The Cheapest 600-HP SUV In America
600 horsepower. Just 20 years ago, this number was headline-grabbing as some of the greatest enthusiast cars on the market didn't even come close to that. Even supercars like the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo couldn't reach the benchmark, as it seemed the stratospheric number and those above it were only worthy of flagship supercars with price tags that could bring a tear to your eye. Today? Well, that's no longer the case.
/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/gallery-images/original/1230000/600/1230619.jpg
2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS AWD
In the last two decades, the industry has surpassed that number and then some, with nearly every self-respecting supercar pushing past the 600 horsepower mark, and even trucks and SUVs joining the club with ease. Somehow, 600 hp just isn't as impressive as it used to be. You can now find plenty of (relatively) affordable models on the market that will give you access to 600 horses, but one SUV reigns supreme as not only the cheapest that will plaster you back in your seat with epic acceleration: the 2025 Blazer EV SS.
This article compares manufacturer claims and real-world testing from our drive reviews to show you how much performance the cheapest 600-horsepower electric SUV packs in 2025.
The Blazer EV SS Is Here To Smoke The Competition
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Red Front Quarter
The Chevrolet Blazer EV debuted just last year as another electric SUV in GM's ever-growing electric lineup. It's part of the company's duel-pronged approach of offering a combustion and electric version of the same vehicle, with the Equinox using the same approach in Chevy's own lineup with the Equinox EV. While the Equinox is most definitely the budget EV in the Chevy lineup (for the moment, at least), the Blazer EV sits as the brand's aspirational electric model - and then there is the SS, which is the performance king in the lineup. It packs 615 horsepower and costs just $60,600, before taxes and destination fees.
We've been waiting for this model for what feels like a lifetime now, and that's because GM had a whole host of issues rolling out the Blazer EV in 2024, which led to the delay of certain trims as the company worked overtime to ensure the vehicles simply worked as advertised. After some bad press and the slow rollout, it appears the brand is ready to leave 2024 in the past and head into 2025 with the full Blazer lineup, especially the SS trim in its full performance glory.
This new model promises similar features to the regular combustion SS model, like more aggressive styling, a sport-tuned suspension, and premium materials throughout the interior. The model has a more imposing stance compared to other trims. This is thanks to a more aggressive front and rear fascia, a two-tone paint scheme, and 22-inch wheels that take up nearly every inch in the wheel wells. Microsuede seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel will have you glued to your seat and fully in control, and you'll need all the grip you can get given the car delivers blistering performance.
Performance Unleashed: The 600-HP Blazer EV SS Is Built To Thrill
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS On Track Front Dynamic
The Blazer EV has the unique distinction of being offered in FWD, RWD, or AWD depending on the trim, and the SS version goes big with dual-motor AWD. Paired to a 102 kWh battery pack, the model is now capable of delivering up to 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, increases of 58 hp and 2 lb-ft of torque over the performance announced for 2024. Of course, this full number is only possible from a launch in the brand's Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode - but this is par for the course with performance EVs.
2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV Lineup Performance Specs Comparison | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Blazer EV FWD | Blazer EV AWD | Blazer EV RWD | Blazer EV SS | |
Powertrain | Single-Motor FWD | Dual-Motor AWD | Single-Motor RWD | Dual-Motor AWD |
Horsepower | 220 hp | 300 hp | 365 hp | 615 hp |
Torque | 234 lb-ft | 355 lb-ft | 325 lb-ft | 650 lb-ft |
0-60 | TBC | ~5.5 seconds | ~6.0 seconds | 3.4 seconds |
Range | 312 miles | 283 miles | 334 miles | 303 miles |
MSRP | $44,600 | $47,600 | $54,200 | $60,600 |
The Blazer EV lineup starts with the meek single-motor models and tops out with the SS, which doubles up on the power of dual-motor versions. All of this power and torque allows you to rocket to 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.4 seconds according to Chevy, making it the quickest SUV the brand has ever released. To handle that extra power, the model is offered with six-piston Brembo front brakes, the aforementioned improved suspension setup, stickier rubber, and more. It's on par with the 2026 Lyriq V, Cadillac's first electric V-Series car - and the Blazer EV SS shares performance aspects with the Caddy.
Inside the Blazer EV SS: Technology, Comfort, and Charging
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Black Seat Inserts Dashboard
While we've yet to test the Blazer EV SS, we have tested the non-performance version, and we can tell you the model is a lovely balance of practical and premium. It doesn't necessarily stray into luxury territory, as that's again the job of the Cadillac Lyriq, but it features two rows with plenty of room for passengers and space for storage, which makes it perfect for a road trip made possible by the Blazer EV SS' EPA-certified range of 303 miles on a full charge. It's worth noting that the 303-mile driving range isn't the worst in the Blazer EV lineup - AWD base models manage only 283 miles.
Chevrolet Blazer EV.R front three-quarter
Chevy Blazer EV.R To Challenge Mustang Mach-E in NASCAR
There's only one manufacturer left to reveal an electric NASCAR racer.
Other interior features you'll appreciate are its 11-inch driver display and 17.7-inch touchscreen, which allows you to control just about everything in the vehicle with the tap of the screen except the much beloved Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which aren't featured in most of GM's EVs thanks to its bespoke, Google-designed UI system. Whether this is a dealbreaker or not is up to you, but most reviewers feel you'll quickly get over the inconvenience.
What you do get on the Blazer EV SS is a heads-up display, a premium Bose sound system, and GM's excellent Super Cruise driver assistance program standard. Finally, when you do need to charge, you can stop at a DC fast charger to add up to 79 miles in just 10 minutes at speeds up to 190 kW.
How The Blazer EV SS Competes With America's Most Powerful SUVs
2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Front 3/4 Static
However, the most impressive aspect of the Blazer EV SS has to be its impressively low price of just $60,600 for 2025. No other SUV on the market can give you this much power at this price, costing thousands of dollars more if not double or triple the price. The fact it boasts nearly the same performance as the Lamborghini Urus is truly wild in our opinion. Here are some other performance SUV competitors to compare to:
Model | 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS | 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N | 2025 Tesla Model X Plaid | 2025 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat | 2025 Lamborghini Urus S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Horsepower | 615 hp (with WOW) | 641 hp (with NGB) | 1,020 hp | 710 hp | 657 hp |
Torque | 650 lb-ft (with WOW) | 568 lb-ft (with NGB) | 1,050 lb-ft | 645 lb-ft | 627 lb-ft |
0-60 MPH Time | 3.9 seconds | 3.4 seconds | 2.5 seconds | 3.5 seconds | 3.3 seconds |
Drivetrain | Dual-Motor AWD | Dual-Motor AWD | Dual-Motor AWD | AWD | AWD |
Price | $60,600 | $66,100 | $99,990 | $113,325 | $241,000 |
The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat will surely give it a run for its money, but that model isn't long for this world, it isn't electric, and it costs nearly double. The Model X Plaid is much quicker and substantially more powerfu, but it adds nearly $40,000 to the price, and while the upcoming Model Y Performance will likely undercut it in price by at least $10,000, it isn't going to be as powerful. The only models that come close are the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and its cousin, the Kia EV6 GT, both of which only cost a few thousand more but boast even more horsepower.
Just before the reveal of the Blazer EV SS's updated power figures, the title of America's cheapest 600-hp SUV belonged to the lauded Ioniq 5 N. That car blew us away - on paper, and from behind the wheel - and is a legitimate performance car, whether or not you are a fan of electric powertrains. While we doubt the Blazer EV SS can stack up for pure performance thrills, it's just-over-$60k price tag and 615-hp specs make it an electric performance bargain in 2025.
