Now for something a little different. Instead of driving the new 2025 Blazer SS EV for a week, I had the opportunity to check it out on a track, along with some street driving for good measure. So, while it’s not exactly the same thing, I have some thoughts about the latest Chevy to wear the SS badge. Let’s get it on!
(Disclaimer: Chevrolet invited me to Charlotte to drive the new Chevrolet Blazer SS on the track and on the street. They offered to fly me there, put me up in a hotel, and provide a nice steak dinner, among other things. I decided instead to drive (only six hours from D.C.!) and skipped dinner to see some college friends, but took them up on the hotel.)
2025 Chevrolet Blazer SS EV Overview
As I usually do, let’s explore some details about the Blazer SS before we delve deeply into driving impressions. The Blazer dates back to 1969 and has undergone several iterations over the years. The OG K5 Blazer was a full-size SUV based on the C/K pickup chassis, which eventually became the Tahoe in the mid-1990s. Meanwhile, you’ll remember the compact and mid-size Blazer, which was based on the S-10 pickup (1983 to 2012). The Blazer made its triumphant return as a mid-size crossover for the 2019 model year and an electric version was added for 2024.
The significant development for the 2025 model year is the introduction of a new high-performance SS trim. The Super Sport badge boasts decades of heritage dating back to the 1961 Impala. Millions of SS Chevys have been sold, ranging from mild to wild. The badge has appeared on legends like the Chevelle, Camaro, and El Camino, as well as less legendary models like the Cobalt, HHR, and Malibu. So, purists will either rejoice or recoil to see the Super Sport badge back on a battery electric mid-size crossover.
The Blazer EV comes in various flavors, including FWD, RWD, and AWD drivetrains. The sporty-looking RS is available in all three variants, while the LT can be obtained in only FWD or AWD. While the SS would have been fun in a tail-happy RWD version, it gets a pretty entertaining dual-motor AWD setup. More on that in a bit, let’s take a look under the “hood”.
Let’s start with the main SS numbers: 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. Chevy claims a 0-60 time of 3.4 seconds with an 11.8-second ¼ mile at 115 mph using the aptly named “Wide Open Watts” (WOW) setting. So, even with a curb weight of over 5,700 pounds, it’s now slow. WOW mode engages an extra 100 HP and 200 lb-ft of torque over the standard output. We’ll delve into details on the brakes, suspension, and other drive modes when we get to the track.
You’ll need to pony up $60,600 before options for your new SS. Luckily, as the top trim, it’s loaded, and you’ll have some great colors like Habanero Orange and Riptide Blue that won’t increase the total cost. The upgraded “Tintcoat” paints will add $495, and the standard 22″ wheels look great. If, for some reason, you want gloss black, it adds nearly $3,000. There aren’t many other options, so your total is around $62,095.
Let’s see how it works on the track and the street!
Off to Charlotte! Let’s gooooo!
…six hours later.
We arrived at the new Ten Tenths Motor Club as the second event to utilize the newly built facility and track. It’s a pretty swanky place, built in the Charlotte Motor Speedway parking lot. They were great hosts, I even got some from Ten Tenths to switch the Masters Tournament pre-show to the live F1 race.
As you can see above, Chevy showcased several older SS models, including a 1969 Camaro SS Pace Car, a 1970 Chevelle, and the one I’d take home: a manual 2017 SS sedan still wearing a window sticker.
Outside, there was a variety of Blazer EVs, including LT, RS, and SS production models. Additionally, a striking blue SS Blazer, which paced the Daytona 500 this year, was present, along with a cool Blazer EV PPV Police Package.
I volunteered to go first and got to hoon the Blazer SS on the track, so let’s get to it.
2025 Blazer EV SS: On the Track
As we lined up for the start (the 0-60 area in yellow above), we set the SS to its Launch Control setting. Pin the brake, pin the gas, and it’s off like a rocket. I remember when 3.4 seconds to 60 was supercar speed. Now it’s EV crossover territory.
Rocketing down to the first left-hander (just after the yellow area of the blue track), I was hard on the brakes. The Blazer SS has a pretty impressive braking system, and given its curb weight, stopping power will be crucial. It features a standard 390-mm rotor Brembo 6-piston setup in the front and a 345-mm rotor sliding caliper in the rear.
