They lost me at $60,000!!!! What is going on?!?!? Why didn't GM simply refine the Bolt EUV and increase its reliability (at $30K). I'm old enough to know that buying anything from Chrysler is a non-starter, from Ford a fingers-crossed proposition, and from GM a crapshoot. This is the crappiest shoot I have ever seen. Mary Barra, best of luck! You are continuing in the best 14th floor tradition and DeLorean is laughing from his grave! Fail!
If it was a Voltech vehicle with 100 km of EV range and still got decent fuel economy on the highway I might accept $60k for a top of the line all the bells and whistles Blazer (that has android auto), but not for this.
Their problems are mild compared to Motor Trend. They documented what happened to them. Not only did the screen conk out like it did for CR, but the car also stopped moving. It would not run. So there is a worse condition which led to the stop sales order. So far GM had only sold about 400 of them, so CR has one of the first units out. This shows you why you should not be the first to buy any redesign or totally new car. GM claims they did not want to use Apple Car Play because it was less safe than GM's new system. It is because GM wanted the money not because it is safer, and the fact it does not work, they cannot even sell it. Good job GM. This goes 280 miles - the old Bolt on the older tech went 250. So glad the new battery goes 30 miles further.
Agreed, it's GMs plan to charge monthly fees for basic functions that should be included with the high purchase price. The Honda version of this vehicle will sell far better
I had a reservation for a Chevy Blazer EV for the past year and I'm so glad I canceled it. The price went from $52k to about $60k. It would've been insane to buy one when the Model Y is $10k less before rebates. Tesla has over a decade of engineering refinement.
GM has managed to go from being the largest corporation in the world, making just about everything, to a struggling car company that can't (or won't) even properly develop a car. Wow.
Good discussion. In Australia we refer to the emergency flashers as "Hazard Lights'. A small button up top is ridiculous. They should be designed and located so that a total stranger can find them and activate them ASAP. E.g. driver has a crash at an intersection and is unconscious.
I think the real reason for having all the software built-in is so you are FORCED into a subscription for the life of the car. With CarPlay you aren't giving them sweet, recurring cash flow.
It's an Internet connected device so sadly if it goes off the internet things may not work in the future that means of the server goes down the company goes out of business etc etc your car is going to have some problems
So true. My dad has a Lyriq which he loves. After 6 mos, the free subscription runs out and nothing native to the work works - eg no google maps, no music, etc. XM will then constantly harass you to sign up for a $50 monthly plan. The good thing is that the Lyriq has CarPlay which my dad uses 99% of the time. The surprising thing is the number of ppl on the Lyriq forums who are willing to sign up and continue the costly XM subscription.
This is, unfortunately, an example of why American legacy automakers are digging their own graves. Ultium battery technology is hardly state of the art; in-car technology is yesteryear; quality and functionality is very poor; build quality is 1990ish; interior fit, finish and feel is far less than the competition; the price is sky high and a stop sale is issued because the car is half baked . GM is repeating the 1970s and will lose again. Where are the board of directors? Where is Mary Barra and the executive team? The Cadillac Liriq and Chevy Blazer send a strong message to Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, BYD, and others that North America is theirs for the taking. So sad and so preventable. Apparently GM is not even smart enough to benchmark and copy the competition.
I'll never forget going into a Honda R&D building in Ohio 30 years ago and seeing all the different makes and models of other manufacturers cars in various states. Clearly, benchmarking the competition was an important factor in designing the latest Honda models. Of course, that should come as no surprise. I often wondered how looking at the competition was done at GM.
So, not even two minutes into the 2024 Blazer EV CR assessment and the first glaring issue is the touchscreen interface closely followed by hardware and software glitches (that's not distracting at all). Wait, didn't GM talk up the interface for the Blazer and all GM EVs going forward as a safer and better user experience than Android Auto or Apple CarPlay which GM removed. This sounds to me like GM has gotten so far out of its lane that the entire GM EV initiative is suffering because GM wants not seamless and safer but rather to microtransaction customers with subscription services, that even at their best, likely will only poorly mimic Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The Stop Sale notification not a good look either. No worries GM not planning on spending my money on a half-baked vehicle. Looks like Ultium architecture is thinly veiled code for ultimate failure - again. GM do better...
My dad has a Lyriq. He loves it bc he wanted an ultimate relaxation / isolation car and the Lyriq is perfect for it. However, the car has been very glitchy. The saving grace is that CarPlay works and he uses it 99% of the time.
