Chevy Equinox EV vs. Chevy Blazer EV: Sizing Up the Right Electric SUV

So, your family needs a new SUV, and you’re ready to go electric. Good news, there are two strong Chevy options on sale now: the compact 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV and the MotorTrend SUV of the Year–winning 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV. We’ll examine how they compare in terms of size, price, performance, range, towing, cargo space, and more. And if neither seems exactly right, we’ll discuss two more options that might arrive in the next few years: a revival of the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, updated to use Ultium electric architecture, and the Silverado EV–related full-size three-row Chevrolet Tahoe EV.

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How They Perform

These two vehicles share a common architecture and a lot of common components, with the Equinox aimed at smaller, maybe younger families and the Blazer at more established broods. For now, each gets a choice of two-wheel or all-wheel traction. On the Chevy Equinox EV, the front wheels are powered; for now, the Chevy Blazer EV’s rear wheels are powered, but in 2025 we expect a lower-spec front-drive option to be offered. An 85-kWh battery is available on both, yielding EPA driving range ratings of between 279 and 319 miles and the ability to add between 68 and 77 miles of range in 10 minutes when plugged in to a public DC fast-charging station. The Chevy Blazer EV RS RWD and the coming SS AWD variant will get a larger 102-kWh battery. It lasts for 324 EPA miles in the RS and can add 80 miles of range in 10 minutes.

Front-drive Equinox EVs make 213 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. We have yet to test one, but we expect it to log 0–60 times in the mid-seven-second range. Opting for AWD ups the output to 288 hp and 333 lb-ft, which should drop the 60-mph sprint time to just under the six-second mark. We tested the larger Chevy Blazer EV RS AWD, which gets the exact same battery and powertrain, and it hit 60 mph in 6.0 seconds flat. The AWD Blazer SS, coming soon, is pitched as a much sportier option, making 557 horsepower and 648 lb-ft of torque.

Long-distance towing in an EV can be a hassle, as very few charging stations are arranged to allow a car-trailer combo to pull through and reach the charging cord without blocking traffic. But for local towing of utility trailers and the like, the Equinox EV and the Blazer EV AWD are rated for 1,500 pounds, while the burlier Blazer EV RS (and probably SS) can tow 3,500 pounds.

*estimated

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How Do They Size Up?

Outside: These Ultium-platform siblings are remarkably close in size. The Blazer shades a parking space with 1.6 inches more length and 1.1 inches greater width while standing just 0.2 inch taller. The wheelbase stretches 5.5 inches longer, though, which may make the Blazer feel a bit less maneuverable around town.

Inside: It should come as no huge surprise that the difference in interior space is similarly minimal. The designers, going for a sportier mien with the Blazer, used some of that extra wheelbase to lower the passengers and stretch their legs out farther. Hence there’s not quite an inch of added legroom in the back, and the Equinox holds nearly an extra cubic foot of cargo behind the rear seat. Fold the seat down, and the Blazer fits about 2 cubes more than the Equinox. But if you carry three passengers in the rear seats, riders in the Blazer will appreciate nearly 3 inches of added shoulder room.

Both existing Chevy SUVs too big or too small? GM has promised to replace the Chevy Bolt and Chevy Bolt EUV, and if the size and proportions remain similar, you’ll get nearly as much cargo in with the seats down but vastly less with them up thanks to tall, narrow, bobbed-tail bodywork. More headroom in the original Bolt roughly offsets its narrower shoulder dimensions, meaning four occupants enjoy nearly the same spaciousness (heaven help the fifth one). Meanwhile, if the Tahoe EV we expect Chevy to offer (based on the Silverado EV) shares most of its dimensions with the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ expected to launch later this year, it should be far larger. It’ll also offer a 36.0-cubic-foot third row of seats. And you’ll get roughly the same amount of luggage space behind that third row of seats as you get in a two-row Equinox or Blazer EV. Further out, we also expect a Chevy Traverse EV to share bones with the three-row Cadillac Vistiq. Then Chevrolet will truly offer an electric SUV for every purse and purpose.

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Ownership Costs and Warranty

The Chevy Equinox EV will do its best to replace the Bolt when the base 1LT model goes on sale later this year at $34,995. The Equinox EV 2LT and the entry Blazer EV 1LT are expected to be priced about as close as their dimensions might suggest when the base front-drive Blazer EV 1LT goes on sale in 2025. The Equinox EV tops out at $50,095 for the 3RS eAWD. For now, the entry point for the Blazer EV is the LT eAWD at $50,195, followed by the RS eAWD at $54,595 and the big-battery rear-drive RS ($55,595). The range-topping SS is expected to go for $65,995. The Chevy Equinox EV qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, but as of publication, not all Blazer EVs do. Not to worry, GM is compensating with a matching Ultium Promise Bonus Cash incentive, and battery sourcing is expected to change, qualifying them in the future. 

GM electric vehicle warranties are the same for all, with bumper-to-bumper limited coverage extending 3 years/36,000 miles, battery and electric components coverage, including available courtesy transportation for 8 years/100,000 miles, roadside assistance is offered for 5 years/50,000 miles, while towing coverage extends throughout the powertrain’s 8/80 warranty. These electric Chevys also get their first scheduled maintenance stop for free at 12 months or 12,000 miles. It includes tire rotation and a multi-point inspection (which includes the battery, tires, charge port seal, charge port connector, drive unit, EV cooling system, pedestrian safety signal, and axle boots).

As for maintenance, you’ve probably heard or maybe figured out that electric powertrains require vastly less periodic fettling. Chevy recommends rotating the tires every 7,500 miles, checking and possibly replacing the cabin air filter on a two-year schedule, and pitting every five years for new brake fluid.

Resale value is harder to estimate with these new models, but the Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV have ranked highly on this metric, so hopefully these Chevys will, as well. In any case, overall cost of ownership should be at least somewhat lower than it was for whatever gas-powered SUV you might be trading in on a new electric SUV.

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Chevy Equinox EV

Chevy Blazer EV

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You Should Buy an Equinox EV If:

You can’t wait for the second coming of the Chevy Bolt EUV, you want an affordable electric crossover, and you’ve decided the Hyundai Kona EV is a bit too small for your family and charges too slowly for efficient road-tripping.

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You Should Buy a Blazer EV If:

You crave that faster 190-kW charging rate (up from Equinox’s 150 kW) to speed up the many road trips you’re eager to take in an electric SUV with today’s ultimate driver assist system: Super Cruise hands-free driving. Just ensure that you’re not easily crippled by choice when it comes time to select between the front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive powertrains.