Hit the pedal hard, and the chassis feels quite stable for such a large vehicle. There isn’t a noticeable nose dive, and when it was time to turn left, steering was easy, and there isn’t much body roll. It features 60% stiffer anti-roll bars, 30% stiffer monotube dampers with front rebound springs, and a quicker steering ratio than other Blazer EVs.
What’s more impressive is the lack of drama in the first bend. In competitive mode, not only has the faster “WOW” feature engaged, but it also provides enhanced traction management features to help control inside wheel spin. You’ll notice some understeer. The front end does push a bit in the tightest bends, but when you mash the throttle, the computers do their thing, pulling you out while the tires protest the maneuver.
I drove the Blazer SS hard. I’m proud to say that I was close to the lead car’s bumper for the entirety of the lapping session. Once we finished with the blue track, we did some solo laps on the smaller red handling course. Later, the Chevy folks asked if I wanted to go again, and I took requests from the other media types milling about. They asked me to pick a blue SS and go fast. Naturally, “I WANNA GO FAST” is my mantra, so I obliged, driving even quicker than the first session.
People who buy the Blazer SS probably won’t do this, likely ever. I chatted with some engineers who got to conduct some testing down on the lesser-known “Back of the Dragon” road, and that’s a much more likely use-case scenario. For those people who want to bomb around some back roads, the Blazer SS should be quite fun.
2025 Blazer EV SS: On the Street
After the track sessions, I borrowed the keys to one of the testers parked outside and took it for a long drive around the area. Chevy knows who its customers will be for the new SS, and they will likely want a reasonable mix of comfort and performance. Perhaps there will be even a bit more focus on comfort if the SS is expected to serve as a daily driver. Luckily, the suspension isn’t jarring whatsoever and easily handled some rough roads despite being on lower-profile tires.
During my drive, I decided to take the tactic of asking for forgiveness rather than permission for photo locations. The Speedway resembles a small city, with numerous entrances and exits. I found one that seemed optimal, and the nice lady at the gate waved me through. There was a karting event in the infield, and a NASCAR-like car doing hot laps around the oval.
I kept driving…and kept driving, never passing any obvious “do not enter” signs. Eventually, I ended up near a paddock in the middle of the Speedway. It made for some cool pictures of the SS in the infield.
The Blazer SS looks quite good too, featuring several fun paint colors and an aggressive design. It’s not as dramatic as it could be, but there is a sense of theater in the exterior and interior design. While in the infield, a family saw me taking pictures and asked what it was. They seemed particularly excited to see it, and I showed them the interior details as well.
With its midsize…erm…size, you get pretty solid interior space as well. Someone asked me if it was a three-row, and I had to say that, sadly, it wasn’t. But rear leg room is a very ample 38.9 inches.
It’s also got 25.5 cubic feet of space in the back, which is pretty decent for a daily driver or light road trip duties.
Summary
The Blazer SS may not have the same cachet as classic Super Sport vehicles. It won’t do a burnout, and it won’t make loud exhaust noises. However, it is the quickest SS ever produced, so it should sell fairly well with the practical midsize SUV layout. Oh! It also features an impressive estimated range of 303 miles. Dang, I almost forgot that bit!
Bonus: Special GM-Themed Tours
I wish I had the opportunity to take pictures at our last two stops of the day, but sadly, we weren’t able to. We visited the GM Charlotte Technical Center, which handles engineering for every single series that GM takes part in. We saw one of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers in the simulator and visited the full-room sim setup for the Cadillac F1 entry, complete with a Caddy-badged cockpit. We also saw numerous racing component testing areas and even had the chance to stop in the command center, where many computers and smart people were developing live strategies for the Bristol NASCAR race that was happening while we were there. We were able to photograph the dark red design model and the actual Blazer EV.R NASCAR prototype that was in the lobby.
Next, we stopped by another building in the same compound that housed Rick Hedrick’s personal car collection. Again, no photos, but others have been able to capture some of it. It was pretty spectacular, and a very unique experience.