You have to ask how did GM screw the Blazer car launch so badly?!?! You'd think they would have done some pre-production run and examined the vehicles?? Also, it weighs 5200lbs! Seriously
What's crazy is they showed this around 2 years ago and it's been delayed. They've been testing prototypes all this time and for it to release with so many issues is astounding.
I think that this and the mach-e is intentional in order to prove to the governement that " EV's don't work"...we might see a "who killed the electric car part 2"...with all the engineers that they got, this is the best EV they can build? And Tesla is building EV that works because that is what they want to do...
I usually buy a new vehicle when my old one hits 125,000 miles but my 2012 Ram Laramie 1500 with the 5.7 Hemi has been so dependable and trouble free at now 127,000 miles I'd be crazy to buy anything else. I've been looking at late model trade-ins as a possibility but they all start at $55,000 to $65,000 and up depending upon whether they are gas or diesel and the big three all have various serious issues of one sort or another. My 2012 still has built in navigation and I've added Alexa Auto which was a $50.00 plug-in. What do I give up keeping my 2012 Ram? A bigger screen on the infotainment center, that's all. I'll put another 125,000 miles on it, replace the motor and transmission for $10 - 15K and still be $40 to $50,000 ahead monetarily. Thanks Ram for building such a great product!
I own a Chevrolet Bolt EUV and absolutely love it. But I'm beyond disappointed that GM dropped the ball so bad with the Blazer. Dropping Apple Carplay/Android Auto isn't a dealbreaker for me if the built in software works well. But it's kind of amazing how terribly this was flubbed. I was seriously interested in the upcoming Equinox EV but now it seems like that's off the table.
I also own a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, and I was eyeballing the Equinox EV also. Overall, I love the car so far, and have had only one issue with the 360 degree camera system which is going to be fixed under warranty next week. I am disappointed that the part was on backorder for 5 weeks, but at least it's getting fixed. It also has nothing to do with it being an EV, as ICE cars could easily have the same thing go wrong with their camera systems. It is also my first vehicle with Android Auto, and now I am hooked on that feature. I am going to hang onto my Bolt EUV and my ICE car and let some "guinea pigs" buy the first year's model of Equinox EV, and pay close attention to the internet forums, and RU-vid reviews for feedback on it and see any issues that arise before I buy one. I am also OK with the built-in software under one condition which WOULD be a deal breaker for me. If I eventually have to pay a subscription fee to GM for access to the system, that is a no-go for me. I already refuse to pay for any Onstar services, and I will never pay for those either. So I will wait to see what happens with that issue. This also gives me a chance to see upcoming EV offerings from other auto manufacturers before I settle on an Equinox EV. I'd like to be able to get rid of my ICE car eventually so I can take longer road trips more conveniently, but the next EV will need to have longer range and faster charging for that to happen.
I’m in the same boat. I have a Bolt EV and have put over 37k trouble free miles on it and will keep it for a few more years. I’ll never buy another GM vehicle. This was my first and last. There are many options out there, though none at the $30-ish thousand when new. The cameras and screen are actually much better than my wife’s XC40 recharge. They could have asked current owners for some feedback and create a better product that would sell.
They are a great example of a corporation who is only focused on short-term profit and not long-term customer satisfaction. And they had a great 2024 because of it. How long can that last?
Apparently Google was used so that GM can implement a subscrption system - pay for software changes. Maybe you have to pay to get the screen to work properly.
Tesla is the only company in the US that has made EVs profitable. Legacy auto has been struggling for almost a decade to make an affordable, desirable, and profitable EV and failing every time. Why? Cause they spent the last half century trying to stop EVs from happening rather than owning the market. And now they're paying the price.
All these issues have been resolved. At least in my 2024 Equinox EV that I purchased a week ago. Excellent car. The infotainment and driver information cluster is awesome. The car drives very well and is incredibly quiet and comfortable with excellent room.
I've watched you for 10 minutes, enjoying all you say, but I can't help but notice the intentional avoidance of mentioning Tesla. It's as if you were told not to mention them. I have no problem with that. Just that I find it entertaining since, if not for Tesla's model Y, GM would never had bothered to make the Blazer.
Yea, we don't need every car to be amazing 0-60, but when they aren't, in an EV, you can tell they cut corners on the inverters, and that is worrying. If they cut corners on integral parts(drive train), on what else, did they cut corners?
All those well-heeled people who were first interested and could afford an EVs,would never had bought them if they had similar acceleration to a gas car.
I disagree EVs shouldn't be quick. They SHOULD be. The additional cost of making an EV quick is so low compared to ICE, that choosing slowness is a slap in the face to the buyer. I once considered an ID4 but was shocked to discover the unexplainable lameness of VWs decision to make it "feel more like a traditional car". Went with a Model 3 instead. Even the slowest Model 3 variant is still quick. F you VW.
