Advantage: High-end Camaro-inspired interior; the excellent ride quality is only diminished by the available 21-inch wheels; sharper handling than most competitors
Defect: Seasoned with options; not a “real” Blazer; boring V6; disappointing interior materials
When car enthusiasts see “Chevy Blazer“Many people still think”Ford Bronco instead.” That is not the case with reimagined Crossover SUV we see here, but Chevy has imbued its midsize cargo van with some reasonably sporty DNA and served it up in a package that offers a lot of practicality for the price — as long as you don’t go crazy with options.
The jacket to be in competition with Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda passport and of course, GM’s own two-row midsize offerings, which offer significantly more looks and feel than is offered by many compact SUVs on the market (though not necessarily expect more interior space). The Blazer may have wandered from its roots, but it’s now one of GM’s key nameplates and one that is certain to last into the upcoming EVpocaylpse with Future Blazer EV.
Furniture & Technology | Passenger & cargo space | Performance & Fuel Economy
How to drive? | Rates & Trim | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What’s new for 2023?
This model year is the first notable update we’ve seen for the Blazer since it launched back in 2019. The changes are far from comprehensive but it does receive some minor updates. visuals alongside a number of cabin improvements, including a standard 10-inch infotainment screen, plus the expanded availability of adaptive cruise control. Aside from some updated wheel options and a new “Nightshift Blue” finish (not pictured), the Blazer is unchanged for 2023.
What’s the Blazer’s in-car interior and tech like?
On the one hand, the Blazer interior impresses with Camaro-inspired design elements — with particular attention to the rotating vents/climate controls — that make it look distinctive both inside and out. . Unfortunately, the quality of materials used is disappointing compared to the Blazer’s price point. That’s especially the case with Premier and RS versions that can go up to $50,000, but even the lower trims don’t look better than compact SUVs (Mazda CX-50, Honda CR-VA) costs much less when similarly equipped. Simply put, the Blazer either needs a lower price tag or a more luxurious interior.
At least the Blazer’s infotainment offerings are better and richer than most. Each version has 10-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 4G LTE in-car WiFi, OnStar and four USB ports, including one USB-C (small type). That touchscreen is pretty easy to use with large, clear icons and a streamlined menu structure, and is now paired with wireless device charging.
How big is the blazer?
Blazer is a medium size shirt Cross each otherwith its exterior dimensions placing it in the camp of cars like the Ford Edge, Jeep Grand Cherokee And Toyota Venza (Honda Passport also joins that camp but is much more spacious than Blazer). However, the legroom for the rear seats at 39.6 inches is only equivalent to larger compact SUVs like Honda CR-VA And TOYOTA RAV4, and it has less space. That low, sleek roof can let your hair graze the ceiling, and with a panoramic sunroof, you might even need to crouch or take advantage of the generous recline of the seat backs.
The spacious sliding rear seats make it easy to bring children closer to the front occupants or free up more cargo space. That’s a good thing, as the amount of merchandise on its papers is unremarkable. There are 30.3 cubic feet with the seats raised and 64.2 when they are lowered completely flat thanks to the cleverly designed seat bottom (see cargo video below). In contrast, the largest compact models such as CR-V And other car in the mid 30s and 70s respectively. Even his own Chevy feces only one cubic foot less maximum cargo capacity than the Blazer.
What is the Blazer’s performance and fuel economy?
Chevy Blazer comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is optional. Like the V6 engine, it is paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Test fuel economy at an estimated 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg in combination with FWD. It drops to 22/27/24 with AWD.
Optional on the 2LT and 3LT (and standard on the RS and Premier) is a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The result is this is one of the fastest midsize crossovers, hitting 60 mph in about a low 6 seconds. Equally efficient fuel economy whether you have FWD (27/19/22) or AWD (26/19/21). Note that the RS alone is available with a more advanced all-wheel drive system with a torque vectoring rear differential that improves handling in addition to enhancing traction even further.
How does the Blazer want to drive?
Just like the Blazer has Camaro-inspired looks, its driving experience is like Chevy’s beloved muscle car. Even a basic four-cylinder Blazer riding on 18-inch wheels will glide over a clover with poise and minimalism. roll. The sportiest RS version is even flatter thanks to the sport-tuned suspension and torque-adjusted AWD system.
Unfortunately, the power steering is disappointing — at least for those expecting the Blazer to be the sporty SUV its styling implies. It just doesn’t interact enough or provide enough feedback. Ride quality is also a mixed bag. Even the Blazer on the 18s had a firmer ride than we’ve come to expect from GM crossovers, but the damping is decent and that’s perfectly acceptable for a car with a purpose. sports destination. The optional 21-inch wheels, on the other hand, provide a tiresome ride when driving at 25 to 50 mph on anything but perfect pavement. We can’t see the bumps, but we can definitely feel them. Admittedly it’s more livable at highway speeds.
The turbocharged four-cylinder delivers more low-end torque and dynamics than you’d normally get in an entry-level grocer, but the upgraded V6 offers comparable powerful performance. advantage over competitors using other V6 engines. As for the sport-tuned RS model, however, it doesn’t offer the kind of enhanced soundtrack or exhaust notes that you’d expect. The transmission is also lazy to react and there’s no paddle shifter to override those responses. These may sound like crap, but the Blazer RS is considered a sporty, performance-oriented SUV. For the same money, however, the Ford Edge ST goes a lot further than that goal, boasting a whopping 30+ horsepower and over 111 pound-feet of torque.
What more can I read about the Chevrolet Blazer?
Chevrolet Blazer vs Toyota Venza 2021 and other midsize crossovers
Read how Blazer compares on paper to its main competitors.
We evaluate the 2020 Chevy Blazer 3LT with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine
Our editor examines the new turbo engine.
What features are available and what is the price?
For 2023, the Blazer is only offered in 2LT, 3LT, RS and Premier versions; previous L and 1LT models were dropped from the lineup. The base price for the 2LT is $36,495 (including $1,395 for destination). The sporty RS version is the enthusiast’s choice, but it’s among the priciest, especially with torque-vectoring all-wheel drive that helps it stand out from the crowd of less-than-challenged competitors. more encouraging.
Here’s a full breakdown of decor-based pricing:
- FWD 2LT – $36,495
- AWD 2LT – $39,195
- FWD 3LT – $40,695
- 3LT AWD – $43,395
- Premium FWD – $44,195
- RS FWD – $44,195
- Premier AWD – $47,095
- RS AWD – $47,095
What is the Blazer crash rating and safety device?
You no longer have to pay for the most expensive Blazer to get access to the kind of crash-avoidance tech features that come standard on most competitors. The Chevy Safety Assist package is included on all versions. It includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, forward distance warning and automatic high beams. The advanced forward collision system operates at higher speeds and the GM Vibration Safety Seat is complemented with the Driver Confidence II package available only on the RS and Premier.
The government gave the Blazer a perfect five-star crash rating in all categories. At the time of this writing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is still only liable for the Blazer twice. crash test: overlap and moderate side. It received the best possible rating of “Good” for both.
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