Entering its second model year, the Chevy Blazer EV received some exciting updates for 2025. The most notable is the long-awaited debut of the high-performance Chevy Blazer EV SS, the first electric vehicle to wear the storied SS moniker. Today, we’re reporting on a slightly less exciting development for this electric crossover: the beauty cover under the hood went away.
Famously – or perhaps infamously – GM EVs based on the BEV3 platform do not have a “frunk” front cargo area like the BT1 electric trucks. There’s simply too much mechanical clutter in the way to leave any room for a frunk. Since it looks messy and there isn’t much maintenance the average owner can perform on an EV, GM used to just cover this up with a plastic beauty cover with spots to top off the washer fluid and brake fluid.
2024 Chevy Blazer EV
2025 Chevy Blazer EV
However, now, when Chevy Blazer EV owners fill up their washer fluid reservoir, they’ll be subject to the eyesore of the front motor (if so equipped) and various mechanical flotsam under the hood. GM is no longer equipping the Blazer EV with the beauty cover under the hood. Incidentally, the mechanically similar Cadillac Lyriq has undergone the same change.
We reported in January that the Chevy Equinox EV and Blazer EV are incorporating fewer Chinese-sourced parts, likely motivated, at least in part, by President Donald Trump’s trade policies. This makes us wonder if that big plastic cover under the hood was one of the Chinese-sourced parts that was eliminated from the Chevy Blazer EV.
One could also say this is part of GM’s Winning with Simplicity strategy, which aims to streamline the automaker’s product offerings.
“Winning with simplicity, which is our drive to eliminate unnecessary complexity in the way we engineer and equip our vehicles, will help ensure that we can continue to sustain and even improve our margins in the future,” GM CEO Mary Barra said during GM’s Q2 2024 earnings presentation. “For example, through smarter contenting and optimizing selectable options, we have been able to eliminate more than 2,400 unique parts on 10 vehicles we’re launching through the first quarter of 2025.”
Comments
GM. Number one in cost cutting and fleecing the customer!
How does getting rid of a completely useless piece of plastic “fleece the customer”? Those engine covers serve zero purpose and merely get in the way during maintenance.
Is GM going to comp the cost of that piece of plastic bakk to the customer?
Did GM come and take the plastic cover away from people who already paid for it?
Neck and neck with Ford.
Boy, that Decontenting Department has been busy.
Useless plastic is your idea of contebt?
With the covers, wonder how many people were putting stuff in there and trying to use it as a frunk?
Also looks like it’d be a highly attractive squirrel home under those panels!
So yes a bit of an eye roll at the cost-cutting, but do see practical reasons as well.
Cheap motors strikes again.
Unacceptable. Don’t care if it’s pointless. At that price point (especially Lyriq) you shouldn’t have to see ANY of that.
So do you say the same about the engine bay in an ICE?
who is popping the hood in an EV without a frunk unless you are adding washer fluid?
In 2024 they said it is very important and don’t remove it because it funnels the wind somehow. Conspiracy theory?
All good until someone starts poking around in there with a screw driver.
The cover would just delay their Darwin Award by a few minutes.
2024 Blazer EV AWD engine cover for sale.
I would prefer to see things. After all, there is a hood to cover everything anyway. The problem with this though is when there is no redundant cover planned, the automaker usually tries to make things look neat, tidy, and to a certain extent “styles” the under hood area. Here, GM was planning on using a cover so there was no effort made to make it look orderly. Now that the cover has been deleted as a “Winning with Simplicity” cost saving move, owners have a somewhat messy under hood cavity to look at.
Just what I needed another “messy under hood cavity”, and I thought tariffs were important!
This is stupid. It’s not terrible looking. But that cover probably cost $5. I understand the volume that that saved them like 250k a year. Ya that’s w nice chunk of change… But it’s kinda a tacky decision. Although 90% or buyers have probably never even opened their hood to begin with these days so maybe I’m in the wrong
Who wants to bet that cover will show up in the accessories catalog for $350?
The plastic engine covers were to minimize engine noise to passenger compartment. Not needed for EV. Electric motor.
It could sure cut down on road noise though
Looks like there is enough room to make a mini frunk either from GM or the aftermarket community.
Cheer up- GM could have cut the hood!
I believe GM announced that well before any umpa lumpa tariffs.
My 2025 Blazer ev was manufactured the beginning of December 2024 with no beauty cover. I always enjoyed seeing the progress of the ice area. I really enjoy seeing the major improvement of the new ice/electric area. I’m looking forward to this summers qtr mile drag strip season. May the modified electrons be with you.
I prefer the non-cover. It’s easier to do my quarterly visual inspection of the engine bay.
I hoped GM learned their lesson about ‘winning with simplicity’ in 2009 with bankruptcy. Can’t get more simple than that badge engineering mess and sounds like that’s what they are aiming for again. This is why people don’t buy American cars anymore.