1. Context: a comeback after a rocky launch
Late 2024’s stop-sale over blank screens and charging lock-ups dented the Blazer EV’s debut, but GM’s March 2025 over-the-air fix and dealer reflashes have put the RS trim back in showrooms. Software VP Baris Cetinok says the company “drove 16 000 miles a day” across a 40-car fleet to validate the patch.
2. Infotainment: Google Built-In finally behaves
The 17.7-inch centre display runs Android Automotive with baked-in Google Maps, Assistant and Spotify. During a two-day test the screen never froze, and voice prompts responded faster than on early-production cars that InsideEVs and Edmunds bricked last year. One trade-off remains: factory support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is still absent, though a Michigan aftermarket kit can restore both for die-hards.
3. Real-world range: better than expected
Our RS RWD test car left Los Angeles with a full battery and averaged 2.8 mi/kWh, arriving in Phoenix 275 miles later with 17 miles in reserve—almost 85 percent of its EPA-rated 334 miles. Temperatures hovered at 21 °C and speeds stayed near 70 mph, showing that GM’s aero tweaks and new battery-pre-conditioning routine pay dividends on the highway.
4. Charging speed: quick peak, modest average
Chevy quotes a 190 kW peak, and we watched the RS hit 181 kW on a Tesla V3 Supercharger before sliding downward. A 5–80 percent session on an Electrify America 350-kW unit averaged 111 kW, adding 52 kWh in 31 minutes—good, though well behind an Ioniq 5’s 186 kW average over the same window. Level 2 home charging tops out at 11.5 kW.
5. On-road character: balanced, not blazing
With 340 hp and rear-wheel drive, the RS scoots to 60 mph in a verified 5.6 seconds. Torque steer is nonexistent, and the low-slung Ultium pack keeps cornering flat for an SUV. Ride compliance on 21-inch wheels is firm but never harsh, helped by adaptive damping in RS trim. Brake-pedal feel is linear, and one-pedal mode regenerates up to 0.3 g—strong enough for city driving.
6. Verdict: solid progress, room to grow
The Chevrolet Blazer EV RS Road Test shows a crossover that has matured quickly after its software hiccup. Infotainment stability, credible real-world range and hassle-free Supercharger access make it a practical daily EV. Yet average fast-charge speeds still trail the Korean 800-V crowd, and buyers who live by CarPlay must budget for an aftermarket fix. Even so, the RS now feels ready for prime time rather than early-adopter purgatory.
