{"id":34590,"date":"2025-06-05T16:14:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T20:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=34590"},"modified":"2025-06-05T16:14:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T20:14:02","slug":"payne-drag-racing-the-chevy-blazer-ev-ss-ss-for-super-stylish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/payne-drag-racing-the-chevy-blazer-ev-ss-ss-for-super-stylish","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Drag-racing the Chevy Blazer EV SS (SS for Super Stylish)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oakland County<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 The last Chevy SS (Super Sport) I drove in 2016 was a stealthy muscle car. Modest looks, sedan shape, growling V-8 under the hood waiting to be unleashed on unsuspecting Bimmers. SS for Sneaky Sport.<\/p>\n

The 2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS is not that car.<\/p>\n

Wrapped in Habanero Orange with a black roof and sinister black fascia bracketed by orange wasp-like mandibles, you can see my Blazer SS from space. Big 22-inch wheels, big teardrop taillights, big black greenhouse, big 615 horsepower. But you can\u2019t hear it.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The 2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS is big, heavy, and fast. In the tradition of the badge’s 1960s, V-8 muscle cars. Only the Blazer SS gets its muscle from electric motors.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

At a Telegraph Road stoplight, I flattened the accelerator pedal with my Size 15 shoes and the SS\u2019s twin electric motors silently sucked the doors off a BMW M340i. FOOOOM! My eyes flattened, the landscape blurred, and 60 mph went by in less than four seconds. That would leave the \u201916, 465-horse SS (0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds) in the dust as well, though it wouldn\u2019t keep up with a Tesal Model S Plaid at 1.99 seconds.<\/p>\n

My Blazer SS is, however, less than half the price of the $134,490 Tesla.<\/p>\n

Chevy\u2019s latest iteration of its Super Sport badge is a welcome addition to its diverse history. SS has adorned everything from the OG 1961, 408-cubic-inch, V8-powered Impala SS coupe to the 1969, double-dome-hooded El Camino SS to the lowered, fire-breathing 2003 Silverado SS pickup. With its super-sized straight-line speed (an SS badge record 3.4-second 0-60 mph), girth (a whopping 5,730 pounds thanks to a 102-kWh battery) and flamboyant wardrobe (hey, Chevy, how about a dual-stripe option?), this SS takes its place alongside other SS Dream Cruise rocket ships. This is an Impala SS for the electric age.<\/p>\n

But addictive acceleration aside, what I like best about this SS is its interior integration of state-of-the-art GM technology with retro-Camaro SS design. SS for Super Styled.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS in Habanero Orange can be seen from space – but its quiet drive train will sneak up on you.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Oh, how I miss the Camaro muscle car.<\/p>\n

The porky, all-wheel-drive Blazer SS won\u2019t remind you of the rear-wheel-drive Camaro\u2019s deft handling, planted chassis and rib-rattling V-8. But it (along with the standard Blazer) honors the \u2018Maro with one of the coolest interiors in this business.<\/p>\n

Yuge grapefruit-shaped, aviator-style climate controls bracket the dash with three more anchoring the base of the console. They not only look awesome, but are easy to use (in keeping with GM\u2019s best-in-biz cabin ergonomics). I climbed into the cabin with key in pocket, pressed the brake pedal and the SS came to life. I nudged the grapefruits back-and-forth to adjust air position, then adjusted the rim to turn it on or off.<\/p>\n

Chevy marries this retro style with modern Google Built-in controlled digital screens. A head-up display complements the 11.0-inch instrument and 17.7-inch dash displays.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS offers pleasant features like a panoramic roof and orange-trimmed seats.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

\u201cAdjust driver temperature to 70 degrees,\u201d I barked on a chilly, rainy May evening, and the cabin temperature instantly adjusted.<\/p>\n

A blizzard of other vocal and physical controls are at your fingertips. I\u2019m particularly fond of the volume and radio station buttons located on the backside of the steering wheel so I could easily cycle through my Sirius XM radio favorites.<\/p>\n

Even in the wet, Blazer SS was fun to drive thanks to its upgraded, stiffened suspension and sophisticated electronics. Combined with all-wheel drive, they kept the beast\u2019s 650 pound-feet of torque (nearly 100 more than the last, 2024 Camaro SS V-8) in line as I barreled around the county.<\/p>\n

Those electronics also enable non-performance features. Like when you don\u2019t want to steer at all.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
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The 2025 Chevy Blazer EV SS comes standard with AWD for quick, 3.4-second 0-60 mph dashes.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

On I-94, I set the speed to 75 mph, engaged Super Cruise and went hands-free to the airport, the Blazer SS navigating traffic beautifully \u2014 even moving automatically into the left-hand lane when slower traffic deterred my progress. SS is for Super Smooth.<\/p>\n

I kept my hands on my knees, sipped my Grape Snapple and set Sirius XM stations using Chevy\u2019s superb infotainment interface on the big (there\u2019s that word again) infotainment display.<\/p>\n