While it’s currently a time of tumult for the EV marketplace, and many automakers are re-imagining their strategy in the EV realm, some automakers remain committed to this transition.

Among its EV lineup, GM is in the second year of offering the Chevrolet Blazer EV, and I was recently able to get behind the wheel of a 2025 Blazer EV to see how the midsize SUV offering holds up in the EV landscape.

Below are 5 key things you need to know about the 2025 Chevy Blazer EV — which takes on heavy electric SUV competition from Tesla, Kia, Honda and others.

1.
BOLD DESIGN, ROOMY INTERIOR

The exterior design of the Blazer EV is bold in nature, front its standout grille to its eye-catching wheel designs. Speaking of wheels, sizes available to buyers range from 19 inches to 22 inches.

The Blazer EV walks the line between trying to look rugged while still maintaining a sleek side, and its design stands out in the current class of electric SUVs.

The only downside relating to the design is that the view out of the rear is a bit compromised due to a small rear window.

Moving inside, the 2025 Blazer EV features an extremely roomy interior for its class, and comfortable, high-class seats for all 5 passengers. Overall quality of interior materials is solid.

If you use the Blazer EV’s seat warmers, you’ll find they get things heated up quite quickly, and the dashboard design and tech setup is among the most attractive you’ll find in the segment.

Cargo space clocks in at 25.5 cubic feet with rear seats up, and 59.1 cubic feet with those seats folded down. These are competitive numbers in the segment but fall below capacity of some rival EVs.

As buyers start to enter the luxury realm, they have to begin their journey somewhere — and typically these days that’s with a compact luxury SUV.

Everyone from BMW (X3) to Mercedes-Benz (GLC) to Genesis (GV70) and more offer solid offerings in the category, but one brand that’s been there a while and continues to offer respectable offerings is Infiniti.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of the 2025 Infiniti QX50, the brand’s smallest SUV offering.

Read on to learn 5 key things you need to know if you’re considering the QX50 as part of your search for a luxury ride.

1. Sharp design

On the outside, the QX50 features bold styling, including a no-nonsense grille and standout lighting designs. 

Wheels are offered at 19 or 20 inches and in flashy designs, sidelines have a sleek look, and despite its age (last redesign in 2019), the QX50 is still a looker — portraying itself as muscular, but not ridiculous or gaudy.

Moving inside, the QX50 is a comfortable, roomy vehicle for all five passengers. Infiniti continues to make among the most attractive and comfortable interior designs in the luxury segment. My test vehicle featured attractive two-tone red and black leather seating, and plenty of legroom in the back seat compared to rivals in the compact segment. It feels bigger than its class, and the materials are high-quality, though perhaps a bit less luxurious than some rivals.

The middle ground of plug-in hybrids remains an attractive proposition for people who want some electric juice in their vehicle, but don’t want a full EV so they aren’t completely reliant on charging.

Plug-in hybrids, like the entire EV industry, are doing their best to keep costs down, but it’s a constant battle.

Thankfully, a few vehicles that come in plug-in form are managing to stay somewhat affordable. One of these is the Kia Niro PHEV, a plug-in hybrid compact SUV which I recently had the chance to test, and starts around $35K.

The Niro is a rarity in today’s automotive market — as it’s offered a huge number of vehicle options, including:
— Gas-only
— Traditional Hybrid
— Plug-in Hybrid
— Electric Vehicle

This small, agile vehicle is a solid offering — especially for buyers who don’t transport lots of people or cargo, and may need a smaller vehicle for city maneuvering.

Read on for a full report on how the Niro PHEV fits into the current state of EVs and hybrids — including competition from the Hyundai Tucson plug-in, Ford Escape plug-in, Toyota RAV4 plug-in and Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in.

While other Kia SUVs are more likely to end up in the headlines, there are some lurking in the lineup that are also solid options for SUV shoppers to consider.

One such vehicle is the Kia Sorento, a three-row SUV that slots into the Kia SUV lineup just below the larger Kia Telluride and the smaller Kia Sportage, and comes in a variety of versions (two gas-only engines, a hybrid offering, and a plug-in hybrid).

Buyers seeking a high-quality three-row SUV, but whose budgets are too tight for a Telluride, are a key target of the Sorento.

I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a Kia Sorento X-Pro SX-Prestige model, and I’m back with a full report. (Note: I tested a 2024 model, but it carries over for 2025)

If you think you’ve been hearing about the Volkswagen ID.Buzz for a while, you would be correct.

First unveiled as a concept vehicle at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, it is finally available for sale in the U.S. after a long journey and first debuting in Europe.

First things first, what exactly is the ID.Buzz?
Is it a microbus? A minivan?

Whatever you want to call it, this nostalgia-inspired offering harkens back to VW’s 1960s microbus heritage (the kind you might have taken to Woodstock). Brought into the present, it is a wholly unique entry in the U.S. automotive landscape. There are just a few large fully electric SUVs that can be considered competition (Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 9, Rivian R1S), and some minivans that are offered in hybrid versions that could be cross-shopped, but none of the alternatives are in the exact class of the ID.Buzz — it’s truly its own category in many ways. 

Doubters will be tempted to write off the ID.Buzz as a trendy offering, but there is plenty of capability and versatility offered by the vehicle that should silence them. It’s got plenty of power, lots of cargo space and room for 7 passengers, and a versatile design to accommodate various needs.

I recently got some time behind the wheel of this long-awaited VW revival, driving a 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz Pro S Plus, and I’m back with a full report for all who may be interested in taking one home.