The Chevy Blazer has a long history to back up its name. When it originally debuted and for years to come afterward, the Blazer was designed for rugged off-roading and low-level towing. Somehow, the newer Blazer has switched from a squared, truck-based body style to a Camaro-themed look, yet it still maintains that mid-level towing capacity. While its looks have changed greatly, the 2022 Chevy Blazer still packs power when necessary while balancing capability with sporty aesthetics. If you loved the Chevy Blazer as it once was, you’ll be happy to see how the new Blazer has improved upon its previous versions.
Performance Changes
There’s no way around it; the original K5 Blazer was a gas hog. Those Blazers were known to get as little as 11 MPG. However, the 2022 Chevy Blazer offers great fuel economy, even if you choose the V6 engine option. The Blazer V6 is rated for up to 22 MPG combined, while the standard turbocharged 4-cylinder engine gets up to 25 MPG combined. This means that you’re only sacrificing 2 miles per gallon to get that 4,500-pound towing capacity. The 4-cylinder can still tow up to 1,500 pounds, but the V6 engine is definitely the stronger option.
The RS trim’s sporty steering and suspension match the Blazer’s new sport aesthetic, offering even better handling than the other 2022 Chevy Blazer trims. As far as horsepower ratings go, the 4-cylinder produces up to 228 horses while the V6 pumps out 308 horsepower. Plus, the Blazer offers drive modes, which include All-Wheel Drive, Off-Road Mode, Tow/Haul Mode, Tour Mode (which is made for fuel-efficient driving), and Sport Mode (which works especially well with the RS trim). When you’ve got a specific driving goal in mind, these modes switch up the gears and help you achieve your task.
Overall, the new 2022 Blazer offers a great balance of fuel economy and power, along with technological performance updates, which is something that has greatly improved since the model’s debut.
Aesthetic Changes
Originally, the Chevy Blazer looked like a pickup truck with a canopy on the back. Over time, the Blazer gained a more rounded SUV look, but it still looked simple in its form. While it was more rounded, in the early 2000s it still had the same appeal as the classic Chevy S-10 truck. But now, the 2022 Chevy Blazer has a completely different look. It comes with a wide front grille, a rounded body with side moldings, 18 or 21-inch wheels with available black options, and narrow headlamps.
The best part about the new Blazer’s exterior appeal is that it comes with two-toned options, in addition to two brand-new exterior colors: Blue Glow and Nitro Yellow Metallic. The dual-tone roof option looks much like the new Chevy Trailblazer’s two-toned colors. Chevy’s aesthetic packages will also be available on this model, including the Midnight Edition and Redline Edition.
The Midnight Edition is a blacked-out theme that includes black wheels, a black grille, black accents, and much more. Alternatively, the Redline Edition package is a black and red styled theme. It’s easy to see that the 2022 Chevy Blazer has proven that breaking tradition doesn’t always have to be a bad thing. In fact, in this case, it’s a major improvement.
Safety and Technology Galore
Back in the day, it was a luxury just to have air conditioning in your vehicle. The classic Chevy Blazer was nice for its day, but it didn’t have nearly as many features as the new Blazer has today. Say goodbye to the AM/FM radio and cassette tape combo. The 2022 Chevy Blazer includes a standard infotainment center that gives drivers access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in navigation through an 8-inch touch screen. Not only can you stream music directly from your phone, but you can confidently get to where you’re going. The days of needing an external GPS system are over.
Speaking of music, the Blazer offers an 8-speaker Bose audio system for a top-notch listening experience. Drivers will also get four standard USB ports on the 2022 Blazer, meaning no one will ever have to go without a fully charged cell phone. And one of the main perks to this model is that, unlike many infotainment systems, the Blazer’s runs clean, crisp, and glitch-free. Chevy even throws in a Wi-Fi hotspot option into the infotainment system for young passengers and work-on-the-go drivers.
Driver assistance is a new technology that is becoming more and more common. That’s part of why a new Blazer can keep you much safer than previous Blazer models, especially thanks to the 2022 Chevy Blazer’s standard Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist. It’s easy to drift into the wrong lane accidentally, and with this feature, you’ll not only receive an alert when this happens, but the system will guide you back into the correct lane. Standard Forward Collision Alert and Emergency Braking for both vehicles and pedestrians are also present on the Blazer.
Plus, you can move up in trims to get more driver-assist features like Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. These are handy because they can alert you when a vehicle is coming up beside or behind you, even when you can’t see it yourself.
How About Space and Interior Convenience?
When you opt for a midsize SUV, you know you’re going to get as much cargo room as you’ll really need. But “midsize” isn’t a one size fits all sort of deal. The good news is that the Blazer doesn’t disappoint. Just like the 2021 Blazer, the new 2022 model will include over 64 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are down. Even with passengers, you’ll get over 30 cubic feet for cargo, leaving plenty of space for groceries, suitcases, and the likes. There are five available seats altogether and 107.8 cubic feet of passenger space. This includes 41 inches of legroom in the front.
Convenience wise, you’ll get standard power windows and locks, of course. Drivers can upgrade trims to get heated seating, a heated steering wheel, and adaptive cruise control. There’s an option for remote start as well. Further, the Blazer’s ambient interior lighting not only makes it easier to see at night but also adds a nice aesthetic appeal to the interior. Dual-zone automatic air conditioning allows the driver and passenger to both adjust the temperature according to their preferences, and the 2022 Blazer’s built-in thermostat saves energy. Despite its low price, the 2022 Chevy Blazer comes with plenty of space and several handy convenience features.
Why Choose the Blazer Over Competitors?
The truth is that most competing class models have pros and cons, which typically means one isn’t “better” than the other. It more so depends on feature preferences than anything else. However, when you’re buying a midsize SUV, you likely have safety in mind. When that’s the case, the 2022 Chevy Blazer outperforms its competition. Not only does Chevy offer plenty of great safety features, but all the most important ones are included standard.
In addition to this, the Blazer doubles as one of the safest yet quickest midsize SUVs in its class. Speed doesn’t negate its handy safety features. As long as you’re smart with how you handle the Blazer’s power, you’re good to go. Check out the 2022 Chevy Blazer for yourself to see what we mean.
