, in my view. The journey is supple and clean, turning is crisp, and one-pedal driving is straightforward to do. I additionally like that there’s a management on the dashboard that enables the driving force to regulate the specified stage of regenerative braking. Tesla drivers can do one thing comparable, but it surely requires understanding learn how to drill down by the menus on the touchscreen, which isn’t almost as handy.

Dave and Dana drive forwards and backwards between Florida and the Midwest frequently. That was a chore with their Bolt, however is far simpler with the Blazer EV as a result of they’ll use the Tesla Supercharger community alongside the way in which. Dave says he has seen over 150 kW whereas charging however that it quickly tapers to round 100 kW. The Mannequin Y might have an edge within the charging division, however except you might be utilizing the superslab day by day, the distinction comes down to some further minutes a 12 months — hardly sufficient to affect a significant buy determination.

Within the closing evaluation, has Chevrolet gotten its sums proper on the Blazer EV? In different phrases, is it a compelling electrical automobile? I feel the reply is sure. It’s totally different than a Mannequin Y however no much less competent. Truly, it might have just a little extra carrying capability within the rear because of its extra squared off liftgate and better roofline. The shopping for public desires selections, and the Blazer EV is a superb alternative for many individuals contemplating the acquisition of their first electrical automobile.