Are buyers ready for yet another utility vehicle? General Motors’ Chevrolet division must think so since it’s launching a new midsize model … with a name pulled from the history books.
The Blazer logo hasn’t been attached to any Chevrolet vehicle for years, but it’s now affixed to a five-passenger utility that’s 20 centimetres longer than the compact Equinox, but 33 centimetres shorter than the Traverse. The Blazer is also the sixth such vehicle in a lineup that ranges from the teeny-tiny Trax to the Goliath-sized Suburban.
The Mexico-built Blazer is arguably the most attractive of the group, highlighted by a blunted nose, dominant grille and an agglomeration of creases and curves that extend along the sides, gracefully folding into the liftgate.
Clearly, any connection between the new Blazer and any Blazer of old extends no further than the name, and that of course includes the chassis. While the original’s body-on-frame construction was based on that of the Chevy’s pickup series, the 2019 edition uses a unitized platform from the Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia.
The Blazer’s designers created an interior that’s as stylish as the sheetmetal that surrounds it. Thankfully, the tablet-style touchscreen doesn’t perch atop the dashboard, but sits more discretely below the driver’s line of sight.
The dashboard also includes a standard electronically lockable glove box that’s controlled via the key fob.
Second-row seating provides ample legroom for three bodies, thanks to a nearly 13-centimetre gain in distance between the front and rear wheels over the Equinox.
The cargo space behind the split-folding and sliding rear seat can be ordered with a special cargo management system consisting of a removable aluminum “fence.” It can slide fore and aft on rails that lock in place to keep your stuff from rolling around.
Base-model Blazers come with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. Optional is a 3.6-litre V-6 rated at 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet. This is definitely the one to have when towing (up to 2,045 kilograms) is a necessity. Interestingly, in this day and age, there’s not a turbocharger in sight for either engine as both are naturally aspirated. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard across the line.
Official fuel-economy numbers for the base four-cylinder are 10.8 l/100 km in the city, 8.8 on the highway and 9.9 combined.
The V-6 isn’t all that hard on fuel, earning 12.0/9.0/10.6 ratings.
Front-wheel-drive is standard for the base four-cylinder L and 1LT models, while all-wheel-drive can be fitted to the V-6 2LT and 3LT Blazers. When driving all four wheels is not needed, the rear axle decouples, which helps save fuel.
The top-level RS and Premier V-6 models qualify for an upgraded AWD that can shift all of the available torque to either rear wheel as needed.
Blazer pricing starts at $37,100 for the front-wheel-drive L, including destination charges. It arrives reasonably equipped, but moving up the chain will get you access to such technology as a wireless charging pad, rear camera with trailer-hitch guidance and heated-and-cooled front seats that automatically vary their outputs according to cabin temperature. Active-safety tech, such as emergency braking and lane-departure warning, are also optional, as are 21-inch wheels (18-inchers are standard). At the top is the Blazer Premier that, with AWD, will set you back in the low $50,000 range.
Whichever model your financial resources can handle, the Chevrolet Blazer should be more than adequate for most transportation tasks and in moderate to severe road conditions. Looking sharp at the same time is a bonus.