I was always a GM guy, but wanted an EV before the Ultium cars were released so bought a Ford Mach-E. I never thought of Ford as being a tech or quality car company, but the Mach-E really changed my perception of them. The build quality is top notch. The interior is nice and comfortable. The tech works and allows for Apple Carplay. Constant OTA updates with incremental improvements each time. I’ve had the car now for nearly 2 years and I still don’t regret my purchase. I’m glad I didn’t wait around for GM to play catch-up, because it sounds like it might be awhile.
I have a 2012 Volt. It has been far and away the most reliable car I've ever owned. Zero problems. Why can't any car maker just make an electric car (with the gas generator for extended range - ah, like my Volt) and MAKE IT SIMPLE! Knobs, buttons. Enough of the overwhelming tech. This would cut the cost of the vehicle. GM/FORD/OTHERS - make it simple! The best thing that GM could do is make the Bolt EV with the current range and ad the gas generator for longer distances. Cut the nutty tech stuff - and make it for 25k. You'd have a hit.
As with the Ford "Powershift" transmission debacle that went on for years, GM engineers had to know of all the issues (or what should have been issues, like vague steering, overly-stiff suspension, software glitches, etc.) with design and engineering of this Blazer EV, but management decided to go ahead with production and sales anyway. It does not speak well of the company. Comparisons with the upcoming Honda Prologue should be interesting. BTW, this is absolutely the best team of CR reviewers for these videos.
I have started the repurhase process with mine. At just over 150 miles, I started to get service vehicle display warnings. The backup camera would stay on even while driving and also the 12v battery apparently was bad. The one pedal driving button disappeared and never did come back. It went to the dealer on Nov 28th, tried to update software, that didn't work. They've replaced certain components multiple times. Everything would appear to work, the service manager would take it for a ride and eventually, everything crash again. Screens go black and don't work. Chevy has sent engineers to work on it and have been stumped. The radio has been replaced twice I do believe (I never did pick it up again from the dealer, I've left it there for them to mess with as a test project.) I was super stoked to get this car as we have a 21 gas Blazer that we love. I have a friend who has had issues with his that different from mine and it's still on going. His dealer has essentially thrown their hands up and don't have answers on his issues.
All these legacy companies look like they are ‘reacting’ to drive up stock prices then do a half-hearted attempt to avoid getting sued by investors and the SEC; then the CEO leaves with the golden parachute leaving the problem for the next person to ‘solve.’
For the Canadian viewer's hybrid/AWD question, I'm surprised you didn't suggest he look at the Toyota Crown. AWD and hybrid drivetrain are standard, and it's a sedan (kind of) with Toyota reliability which he can find on the lot today.
The reason they do not install Apple auto, or Google is that they want to give you the service themselves, then later, on charge subscription fees for the services!! True BS Why WOULDN’T someone want to just use their phone?! After all, phone maps, etc. are constantly updated on your phone. If you are installing stuff in the vehicle, it seems like you were taking a step backwards. Like when I had to pay Honda to get the latest DVD map installed
It could happen that it's a money grab by GM. However, you should also consider the fact that it could actually better this way if GM pulls it off. As someone that has experienced how good an infotainment system can be, I now hate Car Play. If you think nothing can be better than Car Play it's only because you haven't owned a vehicle with good native infotainment. The question is can GM pull it off and if they do, will they then turn around and try to pump it for money. I don't buy the money angle at all. I think they have to ditch Car Play to be competitive with Rivian, Tesla, Lucid, Volvo and soon the Koreans. The writing is on the wall and I for one wish GM luck and I'm glad they are trying. Hopefully this is just an initial stumble. If they have good OTA it can be worked out easily.
I have said it before and I am saying it again; being entirely reliant upon a touchscreen is stupid. The Infotainment system in my car (not a Chevy) has gone on the fritz again. Both times, if I didn't have physical controls in addition to the touchscreen, I wouldn't be able to have cabin heat now in the winter nor air conditioning in the summer. As it is, I am without radio, cd, bluetooth, handsfree cellphone, navigation, backup camera view, etc. All-in-one is convenient but when something goes wrong, you lose a whole lot in one shot.
Is anybody surprised ? Apple Carplay and Android Auto have been out there for a while so less bugs... GM was stupid to try to reinvent the wheel just because they wanted to nickel and dime their customers with subsciptions 😡
So how long before Mary Barra says no one wants EVs? What is the best selling car of 2023? Tesla model Y. I have looked at a ton of those, and I can't find an internal combustion engine anywhere in it. I must be a dummy :(
Any company that doesn’t get how car play works better the buyer and how integrating smart phone functionality seamlessly isn’t getting a purchase out of me.
