The Chevy Blazer is Back and More Bad-Ass Than Ever
Connie Peters
|
Chevy calls the Blazer the “Camaro of SUVs.” We like that!
It’s eye-catching and bold, bolder than its predecessor – one of the original SUVs on the road – that went out of production in 2005. But the Chevy Blazer is back and takes inspiration in style and design from one of the most iconic Chevy models ever – the Camaro.
Taking a nod from Camaro, the sporty body design is appealing with thin LED headlamps under the headlights, and the Chevrolet bowtie emblem stands out against the all black grille. The interior has large climate control dials that also hail from the Camaro interior. And like the Camaro, the motor does’t disappoint, either. It’s the same drive train as the Chevrolet Equinox and the Cadillac XT5.
Sharp black detailing on the Chevy Blazer RS with Sun + Wheels package. Photo: Connie Peters
Who This Car is For
- Families who need an all-wheel-drive crossover, which means higher ground clearance and a flexible cargo area
- Families who want seating for five in a mid-size crossover
- Drivers who want more cargo space than a small or compact crossover offers
- Families who want towing up to 4,500 lbs but don’t need a full-size truck or SUV
Related: Hello, Chevy Blazer. Nice to Have You Back!
The black details add that eye-catching touch. Photo: Connie Peters
How Much the New Chevy Blazer Costs
- The base model starts at $28,800 USD/ $35,100 CAD and comes equipped with a 4 cylinder, 193 horsepower engine
- The RS trim levels start at $41,795 USD for the front wheel drive model (not available in Canada) and $44,695 USD / $46,300 CAD for all wheel drive, which adds features like advanced AWD, 3.6L engine that produces 308 horsepower, heated front seats, rear cross traffic alert, and rear park assist
- The Premier model starts at $43,895 USD for the Premier FWD (not available in Canada) and $46,795 USD / $48,700 CAD for the Premier AWD adding a Bose 8-speaker sound system, 20″ aluminum wheels, Premier signature black grille, roof rails and more.
- The Sun + Wheels Package includes the Panoramic power sunroof, 21″ all-season Blackwall tires and 21″ Gloss Black aluminum wheels for $2,495 USD/ $2,795 CAD
- In Canada, the True North Trim is $43,300 CAD
- Price of the model we tested (RS), with a delivery charge of $1,195 was $47,865 USD/ $1,895 total $55,485 CAD
The Blazer matched my husband’s 1970 Chevy Nova almost perfectly! Photo: Connie Peters
An SUV That Lets You Express Your Personal Style and Still Get it All Done
As a suburban mom with kids and family duties, the hot new Blazer (especially in the red!) will get you from the school pickup line to meetings downtown, the mall and then to the mountains and not make you feel like your identity is all about your kids and responsibilities. You can tow, haul kids, carry cargo and still look completely on point. I would go as far as to say this vehicle can pull off a looks competition against some of the popular foreign luxury crossovers. With a bit of a muscle-car-edge to boot.
Related: Chevrolet Equinox vs. Traverse: Which is the best family car? 
Black grille and LED lights on the Blazer RS. Photo: Connie Peters
An Even Smarter All-Wheel Drive System Gives You More Capability
All-wheel drive, available on all Blazer 3.6L V6 models, gives you added confidence in a variety of conditions. RS and Premier trims offer the Advanced AWD system, Chevrolet’s most sophisticated system: It helps further improve driver control by independently directing power to give the best traction to the wheels that need it in poor road conditions. This helps give you more control as well as a confident feeling behind the wheel.
Related: The Mom Boss Secret Weapon: The mobile office!
Rectangle pipes only on the Chevy Blazer RS. Photo: Connie Peters
A Comfortable Cabin and Room for All the Stuff
Heated adjustable seats in an SUV are a must these days, and the Blazer doesn’t skimp. The RS trim has an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat and heated and ventilated front seats. There is plenty of leg room in the back seat and the rear floor is flat, meaning a 5th passenger in the middle won’t have to deal with a hump under foot.
Driver’s cabin is spacious in the Chevy Blazer. Photo: Connie Peters
You’ll Pay Extra For Advanced Safety Features
The Driver Confidence package includes some pretty key safety features that are standard on some vehicles in this class; on the Blazer they are an extra $2,165 USD; in Canada the price is $4,395 CAD for RS Plus Package, which includes a few more features than the US version. These packages include:
- Lane keep assist
- Lane departure warning
- Forward vehicle collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Adaptive cruise control
- HD Surround Vision
- Rear Camera Mirror
Chevy Blazer rear cargo is spacious. Photo: Connie Peters
The Fuel Economy is Average for This Size SUV
Chevrolet estimates the Blazer will get 20 MPG city and 26 highway for the smaller 4 cylinder engine, or 10.8L and 8.8L (City/Hwy) per 100KM. On the larger 6 cylinder trim, estimates are 18/25MPG or 9.5/12.7 L/100KM.
I personally got 14.8L/100KM fuel economy over the week (I drove 277 KM), or about 16MPG.
Chevy Blazer dashboard with red accents on the RS trim. Photo: Connie Peters
What We Loved
- The sleek looks of the RS model in red with black accents
- The giant sunroof which gives the interior a feeling of extra space
- Rear heated seats
- Adaptable cargo in the rear space
- Apple CarPlay
- Rear-seat check reminder when you turn off the vehicle
- Excellent pick-up and control in the AWD 3.6L 6 Cylinder
The oversized sunroof provides the ultimate amount of light inside. Photo: Connie Peters
What You Need To Know
- You will pay extra for the Driver Confidence Package which has some important safety features
- The sunroof and 21″ wheels are also extra
- The AWD 3.6L engine is available in the RS or Premier, True North trim levels
- The infotainment system is simple to use and includes Apple CarPlay
- Chevrolet includes a 30-day free trial of OnStar and WIFI plan
Who wouldn’t enjoy driving the Blazer with 308 horsepower and all that style? The red and black combination is sporty and a real eye-catcher; you’ll receive plenty of looks and attention behind the wheel of this SUV. The AWD trims are perfect for a small family looking for adventure, towing and fun, inside and out of the city.
Disclosure: The Chevrolet Blazer RS was provided for this review; all opinions are my own.
