Are you looking for a vehicle that has ample cargo space, fantastic performance, and exceptional fuel efficiency? How about all of the above? If you need a vehicle that can do a little bit of everything, then you need a midsize SUV, and if you’re shopping for a midsize SUV, then there’s no better vehicle to invest in than the 2022 Chevy Blazer. From the base level to the top-line model, this year’s Blazer certainly delivers. We’ve been impressed with the outcome, and we believe that you will as well.
Before we get to the meat and potatoes of the discussion, let’s talk about the trim levels. The 2022 Chevy Blazer has a starting price of roughly $33,400 for the base 2LT trim. The Blazer 2LT is unlike your average base model; it’s exceptional. At a glance, it’s hard to believe that it can only get better from there. Of course, the following three trim levels will offer more with a V6 engine thrown into the mix, coming standard on the RS, and as an option for the 3LT and Premier. Both the RS and Premier come with leather seats and 20-inch wheels standard, but the wheels can be replaced with a 21-inch set if you prefer. The 3LT also offers some upgrades over the base 2LT, such as a power liftgate and an optional rear view camera.
No Bad Choice in Sight
The 2022 Blazer is unlike many other vehicles because both engines are respectable options for power and efficiency. If you’re trying to save money and purchase the base model, you won’t be void of ample horsepower. However, if you want to significantly improve upon things, upgrading to the V6 engine will give the Blazer upgraded performance increase without sacrificing too much fuel efficiency. Each of these engines is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, which only sweetens the deal. The V6 has more power and the turbocharged engine has more fuel efficiency, but both are great options.
Investing in the 2LT or 3LT models will come with the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 standard. If this were non-turbocharged, this would be a different experience all around, but turbocharged engines are well renowned for their performance coupled with stellar fuel efficiency. This engine has 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and a towing capacity of up to 3,500 lbs. The highlight of this engine, like other turbocharged examples out there, is its fuel efficiency. Front-wheel drive Blazer models equipped with this engine will get EPA-estimated ratings of 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway, and all-wheel drive models also fare well with 22 MPG city and 27 MPG highway. The Blazer will save you a surprising amount of time and money at the gas station for a vehicle of its size.
This brings us to the 3.6L V6 engine. You can expect improvements in several ways: horsepower, torque, and towing power. With the V6, your Blazer will produce 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, which is a 35% increase in horsepower and 4.6% greater torque. Even with the subtle increase in torque output, Blazer models with the V6 can tow a maximum of 4,500 lbs, a 28.5% increase. As we mentioned earlier, fuel efficiency isn’t as viable as the turbocharged engine, but it’s nowhere near bad. The V6 engine gets EPA-estimated ratings of 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive models will still get 19 MPG city and 26 MPG highway. For the extra performance that this engine gives you, it is surprisingly fuel-efficient.
The Ideal Midsize Cabin
We were impressed with the 2022 Blazer’s performance, but what’s performance if the rest of the experience is bland and lackluster? This concern is entirely valid amongst shoppers; however, Chevy’s vehicles often exceed the competition in both comfort and technology. We already mentioned that higher-tier trims offer exceptional leather seats, but even the cloth seats are worth mentioning. Every trim level, including the base 2LT, will include an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The 3LT onwards will include a 6-way power-adjustable seat for the front-row passenger. Higher-tier trims also allow for an optional Bose audio system, providing premium audio to your cabin, and is an ideal choice for those who pay extra close attention to the sound quality of their music.
Speaking of music, you’ll be accessing your playlists and adjusting volume controls and equalizer settings through the included infotainment center. The Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System is standard with an 8-inch touchscreen. With this system in place, the Blazer comes standard with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is rare for a base model. Regularly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have been included on a wide range of vehicles for years now, but the implementation of its wireless variant is welcomed.
Stepping up to the Premier trim will swap out this system for the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 Plus System, although this upgrade is optional on the 3LT upwards. With the upgraded system, you’ll get a high-definition screen, an integrated navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity for multiple devices at once, and much more. This upgraded variant of the standard tech package is well worth the cost, but the regular Chevrolet Infotainment 3 System is still more admirable than most of its competitors.
Technology isn’t everything, and the experience of sitting inside the vehicle remains the most important part. When you’re sitting inside of the 2022 Blazer, you can not only expect to fit comfortably in your seat, but you’ll have plenty of room for cargo too. Sitting in the front row will give you 39.8 inches of headroom and 41 inches of legroom. In the back, you’ll have a nearly identical amount of space, with the back row offering 38.6 and 39.6 inches of head and legroom. And, of course, your midsize SUV needs to live up to its name by offering a respectable amount of cargo space. Driving with five passengers aboard will mean that you’ll still have 30.5 cubic feet of space, but folding down the back seats will increase this to 64.2 cubic feet, a stark 110% increase.
Setting Future Standards
Chevy is at the forefront of this shift we’re seeing in the automotive industry, where vehicles are beginning to include premium features at a non-premium cost. With this shift, customers are the ones who benefit the most. However, it also results in something else that is nothing but beneficial for the consumer, and that’s competition. It’s not rocket science considering any customer will rightfully purchase a product that gives them more bang for the buck. A vehicle that offers a near-identical feature set for a similar or lower cost will surely sit well with customers.
What Chevy has accomplished is a perfect example of how the market should function. As features that were once considered cutting edge become easier to mass-produce and newer features come into the picture, the older ones should receive a price drop. The automotive industry isn’t the only place this occurs. Take television or phone manufacturers, for example, since older products such as iPhones or 4K televisions have gone down in cost significantly since their inception. In some ways, the automotive industry is even faster moving than your average tech, and by giving drivers features that they have missed out on in the past, but at a reasonable cost, is the true beauty of the 2022 Chevy Blazer. This midsize SUV is one that we gladly recommend.
