Hooniverse Asks: What do you want out of the new Chevy Blazer?

Jeff Glucker

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All this week, I’ve been driving the brand new Chevrolet Blazer. I’ve walked into my time with this vehicle already expecting to dislike it. That’s the wrong way to approach a loan, but it’s hard to block your mind of preconceived notions of what certain cars or trucks should be. Or, at least, what we think they should be.

When I think of the Blazer, I think of two different eras of the older version of the truck. The first brings me back to high school. There was a kid that had an S10 Blazer and it was loaded to the gills with speakers and amps. He would blast music from that thing and, at the time, I thought it was cool as could be. The local cops hated the truck, but good ole Espo’ used to whip that thing all over town, tunes a a blazing.

The second image of a Blazer in my head really should be the first. That’s because it’s the first generation real-deal Blazer introduced way back in 1969. This was the full-size SUV meant to step on the then-tiny Ford Bronco. And for years it did, until Ford upsized its Bronco to compete with the brutish Blazer.

On to today…

Fast forward to 2019, and Chevy has reintroduced the Blazer model name. And it’s stuck it on a mid-size crossover that uses the GMC Acadia platform while wearing a Camaro face mask in a sort of “Hello Clarice” sort of way.

This isn’t the Blazer I imagined when I heard Chevy was reviving the name. Still, it’s a Blazer that probably works pretty damn well for the folks interested in buying it. It’s aggressively styled. The available 308-hp V6 is plenty of power for the average driver. And the interior layout is decently spacious. You need to spend a ton of money for the looks and options that you want though, and that’s going to be a major knock against this thing.

What would you like to have seen Chevy do with its new Blazer? Sound off below. And then look for our video review of the new Blazer in the coming weeks.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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37 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What do you want out of the new Chevy Blazer?”

  1. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    A Blazer SS with the twin turbo V-6 out of the ATS-V (same basic engine) with 4X4. They could make it a GMC version and call it a Typhoon.

    Reply
    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      I was going to ask whether there was a transverse transmission that would take that engine, but they had it in the XTS didn’t they?

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        Yep. The Hydra-Matic 6T80.

        Reply
    2. BigRig Avatar
      BigRig

      And basterdize another reputable name

      Reply
  2. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    What do I want out of the Blazer? Dunno, don’t remember leaving anything in it. *checks pockets*

    Reply
  3. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    Since a proper BOF offroader isn’t happening, and the current Blazer is a fine update for how most buyers of how the ’95+ Blazers got used, I’m just going to propose a removable hardtop as a nice nod to the original K5 Blazers.

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/212306399343c576aa337a420b2ea7445777814118e80b21aee54a0824d8759b.jpg

    Reply
  4. smalleyxb122 Avatar
    smalleyxb122

    It’s not for me, but who is it for? Is this really filling a gap in their CUV portfolio? Is the potential Blazer buyer someone who wouldn’t have purchased an Equinox or a Traverse if the Blazer didn’t exist?

    A 2-door Tahoe would have been the ideal vehicle for the Blazer name. It wouldn’t have sold as well as this thing, but I think this Blazer is just taking sales from other GM models, where a 2-door Tahoe would sell (mostly) in addition to those models.

    I think it’s a pointless vehicle, and it’s a bit of a shame that they decided to call it a Blazer, but I’m sure it’s fine. Just like every other “fine” crossover.

    It’s not for me.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      The Blazer is really just a pricier Equinox with more (as Chevys go) personality. The Traverse is considerably larger, and has a third row. Regardless, the Blazer is just another cookie from a similar cutter on an overloaded oven sheet. There’s no reason to build it other than GM feels that redundancy will lead to sales, but it no longer has Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Saturn to churn out badge-engineered clones.

      Reply
  5. Ross Ballot Avatar
    Ross Ballot

    Aside from the Blazer naming nonsense, is it any good? Does the powertrain in any way/shape/form back up the wannabe-Camaro looks? Is it worth anywhere near its price tag?

