Blazer EV Insurance Costs Over 3x What Electricity Does

Our calculator says the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV costs $44,788 to own for five years at 12,000 miles a year. That is within $88 of the $44,700 purchase price we assumed. You buy the car, and then you pay for another one in losses, premiums and bills.

The split is the odd part. Electricity, the thing people buy an EV to save on, comes to $3,432 over five years. Insurance comes to $11,583. That is more than three times the fuel bill, and it is also more than fuel, repairs and maintenance added together ($7,023).

The monthly average is $746. Most of that is not the car being used. It is the car being worth less each month.

Depreciation is the real bill: $25,927

Depreciation is the biggest line by far. We estimate $25,927 over five years, about 58% of the assumed price. Nothing else comes close.

That is common for a new EV from a brand with a short track record in this price range. Shoppers worry about battery life and charging, and incentives keep changing. Used prices tend to sag when new buyers can get a discount or a lease deal. If you buy new and sell at five years, you take the full hit. If you buy a one- or two-year-old Blazer EV, someone else has already paid for the steepest part of the drop.

That is the practical lesson from our numbers. The cheapest way to own this vehicle is usually not to be the first owner.

Who this SUV is for, and who should look elsewhere

The Blazer EV is a midsize electric SUV that shares its bones with the Cadillac Lyriq and Equinox EV family of GM products. It is a family hauler that looks sportier than it drives. Think of a household that wants one car, has a place to charge at home, and does mostly commuting and weekend trips.

It is not for someone who wants the best charging network experience. Tesla still leads there. It is also not for anyone who depends on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which this vehicle does not offer. More on that below.

It is also a poor fit for a buyer who keeps cars for ten years and hates software problems. We will get to that.

Trims and pricing

Chevrolet has changed trim names and prices since launch, and the numbers below are approximate launch-era MSRPs before destination fees. Check the current figure on Chevrolet's build page before you plan around it.

Trim	MSRP	What you actually get
1LT (FWD)	About $45,000	Base front-drive version, large touchscreen, built-in Google services, driver assists
2LT (AWD)	About $48,800	Adds all-wheel drive, more comfort and convenience features
RS (RWD or AWD)	About $52,000 to $54,000	Sport styling, bigger wheels, upgraded interior trim, the longest-range rear-drive version
SS (AWD)	About $61,000 and up	Dual motors with very high output, performance brakes, aggressive tuning

Our $44,700 assumed purchase price sits at the bottom of this table. That reflects real-world deals and a model-year estimate, not a promise that you will find that price on a lot. If you want AWD or the RS look, you are shopping well above it, and every extra dollar of price also raises the depreciation and insurance lines.

The mid-level 2LT is the one most people should price. It has the AWD and the features that make this car worth owning, without the SS premium.

Powertrains and range

The Blazer EV uses an 85 kWh battery pack. Front-drive and rear-drive versions use a single motor. All-wheel-drive versions add a second motor. The SS adds a lot more power than anyone needs for school runs.

The rear-drive RS has the longest range, with Chevrolet claiming north of 300 miles. AWD versions give up some of that for traction. Look up the exact efficiency and range of the version you want on fueleconomy.gov, because EPA numbers differ by drivetrain and wheel size.

In dollars, our calculator puts five years of charging at $3,432. That works out to roughly $686 a year at 12,000 miles. Your number depends on how much you charge at home versus at fast chargers. Public fast charging can cost several times what home electricity does, and that can erase the savings.

What it gets right

The cabin is the best argument for this vehicle. The big touchscreen is quick and the layout is clean. Google built-in handles maps and voice commands well, and it can plan routes around chargers.

Space is good. Back-seat room works for adults, and the cargo area is useful for strollers, luggage and a Costco run. The ride is quiet and settled, which is what most SUV buyers care about.

The RS and SS also look better than most boxy electric crossovers. That matters if you do not want your car to look like an appliance.

What it gets wrong

No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Chevrolet decided its built-in system was enough. For many drivers it is, but if you rely on your phone's apps, music or navigation, you are stuck with what GM gives you. Skepticism is fair here: it is a feature buyers expect at this price and it is missing.

Software has also been a problem. Chevrolet issued a stop-sale on the Blazer EV in late 2023 over software issues, and early owners reported glitches. Our calculator's $2,451 repair estimate over five years is not alarming, but a software-heavy new model from a brand still learning EV reliability deserves caution. If you buy, make sure every recall and software update has been done.

Price is the other issue. The trims that make the car attractive cost significantly more than the entry model. At the top, the SS is expensive for a vehicle most people will never drive hard.

Charging is decent but not class-leading. Peak speed is competitive, but you should expect more planning on road trips than you would in a Tesla.

Safety ratings

We have not confirmed a complete crash-test rating for the 2024 Blazer EV at the time of writing. Check NHTSA and IIHS directly for the current status, because ratings can post after launch. Do not assume a good score until you see one.

Year-one cost for the mid-level trim

For a 2LT, here is what the first twelve months look like.

Depreciation: New cars generally lose 15% to 22% in year one. On our $44,700 assumed price, that is about $6,705 to $9,834. On a real 2LT sticker closer to $49,000, expect more.

Fuel: At 15,000 miles, scaling from our calculator's yearly charging cost, expect about $860 for electricity. That assumes mostly home charging.

Insurance: Our five-year figure of $11,583 averages about $2,300 a year. A realistic first-year range is $2,000 to $2,800. This is our estimate from the car's value and class, not a quote, and your own quote will differ based on age, location and record.

First service: Expect a tire rotation and inspection at around 7,500 miles. There is no oil to change, which is why our five-year maintenance estimate is only $1,140.

Add registration, which our calculator puts at $255 over five years, and the first year is dominated by depreciation again.

How it stacks up

Tesla Model Y: The Blazer EV wins on interior quality and having physical controls where they matter. It loses on charging network access and efficiency.

Ford Mustang Mach-E: The Blazer EV wins on rear-seat and cargo space. It loses on feeling more engaging to drive and on having a longer record with owners.

Hyundai Ioniq 5: The Blazer EV wins on a bigger-feeling cabin and a smoother highway ride. It loses on fast-charging speed and on Hyundai's reputation for value and warranty.

Verdict

The Blazer EV is a good family SUV that is expensive to own, mostly because of how fast it loses value and how much it costs to insure. Our $746 monthly average is not driven by electricity. It is driven by the purchase.

Buy it if you can get a used one that has taken the first big depreciation hit, you can charge at home, and you do not need CarPlay. The cabin and space are worth it at that price.

Skip it if you want to buy new and keep a low total cost. The $25,927 depreciation estimate and $11,583 insurance estimate swamp any fuel savings. Skip it if phone integration matters to you, or if you want the lowest-risk reliability record. A Model Y or Ioniq 5 is a safer choice on those points.