Brands matter.
I mean, I know that's not exactly a newsflash---business and capitalism have relied on that essential fact for a few hundred years now. It's how "name brands" prevail against lower-priced generics.
But let's talk about two big-name brands here with very different images and expectations---Chevrolet and Honda.
What happens when they share essentially the same vehicle?
If you've read my review of the Honda Prologue (September 13, 2024), you know part of the answer. The Prologue is a Chevrolet Blazer EV, with Honda having worked considerable magic on its exterior and interior styling. If you parked them next to each other, most people would never guess they were related, much less fraternal twins.
Pop the hoods and they're identical. The Blazer EV is the top photo--the bottom is the Prologue.
In this case, with the Blazer EV RS AWD, it's 283 miles of EPA-estimated range (10 more than the Honda), with dual electric motors, all-wheel drive, 288 horsepower and 0-60 in about six seconds even.
Want more? Oddly, the single-motor Blazer EV RS RWD has 340 horsepower, which should knock half a second off the sprint to 60. And Chevy also offers the Blazer EV SS---with 595 horsepower and 0-60 times of four seconds flat.
Rear cargo area behind the second-row seats is the same as the Honda at 25.2 cubic feet, but larger with those seats folded---59.1 cubic feet to the Prologue's 57.7.
Some of that comes at the expense of passenger legroom, which is 38.9 inches in the Chevy and 39.4 in the Honda.
The interiors of the two cars couldn't be more different. Again, Chevy in the top photo, Honda in the bottom photo. The center console and cupholders are about the only giveaway.
And that's what made the Honda frustrating for me. Getting in the Prologue, my brain immediately registered "Honda"...and expected controls to fall readily to hand. But they don't. Fundamental controls---gear selector, wipers, lights---are in places Honda never puts them.
The Chevy? Well, there isn't really an expectation. Different models have things in different places...and the Blazer EV instrument panel is so busy, the brain registers that it's a good idea to take a breath and make sure you know where stuff is.
The base price of the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV RS AWD is $52,900 ($54,295 with destination). That's five grand exactly below the price of the 2024 Prologue I reviewed--but that's because the Prologue had a lot of what Chevy makes optional as standard equipment.
Standard on the Blazer EV RS AWD are 21-inch wheels with self-sealing tires, wireless device charging, remote vehicle starting, power front seats (eight-way for the driver, six-way for the passenger), driver memory for seat and mirrors, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, multicolor ambient lighting, power-adjustable, power-folding heated outside mirrors, LED headlamps and taillamps, hands-free power liftgate, rain-sensing wipers, and a comprehensive suite of active safety features.
As for the extra-cost options, our vehicle had Chevy's Blue Cruise semi-autonomous driving feature for $3,255, a panoramic power sunroof with power sunshade $1,495, the RS Convenience and Driver Confidence Package (head-up display, heated wiper park, rear heated seats and rear camera mirror) for $1,395, Chevrolet's Mobile Service Plus (which sends techs to your) for $599, a dual-level charging cord for $295 and the Iridescent Pearl Tricoat paint for $995.
Bottom line on the window sticker---$62,329.
Honda and Chevy have already decided that their partnership in EVs was a one-off...and now that Honda has officially announced a merger with Nissan (which has EV tech that Honda doesn't), there's no real need for a deal with GM.
While the Chevy Blazer EV is expensive (roughly the same money as a Cadillac Lyriq), it's a fine Chevy---delivering on, and maybe exceeding expectations for the brand, with the only deal-killer (for me) being the lack of Apple CarPlay.
