The Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Prioritizes Speed: First Drive Review

Unfortunately, like so many other go-fast electric SUVs, that seems to be one of the Blazer's few genuinely interesting party tricks. Alongside an upgraded suspension that helps get it ‘round corners slightly better, the Blazer EV SS feels very much like a warmed-over version of its base sibling. Depending on who you are, that may or may not appeal.

Electrifying Speed

Let me reiterate: The Chevrolet Blazer EV SS is quick as hell. With two electric motors bolted to a 102.0-kilowatt-hour battery pack, it takes just 3.4 seconds for the mid-size SUV to reach 60 miles per hour. Certainly nothing to sneeze at. Only the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT with the performance upgrade is quicker, while the Jeep Wagoneer S matches the Blazer to 60 mph, and the outgoing Tesla Model Y Performance got there in 3.5 seconds.

Activate the aptly named "Wide Open Watts" mode to uncork the Blazer EV SS's full 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. In all other drive modes, the Blazer deploys just 515 hp and 450 lb-ft—still plenty enough for puttering around town. Once Wide Open Watts is activated, put your left foot hard on the brake, right foot hard on the gas, and hang on for dear life.

Opt for the $395 Performance pack (like the Blazer tested here) to get even grippier Continental Performance summer tires wrapped around the standard 22-inch wheels as opposed to the standard all-seasons, and rotors that reduce brake fade. Even the non-Performance pack Blazer SS comes standard with Brembo six-piston fixed calipers up front.

Pros: Quick As Hell, Comfortable, Well-Equipped Interior, Excellent Range

Although the Blazer isn't a track car, by Chevy's own admission, hucking it through the turns at Charlotte's Ten Tenth's Motor Club gives me the chance to get a feel for the SUV's new dampers, stiffer springs, and more-rigid anti-roll bars.

The Blazer SS feels mostly composed. Through the first few corners, the new dampers do an excellent job of keeping things tidy, while the anti-roll bars—which are 60 percent stiffer than on the standard Blazer EV—help mitigate body roll. There's still plenty of body motion, as you'd expect in a 5,700-pound electric SUV, but not so much that it feels unruly. Even in tighter corners, it doesn't necessarily feel like you're flinging around that much weight.

Naturally, the Blazer SS isn't the most precise track weapon. Even though Chevy says it sharpened the steering specifically for the SS model, it could still use more feedback; it's quick and light, but pretty vague, which makes it tough to tell what the front end is doing. And there's some understeer, expectedly, for such a heavy SUV.

Down the longer straights, the Blazer SS, yet again, shows off its unrelenting speed. And the Brembo brakes do an excellent job of bringing it back down to zero quickly. While it may not be the most thrilling performance machine on track, there's more to like about the Blazer SS on the road.

It’s Still a Blazer

Ferocious acceleration aside, the Blazer SS still feels very much like a Blazer. Which is to say, it's comfortable, quiet, and composed in nearly all on-road situations.

The updated suspension isn’t so rigid that it ruins the ride quality of this otherwise pretty cushy SUV—other than some bounding over bigger bumps due primarily to the vehicle's weight. The standard 22-inch wheels and lower-profile rubber don't worsen the ride in any measure, either, and the cabin is still utterly quiet.

To keep you comfortable on longer journeys, the cabin is littered with a few SS-specific upgrades. Full leather seats with heating and ventilation come standard. There's even a specific “SS” perforation pattern on the seats that, well, don't look at it too closely.

Cons: Vague Steering, Not That Thrilling, Feels Big & Heavy (Because It Is)

Weaving through Charlotte's backroads, the Blazer SS is quick and competent. Not necessarily thrilling, but competent. It has just enough cornering agility to keep things interesting, while the lightweight steering makes it easy to wind the mid-size SUV seamlessly through turns.

Granted, the Blazer SS won't blow you away in any performance measure, but it's fun enough to drive quickly. The one thing you will notice, though—especially on narrow pavement like this—is how much space this SUV takes up in the lane. It feels massive.

A 17.7-inch touchscreen comes standard on the Blazer SS, and it looks lovely. This is also GM's first Ultium vehicle with in-car video streaming via apps like Max and Prime Video. But, it still doesn't offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

With 303 miles of EPA-estimated range, the Blazer SS also has the longest range of any of its competitors; the Wagoneer S only gets 294 miles between charges by comparison. Plug into a DC fast charger, and the Blazer will suck up electrons at a rate of 190 kilowatts and recoup 78 miles of range in just 10 minutes.

SS or Pass?

With a starting price of $62,095, the Blazer EV SS undercuts its only true competitor, the Jeep Wagoneer S, by a few thousand dollars. Jeep asks $65,200 for its electric mid-sizer for 2025. The more premium Poletar 3 costs $80,800 with the Performance pack, and the smaller Mustang Mach-E GT starts at $54,490. Tesla currently doesn’t offer a Model Y Performance on its newest Juniper model, but the base model starts at $48,990 for 2025.

Chevy basically took a Blazer EV and made it quicker—way quicker—as well as a bit more capable around corners. In that respect, this SUV is hard to hate. It has all the same comfort, quiet, and range as a standard Blazer EV, with a few extra go-fast pieces to appease dad’s sporty side. But if you were hoping for a hardcore performance SUV, the Blazer EV SS isn’t that vehicle.

Competitors

• Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
• Jeep Wagoneer S
• Polestar 3
• Tesla Model Y