Quickies: An Ultium Duet

For the past few years, General Motors has been banking on its Ultium battery-electric vehicle platform. The results have been solid, adding growth and interest in the brands that sell these vehicles. Certainly, Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac benefitted from these EVs in their respective lineups. 

It all led to some curiosity on my part. That led to some exploration with a couple of GM EVs at the Midwest Automotive Media Association Spring Rally back in May. After a couple of quick spins in the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS and 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali, my curiosity was satisfied. 

What’s so special about these two EVs from GM?

The Blazer EV kickstarted the Bowtie’s Ultium trajectory. It was the first of three vehicles from this platform for Chevrolet. Before anyone argues for the Bolt EV/EUV, they were not part of this platform. They will be for its next generation.

Back to the Blazer EV, the mid-size SUV is a bit larger than the Equinox EV. There is a C-pillar glass that distinguishes the Blazer EV from its sibling. While the Equinox EV comes in at a lower price point, it has challenged the larger EV to come up with something that will attract a select type of consumer. 

That is where the Super Sport badge comes in. 

It is a badge of honor that signifies a higher performance vehicle above all. It is a tradition that makes it a desirable Chevrolet than the rest of the lineup. 

The result was the Blazer EV SS. 

Chevrolet had to prove the badge’s worth. They showed it off on the tri-oval of Daytona International Raceway during the Daytona 500 weekend as the race’s pace car. 

That’s great and all, but I still ask the question about its worth.

The Blazer EV is handsome – better looking than its internal combustion namesake. It follows Chevrolet’s brand design language with a grille-less front end, low LED lights up front and thin horizontal driving lights above. The roofline sports the aforementioned larger C-pillar glass pane, leading to a somewhat upright rear end. It is distinguished, but rather ubiquitous. 

The SS model is powered by a dual motor driveline putting down 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. You can rocket this EV SUV in an estimated 3.4 seconds from 0-60 MPH using the Wide Open Watts feature. It is also estimated that it can return around 303 miles of range at 100% state of charge. That, while riding on big 22-inch wheels.

Stepping inside and you get Chevrolet’s interior design. The difference between the EV models and their ICE siblings are its massive screens. The biggest issue on the Blazer EV is the 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen. You can no longer tether a smartphone to it, so you must use the Google Built-in architecture and its associated apps. 

Not to mention the lack of intuitiveness where finding the most basic functions require hunting around the cabin – and the touchscreen – to operate. Not exactly a fan here. 

But, hey, those red seats were super cool. They are blindingly bright red. Perhaps its redeeming quality.

Let’s be real – it’s a fast EV. It’s practical. Yet, the infotainment and lack of intuitiveness certainly let me down. At a sticker price of $64,180, I’m certain it’s an alternative to what’s out there in the EV SUV world. 

Maybe the other EV from GM could redeem itself…

The Ultium platform also serves as the backbone for GM’s EV pickup truck line. In this case, the 2025 GMC Sierra EV Denali. 

The full-sized EV pickup truck is built with a single body unit integrating both cab and bed. Yet, it is also practical with the MultiPro Tailgate, MultiPro Midgate, and front E-Trunk. 

The cabin is quite large, too. It can seat five comfortably. The rear seat appears to be roomier than its internal combustion siblings. The 16.8-inch center infotainment touchscreen dominates the cockpit. I found the same issues regarding its lack of intuitiveness as in the Blazer EV. 

It’s a large vehicle. The Sierra EV drives like one. You can certainly feel it. Yes, it’s got four-wheel steer with Crab Walk and Air Ride suspension. Those 24-inch wheels add to this largess of this electric pickup truck. It just feels very thud-solid all around. 

Powering this massive EV pickup truck is a dual-motor set-up with up to 760 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque. GMC estimates an estimated range of up to 460 miles on the Max Range battery. Impressive numbers – and they actually hold true. Especially on a quick acceleration test onto the highway. 

The 2025 model year Sierra EV only comes in the top shelf Denali trim. That’s fine, but is it worth $102,085? 

It seems that GM is bullish on the Ultium platform and its current products they are offering through Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac. I credit them for not only giving consumers options away from their competitors. The customer base is responding very nicely. 

Yet, I was left with some questions regarding some useability choices. There is always one flaw I end up processing after I drive something. For the most part, these vehicles actually stand out in the marketplace.

Would either of these work for you? There is only way to find out – check them out at a local dealership and see for yourself. 

DISCLAIMER: All travel was by Victory & Reseda and through vehicles supplied by General Motors. All logistics were provided by the Midwest Automotive Media Association, the Chicago Automotive Trade Association and their sponsors. Our opinions of our own.

All photos by Randy Stern