The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV came to market in fits and starts. Big promises were followed by software failures and a stop sale order. Now, the automaker appears to have righted its wrongs and is back in the midsize electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) game.
With sharp exterior design and sleek-look aerodynamics, the Blazer EV catches the eye in a parking lot. Its interior is rather plain but fine and there's enough design differences between it and its Honda Prologue engineering twin to justify a cross-shopper getting behind the wheel of each.
But, it's not perfect. Setting aside its recall record and bricking concerns, there's niggling issues with the Blazer EV that would make me turn elsewhere. But, Chevrolet has undoubtedly made a good contender for those in the market.
What we tested: Newsweek test drove a 2025 Chevrolet Blazer LT EV AWD in Riptide Blue Metallic for this review. The SUV has a starting price of $47,600, not including the $1,395 destination charge added on. Chevrolet added options to the Blazer to up its total price to $56,535 when all costs were considered.
CHANGE: Better driver assistance
On a vehicle with Super Cruise hands-off, eyes-on driver assist technology, one would assume that the lane keeping assist functionality worked with aplomb. It did not. Whether it was too responsive or not responsive at all was not lighting or weather dependent. I drove the Blazer EV for a week and could never quite get it sorted.
KEEP: Good blue hues
Riptide Blue Metallic was an especially attractive blue paint job on the Blazer EV. Automakers are starting to add more blue and green color options to lineups and revamping whites, grays and blacks with different metallic flake treatments and matte finishes under gloss. It's about time.
CHANGE: Uncomfortable driver's seat
I found the driver's seat to be generally uncomfortable. It was stiff and unwelcoming to the posterior no matter how it was adjusted and I might have been better off on a bench in a high school gymnasium. This tester came with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, but that did not combat the core issue of a distinct lack of cushioning.
CHANGE: Software issues
This Blazer EV came equipped with heated seats according to the window sticker and yet there was no option for them on the infotainment touch screen. I'd be upset if I paid to have something and it wasn't there. But, I'd also likely not leave the dealer until it was fixed.
That said, Chevrolet needs to ensure that software issues like what set back Blazer EV sales in the first half of 2024 do not continue to plague the company moving forward. That's true not just for Chevy, but for every automaker, especially as more software-rich vehicles come to market.
KEEP: A simple steering wheel
Chevrolet has gotten it right with the car's steering wheel. The blatantly mass market design is a welcome change from the haptic-centric wheels other automakers have out there. There are but a few buttons and toggles, which perform all the necessary functions without any flare.
There were simple pleasures elsewhere on the Blazer EV too. I like the column-mounted shifter, abundant center console storage space, and ease of use front row charging ports.
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