It should be a sluggish day if the ClassicCars.com Journal is writing about an SUV however, belief me, it’s not a sluggish day. If something, it’s a day to rejoice as a result of Motor Development has simply introduced the winner for its SUV of the 12 months: the Chevrolet Blazer EV. Yay, America!

Alright, possibly the day’s slower than I’m admitting . . .

“Chevrolet has actually nailed the design and performance with the Blazer EV, which seems and operates simply as an industry-leading all-electric SUV ought to,” says Motor Development’s Ed Loh. “The Chevy Blazer EV gives a simple driving expertise, seamlessly integrates into your life-style and boasts person friendliness that’s exhausting to match.”

There was once a sure magic with Motor Development’s Automobile of the 12 months award even when, on reflection, most of the winners turned out to be turkeys. The award was a second of pleasure, considerably like a second act in spite of everything the brand new fashions began to seem in September. From my perspective, whereas Mother went purchasing, I’d make a beeline to the journal rack and see what the most recent magazines had been that includes, with a Automobile of the 12 months announcement at all times a welcome headline.

Beginning in 1999, Motor Development expanded COTY to SUV of the 12 months, recognizing the section’s emergence as a gross sales chief. For 2024, the brand new Chevrolet Blazer EV is the winner. Constructed on the versatile Ultium battery construction, the Blazer EV can be supplied with two battery-pack sizes and, apparently sufficient, accessible in FWD, RWD, and AWD configurations.

I bear in mind when the Blazer first got here out for 2019, gross sales had been considerably sluggish. Magazines felt it was considerably expensive for its class, although possibly it was because of utility being a bit lower than the category leaders solely as a result of the Camaro-inspired Blazer had made a number of (welcome) concessions to model. Over time, the Blazer has develop into extra fashionable and now, for 2024, it has been joined by the Blazer EV.

Although wanting comparable to one another, the Blazer EV loses the Camaro affect however clearly the household resemblance is there. Styling is barely completely different between the 2 fashions, with the full-width headlight bar, taillights, and weird entrance fender extractors being essentially the most noticeable. The Blazer EV loses a number of of the engaging components that made the Blazer among the many most trendy of SUVs, but it surely additionally seems like a Blazer given the EV styling therapy that’s modern for the second. Inside, a 17.7-inch diagonal customizable infotainment contact display dominates the dashboard.

“We’re excited and honored to obtain this recognition for the Blazer EV,” says Chevrolet’s vice chairman, Scott Bell. “This automobile takes comfort and buyer option to the following degree, a serious step in delivering on Chevrolet’s promise to offer an EV for everybody.”

The Blazer EV can be accessible in LT, RS, and SS trim ranges. The previous two use an ordinary dual-motor AWD system making 288 horses and 333 lb-ft of torque. The vary can be 279 miles however, if that’s not sufficient for you, you may go for a RWD model for the RS that may obtain 320 miles. If the SS is extra your cup of tea, that may characteristic a dual-motor AWD system producing 557 horses and 648 lb-ft of torque. The LT begins at $56,715, whereas the RS begins at $60,215; the SS will develop into accessible in spring 2024 so no pricing info is at the moment accessible.

If not one of the three EV trim ranges are of curiosity to you, then ought to have the ability to discover satisfaction with the traditional Blazer with 4 trim ranges plus two particular editions.

However they gained’t be Motor Development’s SUV of the 12 months.