They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that’s certainly true when it comes to the Chevy Blazer. This SUV was one of the most iconic vehicles of the ’80s and ’90s, with a distinctive chassis, impressive off-road capability, and plenty of room for both cargo and passengers, making it an ideal choice for everyone from growing families to adventurous weekend warriors. The Blazer, and its successor, the Chevy Trailblazer, practically defined the SUV craze of the era, launching no shortage of imitators and changing the public’s perception of just what an SUV could be.
When the Chevy Blazer was reintroduced to the market in 2019, the SUV was almost unrecognizable when compared to its forerunners. The revived Blazer featured an entirely new design, with Chevy jettisoning the body-on-frame approach in favor of unibody or crossover construction. The result was one of the smoothest, most responsive Blazers to date: a fact underscored by the Blazer’s aggressive new styling. Taking design cues from Chevy’s iconic pony car, the Camaro, the new-look Blazer immediately set itself apart in the market and once again pushed the envelope while upping the bar for the rest of the segment. The Blazer has won some early praise from critics and drivers alike, who are drawn to the clever fusion of utility and style that’s the SUV’s hallmark. Before you start combing through online Chevy Blazer sales searches to find the best model for you, read on to learn a little more about the all-new 2023 model and see how Chevy is continually upping its game when it comes to this award-winning midsize SUV.
Dripping in Style
When the Blazer was reimagined as a unibody crossover, it opened up the door for a number of ambitious changes. While the original Blazer and later Trailblazer had made rugged 4×4 performance its niche, the new Blazer took a decidedly different approach. Unibody crossovers have been the prevailing trend in the SUV segment for much of the last decade, so while it’s little surprise that Chevy would fall in line with the rest of the industry to deliver a crossover-based Blazer, most expected another typical midsize offering that traded on the name’s nostalgia value without bringing much of anything new to the table.
To say that Chevy simply bucked these expectations would be an understatement. When the new crossover-ified Blazer made its debut in 2018, the head-turning SUV made an immediate impact thanks to its distinctive styling. While “sport” has long been a vital aspect of the sport utility vehicle concept, the new Blazer kicked it up a notch with an aggressive, flowing exterior that had a decidedly futuristic feel. It’s a bold choice for Chevy, especially when reviving an established model where the go-to approach usually involves sticking to the script laid out by previous iterations while throwing in a few updated details to increase appeal amongst modern drivers.
If the Blazer seems to look familiar, there’s a good reason: the SUV takes more than a few styling cues from Chevy’s legendary pony car, the Chevy Camaro. It all starts at the front, where a curvaceous hood and large, imposing grille evoke the coupe’s sporty nature. In a slightly more subtle nod to its pony car-inspired styling, the Blazer also features LED headlamps that are seamlessly integrated into the front grille, providing all the illumination drivers need while lending the SUV a sleek, almost sinister appearance. The curves and sweeping lines continue throughout the rest of the body, giving the Blazer a one-of-a-kind look that belies the SUV’s impressive performance attributes. Dual chrome exhaust pipes and massive 20-inch, six-spoke machined aluminum wheels wrapped with Michelin Total Performance Primacy Tour A/S tires complete the look while making the rest of the SUV segment seem a lot less sporty in comparison.
These Camaro-inspired design cues are even more pronounced on the high-end RS model, which adds 21-inch wheels, a two-tone roof, and an iconic black grille. Those who really want to go full Dark Night can opt for the Midnight Edition, which sees a black grille bar, gloss black-painted wheels, and black bowtie emblems thrown into the mix. If emphasizing the Blazer’s pony car roots is more your style, the Redline Edition adds arresting red accents along with a blacked-out header bar, grille, mirror caps, and more, along with 20-inch black-painted wheels.
The all-new 2023 Blazer sees a modest facelift four years into its new life, with Chevy revisiting many exterior styling elements as part of the overhaul. The new model will receive redesigned LED headlights and taillights along with a new grille and wheel design that includes 18, 20, and 21-inch options. Chevy has also expanded the Blazer’s color palette with the arrival of hues like Fountain Blue, Sterling Gray Metallic, Copper Bronze Metallic, and Radiant Red Tintcoat. The ubiquity of crossover SUVs makes it difficult for some brands to set themselves apart in a crowded segment, but Chevy has cleverly avoided this pitfall by doubling down on styling when it comes to the new Blazer.
Sporty Performance
Of course, all the styling changes in the world wouldn’t make a lick of difference if the Blazer weren’t up to snuff where it really counts: under the hood. While it might lack the Camaro’s iconic small-block V8, with 455 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque, the Blazer holds its own with a pair of impressive engines that will not disappoint those looking to add a little fun to their everyday driving experience.
Found on the lower LT and 2LT trims, the Blazer’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is fun without being overbearing. The engine’s 228 horsepower is more than enough to move the midsize SUV over the highway at an engaging clip, though with a zero-to-60 time of over eight seconds, it’s not going to win you any impromptu stoplight drag races. The inline-four is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and is the thriftier of the two engines on offer, with an EPA-estimated 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway.
Those looking for a little extra power should check out the 3LT, RS, and Premier trims, which are all available with a spritely 3.6-liter V6. Like the four-cylinder engine, the V6 is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and is available in both all-wheel or front-wheel-drive but delivers an entirely different driving experience that complements the SUV’s athletic styling. With 308 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque under its belt, the V6 Blazer provides the type of acceleration that can inject a little excitement into even the most mundane commute. The larger engine shaves more than two seconds off the zero-to-60 time of the four-cylinder, rocketing drivers up to speed in as little as 6.1 seconds. That’ll come at the cost of fuel economy, which drops to 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway, but it’s a small sacrifice given the potential for fun.
Those sorts of metrics make it clear that the Blazer has the “sport” aspect of the SUV name well under control, but what about utility? The V6 earns high marks in this department with the ability to tow up to 4,500 pounds. The four-cylinder is relatively underpowered in this regard, with a towing capacity of just 1,500 pounds, so any drivers looking to press their Blazer into service to tow, haul or perform any of the brawnier tasks asked of today’s SUVs should probably consider investing in the upgrade.
The sporty RS trim is easily the most fun-to-drive Blazer of the new lot, featuring its own set of custom-tuned suspension dampers and a revised steering ratio that prioritizes handling and responsiveness. That trim also adds a few unique bells and whistles, such as an exclusive all-wheel drive torque vectoring system for the rear axle that will give drivers the confidence to tackle a wide variety of road conditions. The torque vectoring system is able to rotate on its axis, improving stability while cornering and going a long way toward improving performance in snow, rain, and other challenging weather scenarios.
In Every Aspect, the Chevy Blazer Is a Standout
By nearly any metric, the revived Blazer has been a success for Chevy. Grabbing headlines and driving sales with its eccentric design, the new Blazer represents a true evolution over the model that proved so popular in previous decades. With Camaro-inspired styling that can turn heads while hinting at Chevy’s long history in the business, the Blazer is a standout in any parking lot. Chevy has backed up those looks with a powertrain that would make the pony car proud, especially when it comes to the performance-inspired RS model, which adds a ton of upgrades to the SUV’s bag of tricks. The midsize SUV once again proves how adept Chevy is when it comes to responding to contemporary trends while respecting a model’s history, providing the perfect blueprint for any automakers looking to revive some of their most beloved vehicles. For drivers looking to replace their stolid midsize SUV with an exciting new take on the segment, the Chevy Blazer makes a pretty convincing case for itself.
