Making History Again!
By Charles Donaldson
When I heard that my upcoming test vehicle would be the all-new Chevrolet Blazer, I was truly excited. Once delivered I realized the vast styling difference between its past namesake. The original Blazer was based on a truck platform and styled with boxy lines. The all-new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer crossover design is Camaro inspired with softer, rounder curves and based on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia. It is a modern-day crossover muscle car.
Pricing and Trims
The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer is available in six trim levels: 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, RS and Premier and FWD and AWD. This article focuses on my test vehicle which was the Premier AWD. The prices are as follows: 1LT FWD ($29,995), 2LT FWD ($33,495), 3LT FWD ($38,695), RS FWD ($41,795) and Premier FWD ($43,895). If you add AWD and more powerful 3.6-liter V6 plus, the Sun and Wheels package (2,495) and the Driver Confidence ll package for $2,165 – you will see the Premier price raise up over the $50,000 price mark taking it into the premium luxury market.
What’s new for 2019?
It’s all new except for the name.
Interior Highpoints
The 2019 Blazer interior feels and looks impressive with its Camaro-influenced design elements. The entire dash is detailed with sporty attributes like large air vents including the center vents that double to control the temperature. Chevy designed the Blazer with plenty of passenger and cargo space. It’s second-row seats slide backwards and forwards to increase legroom. The Blazer seats five as there is no third-row seats. The base models come with cloth 6 or 4-way manual adjustment seats while the upper trim levels have leather power 8-way front seats that can be heated and cooled. You can carry a fair amount in Blazer’s 30.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat or lower the second-row seats and magnify your volume to 64.2 cubic feet of cargo space.
Exterior Highlights
The exterior styling of the Blazer is what makes it stand out. The bold and wavy lines flow with grace with the spirit of the sporty Camaro. You quickly notice that the Blazer is shorter and wider than typical SUVs. The front face gets highlighted with the long, thin headlights embedded into the thick front end.
Performance Specs
The front-wheel-drive (FWD) Blazers come standard with the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, while the all-wheel-drive models are equipped with Chevy’s 3.6-liter V6 motor. The 3.6L V6 generates 305 horsepower and 269 pounds of torque with 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway (FWD). The 2.5L I-4 DOHC VVT delivers 193 horses with 188 pound-feet of torque with 22 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. The 4-cylinder engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 9-speed automatic transmission comes with the V6 power plant.
Cool Features:
·
Panoramic tilt-sliding sunroof (available on the Blazer, RS and
Premier models)
·
Multiple USB outlets
·
Cargo Management System with a rail system and cargo fence is
standard on RS and Premier
·
Auto Start-Stop Technology
Safety & Integrity
The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer safety features include air bags: frontal and side-impact for driver and front passenger, knee for driver, and head-curtain for front and rear outboard seating positions. Passenger Sensing System, Standard HD Rear Vision Camera, HD Surround Vision and Rear Camera Mirror are available on trims equipped with the 3.6L V6 engine, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Park Assist are standard on RS and Premier. Available on other trims - Adaptive Cruise Control - Advanced, Following Distance Indicator, Forward Automatic Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning and Safety Alert Seat are available on RS and Premier.
In Summary – The all-new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer offers a new choice for the crossover buyers. A choice with an attractive package including an aggressive design, comfortable and well-organized interior, loaded with techy features, and good fuel economy. Note that the higher-level trims climb into the $40,000 price range and more quickly. With that said, the Blazer is fun, sporty and fresh.
Specifications
2019 Chevrolet Blazer Premier AWD
Base price:
|
$45,600 as
driven: $46,795 (including destination & optional features)
|
Engine:
|
3.6L DOHC VVT with direct injection
|
Horsepower:
|
308 hp @ 6700 RPM
|
Torque:
|
270 lb.-ft. @ 5000 RPM
|
Transmission:
|
9-speed automatic
|
Drive:
|
All-Wheel Drive
|
Seating:
|
5-passenger
|
Cargo
space:
|
30.5 to 64.2 cubic feet
|
Curb
weight:
|
4,246 pounds
|
EPA
mileage:
|
City 18/Hwy 25 MPG
|
Fuel Capacity:
|
18 gallons
|
Turning Radius:
|
19.35
|
Wheelbase:
|
112.7 inches
|
Warranty:
|
3 years/36,000-miles
|
Also consider:
|
Ford Edge, GMC
Acadia, Hyundai Santa Fe, Honda Passport, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Nissan Murano
|
