CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Earlier than letting us free on the freshly laid tarmac of Ten Tenths Motor Membership, Chevrolet was at pains to inform us that the brand new Blazer SS “is just not a observe automobile.” Positive, there is a “aggressive mode” to the suite of digital settings and the quickest 0–60 mph time of any SS-badged Chevy up to now. The upgrades have been targeted on making the Blazer EV “cease, go, and switch” higher, and you do not must be driving exhausting to understand the advantages.
The Blazer EV had a rocky begin. Once we first drove it on the finish of 2023, it felt a little unfinished, and some days later unreliable software program stranded another journalist and led to a nationwide stop-sale on the then-new EV. By final March, the software program was mounted and the Blazer EV was back on sale, now cheaper than earlier than.
Watts new?
Whereas different Blazer EVs can be found with front- or rear-wheel powertrains or with a smaller battery pack, the SS solely comes with all-wheel drive and the bigger 102 kWh battery pack. Nominal energy output is 515 hp (384 kW) and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm), which jumps to 615 hp (458 kW) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) in the event you interact the “Broad Open Watts” mode.
Jonathan Gitlin
The styling modifications for the SS trim are delicate.
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
On the entrance there is a new fascia and small entrance spoiler.
Jonathan Gitlin
Jonathan Gitlin
There’s additionally somewhat winglet simply forward of the rear wheel.
Jonathan Gitlin
On the entrance there is a new fascia and small entrance spoiler.
Jonathan Gitlin
There’s additionally somewhat winglet simply forward of the rear wheel.
Jonathan Gitlin
The battery chemistry is identical as lesser Blazers, however the SS makes good use of latest silicon carbide inverters within the rear drive unit that reduce vitality losses and segmented magnets within the motors that scale back warmth buildup. There are greater brakes, higher tires, and the suspension advantages from stiffer anti-roll bars and comes, a quicker steering ratio, and new monotube dampers that (along with the springs) do a much better job of controlling the Blazer’s experience than the bits fitted to the Blazer EV RS I final drove.
Oftentimes, the efficiency variant of an EV suffers from diminished vary as a consequence of the added energy and larger wheels. However the Blazer EV SS nonetheless manages an EPA vary estimate of 303 miles (488 km), considerably higher than the much less highly effective AWD choice (which makes use of the smaller 85 kWh battery pack). DC fast-charging maxes out at 190 kW—I might love to present you a ten–80 % fast-charge time, however Chevy solely quotes “78 miles in 10 minutes” on the subject of charging stats.