With the average price of gas across the United States topping $4 per gallon, more car shoppers are considering electric models when they go to dealerships.
According to a recent Cars.com survey, 43% of car shoppers said that rising gas prices have led them to consider a fully electric or plug-in hybrid car.
We've recently tested two of most popular fully electric non-Tesla SUVs on the market: the 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV and the 2026 Toyota bZ.
The Chevrolet Blazer EV was General's Motors second-best electric selling model in 2025, according to sales figures reported by the company. The bZ is the Toyota's first fully electric car.
Here's how the two attractive midsize two-row electric SUV options compare and which model is best for different types
of car buyers.
The 2026 Toyota bZ is stylish and efficient
The Toyota bZ is the automaker's first fully electric car, and after receiving a midcycle refresh in 2025, the 2026 model has a 25% larger battery range than its earlier iteration.
The XLE we tested is the base model of Toyota's bZ, and it starts at just under $35,000. The more souped-up limited trim starts at $43,300.
The 2026 Toyota bZ stands out from rivals in its segment because of its unique new exterior and interior designs. It also has a strong value proposition, especially at a time when the average price of new cars is close to $50,000.
The bZ offers a smooth, quiet and comfortable ride, and it has excellent battery range. It handles well, and its acceleration is quick enough to keep daily driving fun. A daily driver might easily forget they are driving an electric car until it's time to charge the battery.
The electric SUV achieves an estimated 314 miles per battery charge in front-wheel drive. Our base model test vehicle lost only about 20% of its battery charge during a week of local driving.
The 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV is powerful and stands out in a crowd
The Chevrolet Blazer EV is the company's first electric model to be made available its iconic "SS" trim. It starts at a little under $45,000. The SS Trim model we tested starts at a little over $62,000. The exterior of our test vehicle was habanero orange, which made it stand out in every parking lot.
General Motors, which owns the Chevrolet brand, says the Chevy Blazer EV, which first debuted in 2025, is the "first all-electric addition to the Chevy SS family" and "the quickest Chevy SS ever."
"It’s also the most powerful EV in its class, packing 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque," the company said, noting the Blazer is also "Chevy’s first performance EV."
Electric cars are known for being quiet, and our test Blazer EV certainly was. But it did not at all feel like a light vehicle once I got behind the wheel.
The 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS Trim has a 17.7 inch diagonal color touchscreen display with Google built-in compatibility, according to General Motors. The system includes navigation, the ability to connect to popular apps like Pandora, Spotify, iHeartRadio and Audible, and owners can create personalized profiles for each driver's setting.
The Chevrolet Blazer EV doesn't have a front trunk, or "frunk," like many other EVs do. But GM says the Blazer EV "does have up to 59.1 cu. ft. of max cargo capacity."
The Blazer EV is also easy to charge. The Blazer EV's charger port can be opened and closed with a button on the car's touchscreen, or manually with double taps. The vehicle charges on CCS, or Combined Charging System, which was the most commonly used charger for non-Tesla EVs and most public charging stations.
The 2026 Blazer EV also comes with an adapter to allow it to be charged with North American Charging Standard, or NACS, chargers that are standard for Tesla chargers.
2026 Toyota bZ vs. 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV. Which one is better?
At various points in the past decade, industry observers have expressed some consternation about General Motors and Toyota's commitment and strategies for developing more electric vehicles. Indeed, many manufacturers have pivoted their public facing strategies depending on which party is in charge of the federal government and how much party leadership supports EVs.
Now in 2026, both companies are in the market with fully electric vehicle SUVs that each topped 20,000 units in sales in 2025.
In a week of testing both the bZ and Chevrolet Blazer EV at a time when gas prices were elevated above $4 per gallon, it was very refreshing to see that each vehicle got over 300 miles on a single charge.
Both vehicles were easy to charge at public chargers, with each taking about 30 minutes to charge to 80%.
With that in mind, these factors may sway potential buyers:
Cargo space: The Blazer EV offers slightly more cargo space overall, but the bZ offers more space with the rear seats remaining up. The Blazer has a 25.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up, and it has a max cargo volume of 59.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. That's compared to 27.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded in the Toyota bZ.
Power: The Chevy Blazer is a lot more powerful than the Toyota bZ. The SS model we tested get 615 horsepower with GM's performance "Wide Open Watts" driving mode engaged. The Toyota bZ tops out at 338 horsepower.
Affordability: If you're looking for an affordable fully electric SUV that is practical and gets the job done that you can get brand new for less than $35,000 if you opt for a base model, the Toyota bZ is probably the way you should go. If you want a sporty, powerful electric SUV that has a high-performance trim option, the Chevrolet Blazer EV might be the car for you.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is the Toyota bZ or Chevrolet Blazer EV the better electric SUV?