I know its a little late in the process but Buy if there was a vehicle that is crying for a Hybrid conversion it is this Blazer. In the old days we all wanted a Corvette and a Blazer. It was very desirable. This model has great looks and should really be refined to be a great driver. One option I think down the road would be a gas front wheel drive with a Rear EV Drive, ALA Volvo T8. Have you read the specs on the T8? 455 HP combined. 40 miles on EV, less than 5 seconds 0 to 60. Nearly 400 miles in range. And if your commute is 20 miles one way zero gas use. OK Do That next year, Ultium Hybrid. The interior design failures are UNFORGIVABLE! GM has been making cars a LONG Time. They know better unless they fired everyone over 40 Like Lockheed Martin. Getting these vehicle thru final review and test takes time and rework takes more time, Relocating a part cost Money, but in the end it's what you do for a final Product release. Its demoralizing to here these car guys say he couldn't wait to get out of it. So damn sad for Blazer to called a poor release. UGH! Good Luck, I am so disappointed in GM in general Chevy for sure and the Blazer is simply a major let down. UGH! Dennis in Virginia PS I see hub wheel motors inthe future as retrofit conversion for Existing GAS Vehicles and rear drive, into Hybrids. 50, 100, 150 HP hub wheel motors, with under carriage packs for 50 Mile range, with recharge and EV GAS assist driving for AWD. Now you want to cut emissions, get the factory to team up with 3rd PArties to create AWD Hybrid kits for current vehicles sold and installed by Dealers with certification and warranty. Cuts into new car sales but get Federal Tax cuts on kits sold and get buyer tax breaks on Kit purchase, And grow customer loyalty for future vehicles. Come on GM lead with your left and hammer them with the right, you used to be so good, What happened, getting soft. Give what we can use and want AWD Hybrid kits and options on Ultium, let chargers build out, and Fossil Fuel alternatives develop. Get ahead once then stay ahead. Dennis
Today an ICE or EV is each good for different applications. As an around town runabout an EV is great if you have your own garage charging. For road trips and exploring back roads an ICE is best. We live in the Pacnw and have a Nissan Leaf and a Subaru Outback. Both have Apple Car play, all metal roof and real door handles. Boring practicality, and together both cars cost about $60k.
The CarPlay argument is ridiculous. Most new EVs don’t have it. No mention or complaint of Tesla or Rivian not having it at all. Understand the frustration with the tech but need consistency with expectations.
If the infotainment in this car worked properly, then I doubt they would have spent anywhere near the amount of time they did complaining about the lack of car play or Android auto.
I am puzzled that you make a prediction that FCEV's will grow in market share. This is contrary to actual market data, which has shown a contraction. If Consumer Reports believes in this emerging car market trend, then buy an FCEV and test it out, or at the very least assign this to an engineer to study this subject in detail and then make a public statement. I have closely followed the FCEV and BEV techs, and can definitively state that FCEV is DOA and will never become a viable option in the market. The energy (kWh) required to power a FCEV is 3x to 5x more than a BEV. Also every FCEV has a vent to allow boil off of the H2, so effectively leaking H2 all the time. Sounds great having a car that leaks until its empty ad nauseum. H2 is not a Fuel Source just an energy vector, a very poor one indeed. As to GM releasing a BEV with all these issues is ridiculous and I would be beyond incensed if I owned one. Shame on you GM.
Excellent summary of the obvious problems with FCEVs. Hydrogen may play a role in commercial transportation but I can’t see viability at the consumer level. Incremental improvements in battery tech and emergence of battery recycling make it more likely that EVs will continue to gain market share.
Is moving your foot from the gas to the brake really that hard? And does the brake light come on when you are coming to a stop without using the brakes?
The brake light comes on when you're regenerating. I think wood pedal driving isn't about laziness, but being able to smoothly transition from acceleration to breaking with a single motion of your foot. It makes it a bit easier to gently and precisely decelerate a car, and I've heard some enthusiasts really enjoy it when driving in the canyons for the same reason.
No one should be surprised, GM has a long and storied history of bungled releases. They do eventually sort their mistakes though usually the year right before they pull it from production.
Those first CyberTrucks did have the screen go black and other issues but for the most part they do work. Software is hard and that's why it's so important to make vehicles updateable via over the air data link. Some navigation stuff needs to be updated in real time. I have two Tesla vehicles and they just keep getting better over time. That is a nightmare though for legacy automakers because fixed features is the exact thing that causes buyers to replace their car before it needs to be replaced.
