Chevrolet Blazer EV vs Subaru Forester Hybrid

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV was a standout in the electric crossover SUV market, sharing the stage with its smaller sibling, the Equinox EV. Its design was notably sharper and sportier, reminiscent of the iconic Camaro muscle car. The Blazer EV featured a narrow bar of lights that separated its faceted hood from the filled-in grille, while exaggerated flared fenders contributed to its athletic and hunkered-down stance. This sleek profile gave the Blazer EV a unique appearance, almost resembling a longer hatchback rather than a conventional crossover. The interior echoed the Camaro theme with sporty round air vents, faceted screens dominating the dashboard, and contrast stitching that added a subtle yet racy personality. However, despite the initial favourable impressions, closer inspection revealed hard plastic elements, though they were textured to match the soft-touch materials.

In contrast, the 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid underwent a redesign for its sixth-generation model, resulting in a more cohesive yet conventional look. While it lost some of its distinctiveness, the Forester Hybrid adopted a blockier shape, resembling a fun-sized Ford Explorer. Its rugged appearance was accentuated by black plastic elements, hinting at its off-road potential. Inside, the Forester retained some of its previous flavour with a beveled dashboard centre section, now dominated by a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin featured a mix of hard plastic and soft-touch materials, with the rear seating area prioritizing durability. The front seats provided ample cushioning and support, while the hybrid's ventilation system enhanced comfort on warmer days. Despite some arguments about losing personality, the Forester Hybrid's design aimed for broader appeal.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a range of powertrain options, making it a versatile choice for consumers. The LT and RS trims came standard with two electric motors for all-wheel-drive (AWD), producing 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 85-kWh battery pack. These AWD models could accelerate to 96 km/h in just 6.0 seconds and had an estimated range of 455 kilometres. The LT and RS trims also introduced a front-wheel drive (FWD) option, with a single motor producing 220 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque, extending the range to 502 kilometres. The RS trim was available in single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) form, offering 340 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 538 kilometres. The high-performance SS trim combined a dual-motor powertrain with a larger battery, delivering 615 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, achieving 96 km/h in 3.4 seconds, but with a reduced range of 488 kilometres. The Blazer EV's suspension was firm, providing a smooth ride on highways, though road noise could be intrusive on less optimal surfaces.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid featured a 2.5-litre horizontally opposed flat four-cylinder "boxer" engine, combined with a parallel hybrid system employing two motor/generators. This setup produced 194 horsepower, surpassing the standard Forester's 180 hp output. The hybrid powertrain was similar to Toyota's, but with a key difference: the Forester used a traditional driveshaft for its all-wheel drive system, promising better traction and consistent reactions off-road. Acceleration was adequate, though the hybrid transmission made it feel slower than it was. The hybrid system functioned seamlessly, with smooth transitions between electricity and the engine. The ride quality was firmer than expected, but the Forester Hybrid excelled off-road with its X-Mode drive programming, scaling rutted trails with ease. Hill descent control added to its off-road capabilities, making it a versatile choice for both urban and adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered comfortable front seats with good support and cushioning for long road trips. The massive touchscreen was well-placed on the dash, though slightly further away than preferred. Climate controls featured redundant physical knobs and buttons for easy adjustments. The rear seats were firm and flat, providing ample legroom, though headroom was limited. The Blazer EV could hold up to 722 litres of cargo, with a flat space and a standard hands-free power liftgate for easy loading. However, the sloping rear hatch made fitting bulky objects challenging. The climate control system took time to heat the cabin on cold days, but the use of a heat pump improved efficiency. The brake regeneration paddle's placement on the steering wheel was too close to audio controls, leading to occasional unintended decelerations.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid impressed with its unimpeded forward view, thanks to thinner front roof pillars. The front seats offered ample space and an open, airy feel. Rear seats provided generous legroom and headroom, enhanced by the standard panoramic sunroof. A wireless charging pad was a welcome feature, though the hard plastic surface allowed phones to slide during turns. Storage options included moderately sized cup holders, a deep centre armrest bin, and medium-sized door pockets. The Forester Hybrid could hold up to 779 litres of cargo, with a standard hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases for easy loading. Handy hooks kept groceries secure during drives.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV came equipped with a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, digital instrument panel, native navigation system, Wi-Fi hotspot, and OnStar remote monitoring. The infotainment system ran on the Google Built-in platform, offering seamless integration with Google apps. However, the absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant drawback, requiring users to rely on native voice controls. The standard six-speaker audio system lacked punchy bass, with an available eight-speaker Bose upgrade only on the SS trim.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid featured an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen with built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Starlink infotainment system received high marks for its user-friendly interface, with large on-screen buttons and easy-to-navigate menus. Physical buttons flanking the screen allowed for no-look temperature adjustments. The X-Mode off-road drive menu was accessible through the touchscreen, offering simple controls for various driving conditions. The Forester Hybrid also included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV received five out of five stars in all crash tests conducted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the RWD model, while the AWD model received four stars for rollover protection. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, reverse automatic braking, a surround-view camera system, and automatic high beams. GM's Super Cruise automated hands-free driving system was available as an option, providing a semi-automated parking system and reducing long-distance fatigue.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned five out of five stars in NHTSA crash tests, except for rollover protection, where it received four stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the non-hybrid model a Top Safety Pick, with "Good" ratings in most categories. The Forester Hybrid came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced safety features, including frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-keep assist. Additional features on the top-trim included rear automatic braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, and a surround-view monitor.