Chevy Deletes 1LT Trim on Blazer EV, Report

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

A few days ago, we brought you news of the entry-level Blazer EV vanishing off the order sheet, a development caught by eagle-eyed fans and confirmed by General Motors. Now, the gearheads at Automotive News have learned the trim has been permanently deep-sixed for the 2024 model year.


This is significant since it marks the end of any chance the Mexican-built ’24 Blazer EV will be available in at least one iteration for around $45,000. That was the figure tossed out by execs when initial announcements about this rig were made approximately one year ago, a sum that would have at least kept the Blazer EV within reach of a wider swath of the buying public.


Instead, shoppers venturing into a Chevy showroom this autumn will be facing a $56,715 2LT with all-wheel drive as the least expensive option. A $60,215 RS all-wheel drive model is what The General is planning to launch with this summer, if you’re wondering. There is apparently a two-wheel drive 2LT in the hopper for next year, though its price has yet to be disclosed. Given traditional price premiums for AWD in both ICE and EVs, you gotta figure its sticker will certainly be over $50k.


An official platitude being mouthed by the company is that these pricing decisions will help prevent the Blazer EV from overlapping the Equinox EV, a type of ladder system that dates to the days of Alfred Sloan. If trims such as Premier or even High Country (hey, it’s on the Traverse) are affixed to the Eq then it could certainly have an asking price pushing $50,000 after options are added.


It's well within an OEM’s rights to reposition trim levels as it sees fit, of course, but shifting the Blazer EV even further upmarket in terms of price is not without its risks – especially with the affordable Bolt set to evaporate next year. Sure, that model is allegedly coming back but no timeline has been given as to a concept’s unveiling, let alone the car itself.


Chevy has been touting a $30,000-ish starting price for a base Equinox EV 1LT, a figure to which they will need to get close if they wish to aggressively grow their market share in this space. Here’s hoping the 1LT trim fares better in the hands of Equinox planners.


[Image: Chevrolet]


Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

More by Matthew Guy

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 39 comments
  • Jose R Monsegur Jose R Monsegur on Aug 06, 2023

    Don't you hate when you reserve a vehicle at a price and then tell you is $8,000 more expensive. I have a reservation for a Blazer EV in RS trim, at the time it was it was supposed to start at around $52,000, now the model I would want would be the RS RWD but that price is almost $62,000 to start, without options. So I'll guess I'll get another Model Y, a fully loaded Performance is $57,000 . Does the Blazer offer so much more than the Tesla to justify the extra money?, I don't think so. We may see a lot of Blazer on the lots like other manufacturers who refuse to lower their prices.

  • Dukeisduke Dukeisduke on Aug 07, 2023

    Stupid, for a brand that used to be one of the "Low-Priced Three" along with Ford and Plymouth, and sold tons of Biscaynes, Bel Airs, etc.

    • Art_Vandelay Art_Vandelay on Aug 08, 2023

      Bel Air was the mid to high trim. This would be like killing the Biscayne


  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X I would only buy with manual. Even if the auto is repaired, it will most likely fail again. Just a bad design.
  • Fed65767768 This is a good buy despite the mods, as unlike most Focii this old there's little rust.
  • Ashley My father had a '69 Malibu that I took cross-country with a lot of detour on the way back. It was OK, but nothing spectacular, and after I got back he had nothing but trouble with it until it finally died in 1974. I had a Malibu rental in 2003 and at one point parked it next to a restored '69 in a shopping center parking lot in Redding, CA. I imagine the two of them had lots to discuss while we were eating at the restaurant inside.
  • 2ACL My girlfriend currently drives a 2018 SE hatch. Automatic, but I've been handling the fluid services (looking to do another along with the filter soon) and it's been a solid runner for her. My only issue with its dynamics is the transmission's gingerly kick down out of corners (the SEL is the lowest trim that offers manual control functionality IIRC). Otherwise, none of the quirks that've blighted the Powershift's reputation have manifested.A stick would drastically extend its life expectancy. I know she isn't as committed to stick life though, which influenced my approval.
  • MaintenanceCosts GM hasn't put any effort into any Cadillacs except the Blackwings and the electrics. They're getting out what they put in. Pretty simple, really.The XT4/5/6 are all just slightly up-styled versions of Chevy products, but priced as if they were on dedicated luxury platforms like the BMW and Benz competitors to the larger two. The XT6 is especially embarrassing.Even the Escalade is just a Tahoe/Suburban with a few trick design touches and a halfhearted materials upgrade. The good news for Cadillac is that the Tahoe/Suburban are seen as upscale enough that a half-a$s upgrade to them can be a legitimate luxury car.Where's the "gotta have it" factor? Where are the dazzling interior designs? Where's the swagger? Until those show up the brand is just a set of memories.
Next