Look at the projection of cost of batteries; very likely that by the end of the year the cost per kwh will be below $60. CATL announced they are dropping the price of their batteries by 50% this year.
Well some of the things they're talking about is a matter of preference... tell us about the specs... and the drive and how the weather affects it. What kinda of battery... without the quality issues how is it as a car? What standard does it use for charging
Hyundai and Kia are knocking it out of the park with all of their vehicles - including EVs. The EGMP platform is superior to Chevy's, and it's been around longer.
Forget EVs I think GM will end Carplay for all cars. This may continue to other brands, because Carplay is an extra cost to Automakers and they want to sell services, so if people are using Carplay, it prevents them from selling other services to owners.
There's no reason they couldn't add it. It leverages Android Automotive, the same system in several of Volvos, and they added Carplay after release. Not saying they will, because, you know, GM. But, they could.
I almost didn't buy my Tesla because it didn't have Apple Carplay - and Tesla has really good software. No chance I'd ever consider anything with software that bad.
This car is seriously flawed. Better for GM to pull it from the market now and cut their losses short. Glad to hear an honest and tough review for a change.
To the Canadian listener looking for AWD hybrid, I'd suggest AWD Nissan Altima 2.5 L engine getting 38 MPG summer & 35 MPG winter when we install our Blizzak tires that reside on steel rims. Much lower cost to by & no stupid dealer mark-ups above MSRP
Have you driven 1-pedal with it on Avon Mountain Road? I feel like that is a good test for modulation of the 1-pedal drive in terms of how "useable" it is at speed up and downhill due to the grade of the hill.
I have a 2024 Cadillac Lyriq AWD Luxury 3. I love the car, but there are some glitches with the software: #1 When you say "Hey Google", you're talking to the internet - not the car. Google can't control functions in the car. In the BMW i7 for example, or Mercedes EQ products, you can tell the car to adjust car-based functions. Where's the "Hey Cadillac" system? #2 The system doesn't know how to index files on USBC flash drives. I have thousands of songs on a USBC drive and the system can't recognize FOLDERS. That means I have to listen to the thousands of songs, RANDOMLY and one by one. It's not easy to scroll through them as you're limited to just 1 page when you're driving. Searching the drive isn't easy either. I can't just type "Metallica" and bring up all their songs alone. #3 The system can get confused by "AUDIO" volume and "NAVIGATION" volume. In my Jeep SRT, to change the navigation volume, you just turn the knob while the Navigation voice is speaking. It defaults to the Audio volume. In my Lyriq, the system continues to adjust the Navigation volume when I really want to adjust the Audio volume. #4 Every now and then the rear camera glitches to a green screen. The rest of the car has performed very well. The only major letdown is that EVgo SUCKS. Cadillac gives you two years free EVgo service, but my nearest EVgo is 10 miles away and there are just 2 chargers while right next to it are 8 TESLA stalls. I'm disgusted as I tried to charge there and only succeeded 1 time out of 4.
I love the idea of all hybrid (i.e. Toyota/Hyundai/Kia/etc) but the extra gas mileage is offset by the new hybrid battery required at 10ish years (whether I own the car or not, someone is paying for the new battery.) I *guess* the better mpg is worth the expense (and the whole lithium sourcing/disposal/etc) if one is worried about climate change.
You're missing the point re: no CarPlay. It's not GM thinking it will get your subscription fees, it's to save GM's margins when Apple jacks up their license fee after everyone's hooked on it. GM realized that it's got to have it's own system or otherwise Apple (and Google) are going to eat its lunch. Given how Monty feels, it vindicates GM's decision. GM should have rolled out it's system years ago. But today is still better than tomorrow.
$150 to fill up for 350 mile range. Only H2 stations in CA. Car has less space, slow performance, and costs as much as a BEV. Also, when you're filling up, the nozzle sometimes freezes to the car. No way to fill up at home or to add H2 if you run out.
The basic reasons are. 1) H2 is a energy vector (a very poor one), not a source. 2) Complexity. FCEV's are EV as well so must contain H2 process equipment and EV parts too. 3) Cost. FCEV's require 3x to 5x the energy to run, and currently are more expensive to run than ICE. 4) Hydrogen is a difficult molecule to work with. It is leaky. It is explosive. 4) BEV's are here and are better, they have won.
Not having Apple/Android isn't a big deal. Some love the choice, some don't give a sh*t. But faulty software in a car that relies on software is the nightmare for all who purchase any modern vehicle.
