Driving The Chevy Blazer EV

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Final summer season, I acquired 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 slightly digging to seek out it. A number of days later, I acquired 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 parking zone. Then I used to be knowledgeable that my referral bonus had been cancelled. Shortly after that, I regarded out my window solely to see my neighbors stepping out of a hearth engine pink Chevy Blazer EV.

So right here’s the story. Apparently, they made the error of visiting their native Chevy supplier and acquired seduced by this Blazer sitting on the lot. The automotive definitely 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 heart beat of American tastes, and the Blazer EV does an excellent job of tapping into the place American automotive tradition is in the present day.

It’s decrease than a Suburban, however undoubtedly not a sedan. There’s a little bit of a station wagon vibe as properly. For those who squint slightly, 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 automotive that was an ideal match for the “See the USA in your Chevrolet” advert marketing campaign made common by Dinah Shore. Bringing that vibe into the current and including a little bit of brawn to seize the design idiom of in the present day is a grasp stroke by Chevrolet. It’s simple to see why Dave and Dana discovered themselves smitten with this automotive. And did I point out it’s RED?

The Blazer EV has had some teething issues. It was late moving into showrooms due to a number of software program points that bedeviled the early vehicles. When Edmunds purchased one for its take a look at fleet, the automotive refused to operate correctly. On a visit to San Diego — to attend a Chevy media occasion — the automotive displayed eight completely 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 fantastic 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 utterly melted down, caught in an infinite loop of shutting off, turning on, displaying a map centered in the course of the Pacific Ocean, and turning again off once more. It did this till we pulled off the freeway and restarted the automotive. All was properly after the reset, however an hour later, it occurred once more.” Chevrolet really stopped promoting the vehicles for a time till the glitches have been fastened.

At first, the Blazer EV was imagined to be out there with 4 trim packages — LT 1, LT 2, RS, and SS. The one-motor LT 1 and the SS should not but out there, so patrons have a alternative of an LT or an RS model. Each have an 85 kWh battery and twin motors. The LT value, in response to the Chevrolet web site, is $43,690*. See that asterisk? That’s the place Chevrolet explains: “MSRP much less incentives. Tax, title, license and supplier charges additional. Residency restrictions apply. Not out there with another presents. See supplier 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 automotive. It had each out there function, together with a big tilt-and-slide sunroof.

This evaluate isn’t 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 automotive isn’t as svelte because the Tesla, however that’s intentional. It has a extra visceral enchantment, like a jungle cat on the point of pounce. Dana says she finds the hood to be longer than she is used to — their earlier automotive 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 underneath acceleration because the Mannequin Y, and the identical aggressive regenerative braking, that are two of the options of an electrical automotive that drivers appear to understand probably the most. There’s extra whine from the electrical motors than I’m used to, however that’s not a foul factor. Actually, I believe the Chevy engineers thought of that an excellent deal and determined to offer the automotive a extra strong 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 of us. It’s why they make Coke and Pepsi — folks like decisions. The automotive 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 might lease one and really feel at dwelling virtually instantly — factor, for my part. The trip is supple and easy, turning is crisp, and one-pedal driving is simple to do. I additionally like that there’s a management on the dashboard that enables the driving force to regulate the specified degree of regenerative braking. Tesla drivers can do one thing related, but it surely requires understanding drill down by means of the menus on the touchscreen, which isn’t almost as handy.

Dave and Dana drive backwards and forwards between Florida and the Midwest regularly. That was a chore with their Bolt, however is far simpler with the Blazer EV as a result of they will 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 could have an edge within the charging division, however until you might be utilizing the superslab day by day, the distinction comes down to some additional minutes a 12 months — hardly sufficient to affect a serious buy determination.

Within the last evaluation, has Chevrolet gotten its sums proper on the Blazer EV? In different phrases, is it a compelling electrical automotive? I believe the reply is sure. It’s completely different than a Mannequin Y however no much less competent. Truly, it might have slightly extra carrying capability within the rear due to its extra squared off liftgate and better roofline. The shopping for public desires decisions, and the Blazer EV is a wonderful alternative for many individuals contemplating the acquisition of their first electrical automotive.