Chevrolet Blazer vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and modern aesthetic, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of crossovers. It featured a low roofline with leaned-back front and rear pillars, creating a streamlined profile complemented by a prominent grille and stacked headlights. Despite its road car styling cues, the Blazer maintained the visual heft of an SUV, thanks to its tall ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with its blackout trim, vibrant Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a striking choice in the mainstream crossover segment. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, and revised grille and LED headlight designs. These changes, along with new wheel designs and additional colour options, kept the Blazer's look fresh. Inside, the Blazer's sportier interior, reminiscent of the Camaro, featured an upright dashboard and large round air vents. The RS model boasted blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme, enhancing its premium feel.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look, with slight styling changes that made its front end resemble a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. The 2027 model continued the design of the 2023 version, offering only the EUV body style, which combined elements of a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. The Bolt's tall and narrow stance prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty appearance. The RS model added gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was relocated to the steering column, freeing up centre console space. While the cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, the RS trim offered Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area, though lacking padding for door armrests, provided ample headroom and thigh support.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. The base LT model featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A 3.6-litre V6 engine, producing 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, was optional on the LT and standard on other trims. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard in Canada. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some rivals with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS impressed with its quick acceleration and sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. Its weight and top-heavy design affected handling, but it offered a comfortable highway ride with Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for midsize SUVs.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured significant changes under the surface. It housed a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. The Bolt's motor, sourced from the Equinox EV, produced 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. While not the fastest EV, the Bolt's acceleration was impressive compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs. One-pedal driving was available, with adjustable brake regeneration levels. The Bolt's ride was firm but not overly stiff, and its low centre of gravity contributed to agile handling. On a full charge, it offered up to 422 kilometres of range, with improved charging speed and a Tesla-derived charging port.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious interior without being cumbersome to maneuver. It provided nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport, though rear-seat headroom was slightly below average. The Blazer offered 864 litres of cargo space with rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite this, the Blazer felt spacious from the driver's seat, with functional interior details like USB port placement and temperature controls integrated into air vents. A heated steering wheel was standard on the RS trim.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. Taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic steering wheel extension. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing discomfort for centre-seat passengers. The Bolt offered 459 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seats folded flat with the cargo floor, enhancing luggage capacity. Up front, the Bolt provided ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with dividers, a floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades for 2023, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu layout. However, a physical button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated. The Blazer's tech presentation was competitive, with a large touchscreen matching segment leaders like the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came equipped with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. While Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, the system offered sufficient browsing control via Bluetooth. The optional Technology package added features like a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, and wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system assisted in finding charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. It also offered vehicle-to-load charging capability.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered a standard Chevy Safety Assist Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Adaptive cruise control was newly available on all trims. Optional safety features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though it lacked GM's advanced Super Cruise system.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available at the time of writing, but it was expected to perform well based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added features like a surround-view camera system and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise system was available for an additional cost, offering advanced hands-free highway driving.