2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Initial Drive Review: A Warm Welcome to the V6 Malibu

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      Recently, achieving a sub-four-second zero-to-60 time was exclusive to true supercars. Nowadays, any vehicle equipped with a substantial battery and two relatively straightforward motors can accomplish this with ease. Enter the 2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS. After a few years and some initial challenges, Chevy is now poised to release the high-output version of its midsize electric crossover. This two-row model already boasted impressive comfort and a high-tech interior, and now it also delivers an astonishing 615 horsepower, propelling you with acceleration that feels almost otherworldly. But can it truly be classified as a performance EV, if such a category exists? To find out, I traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina last week.

      Byron Hurd

      The Essentials

      In essence, the Blazer EV SS shares a similar approach to the Jeep Wagoneer S. However, unlike Jeep, Chevy opted to launch the standard version of the Blazer EV first, saving the sporty SS for later. The Chevy variant is also roughly $10,000 less expensive when comparing high-performance models. While we admire the Wagoneer’s elevated brand ambitions, we're more than willing to accept the Chevy’s simpler interior for such a significant discount. If an opulent interior is your main concern, we would recommend the Cadillac Lyriq.

      Speaking of Cadillac, many of the performance features in the SS are shared with the forthcoming Lyriq-V. Both models achieve the same maximum output in Wide Open Watts (WoW) Mode, totaling 615 horsepower, and produce an equal 650 lb-ft of torque. They also offer a configurable drive mode system that lets you adjust steering, throttle, and braking characteristics. Each also has a “Competitive Mode” that relaxes the stability control, allowing for more adventurous cornering without the SUV's sensors thinking you’re driving recklessly.

      Generally, however, this is where the Blazer's fun elements end. The 22-inch tires are fitted with summer tires, but while the suspension has been reworked for the SS's sportier intended use, it still relies on traditional steel components. There's no Magnetic Ride Control or air suspension here, and the vehicle weighs over 5,600 pounds. Given this, you might be surprised, as I was, to learn that Chevy intended for us to take this vehicle on a racing track.

      Driving Experience

      I’ve undergone stranger experiences in odder places, but driving the Blazer in this context was unexpected. Yet, that’s where I found myself at Ten Tenths Motor Club— a new private road course adjacent to the Charlotte Motor Speedway—staring down the main straight, pressing both the accelerator and brake pedals to the maximum. Life takes strange turns; you just have to roll with it.

      As soon as you lift your left foot, off you go. Chevy asserts the SS can reach 60 mph in 3.4 seconds; the Blazer recorded 3.3 seconds. The acceleration timer activates automatically when launch control is engaged, which can be done in any driving mode, whether using WoW or not. Activating WoW is necessary to access the full 615 horsepower; otherwise, you’re operating in a mode equivalent to eco, with 100 less horsepower available. We suspect this is how Chevy was able to certify the SS’s range at 303 miles.

      That’s impressive for any electric SUV of this heft (the 102-kWh battery pack doesn’t help), especially one that Chevy was confident enough to unleash on a racetrack. Using the term racetrack loosely, I found Ten Tenths to be a fun private venue but not necessarily intended for competition. It is a tight, technical course that feels even tighter due to close walls and strategically positioned cones. The Blazer’s lead engineer cautioned us that the SS would handle like a bulky SUV if pushed too hard, advising us to be cautious given that only 20-30 feet separated the asphalt from safety barriers.

      Chevrolet

      He explicitly stated that we should prepare for understeering even in the Blazer’s relatively flexible Competitive Mode. His overall introduction replayed in my mind as I followed the engineer around the track, but the main point really resonated: the SS isn’t intended as a track vehicle. Why were we here? It wasn’t my decision.

      But upon reflection, this approach makes sense. Even considering the now-retired Camaro, the modern SS concept has always been moderately focused. One consistent aspect is additional power, which the Blazer EV SS certainly provides. There were no V6 or turbo four-cylinder Camaros branded as SS; that designation was reserved for the V8. Track-ready versions were instead labeled 1LE, regardless of their engines.

      Chevrolet

      Instead, SS aims to be the kind of everyday vehicle that brings a more exciting driving experience during your daily commute. Want to take the scenic route home? The Blazer is ready. Need to