    Those are my big questions about the Blazer. To me, not having driven it but having seen a few on the streets (one optioned and in the exact color as your tester and a few rather unfortunate base models) and having sat in it at NYIAS, I’m not sure I see why anyone would buy this over the competitors with exception of die-hard Chevy brand loyalty or being in love with the looks. Neither of which I understand in any capacity.

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      I think it’s going to sell on its looks. People dig the aggressive styling and that should carry them into dealers to take a look. The V6 isn’t bad but it’s not crazy. But the RS does get extra damping, a quicker steering ratio, and torque vectoring out back. It’s not bad, but I can’t stomach the price on my fully loaded tester.

      Reply
      1. Ross Ballot Avatar
        Ross Ballot

        Probably right. People will see it, like it, think “Oh it’s a Chevy, I can afford that,” and then get window-sticker punched in the face when they see how much they cost.

        $50k might not go nearly as far as it did when crossovers were the new thing, but it’s still a ton of coin for what this thing is. Wonder what their target demographic is? People who fondly remember the name but have the cash and lifestyle to own an on-road focused “sporty” crossover?

        Reply
        1. smalleyxb122 Avatar
          smalleyxb122

          It starts at under $30k. $50k checks all of the boxes.

          Reply
          1. Ross Ballot Avatar
            Ross Ballot

            Would be curious to see how many sell at what price. The base model is *not* an appealing proposition, especially considering how much CX-5 you can get for $30k.

  6. Mister Sterling Avatar
    Mister Sterling

    Name aside, I wish it had a little more refinement and off-road capability like the Honda Passport. This segment is huge and diverse. You have quiet cruisers that can go off-road, like the Jeep Cherokee, and you have more regular family SUVs like the Kia Sorento and this Blazer. From what I understand, the Blazer looks sporty, but is also noisy, lacks precise fit and finish and can’t go off-road aside from soft roads (which is fine). People buying this have to love the sporty look, the bowtie and the Blazer name. Otherwise, their ideal vehicle might be the Forester on the small end and the Passport on the large end of the two-row crossover segment.

    Reply
  7. Mister Sterling Avatar
    Mister Sterling

    Name aside, I wish it had a little more refinement and off-road capability like the Honda Passport. This segment is huge and diverse. You have quiet cruisers that can go off-road, like the Jeep Cherokee, and you have more regular family SUVs like the Kia Sorento and this Blazer. From what I understand, the Blazer looks sporty, but is also noisy, lacks precise fit and finish and can’t go off-road aside from soft roads (which is fine). People buying this have to love the sporty look, the bowtie and the Blazer name. Otherwise, their ideal vehicle might be the Forester on the small end and the Passport on the large end of the two-row crossover segment.

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      Fit and finish is actually quite good on the model I’m driving. It’s definitely on-road, sporty driving focused.

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        Yeah, Motor Trend did a brief head-to-head with the Passport vs. the Blazer. It surprised me, but the Blazer won the comparison by being the more powerful, better shifting/handling/riding, and all-around more driver- and passenger-focused vehicle. It even won points for being more stylish, because even polarizing looks beat bland. Personally I think it’s ugly, but you have to admit, it’s way more interesting than the Passport. If I were wanting a 2-row crossover, though, neither of these would top my list. I’d sooner go for the (slightly smaller) CX-5, Forester, or Santa Fe. Fortunately, I don’t want a crossover at all.

        As for fit and finish, I trust Jeff’s opinions and experience, but my personal impressions of GM interiors over the past three decades doesn’t leave me hopeful. The late-model Chevy interiors I’ve seen still look like something you’d see on a toy store shelf.

        Reply
        1. Vairship Avatar
          Vairship

          For $30k I’d go for a Buick Regal TourX instead: better handling, better visibility and likely more room inside.
          For $50k I’d go for a Buick regal TourX, an additional $20k in my 401k and lots of laughing at anyone that buys a Blazer at that price.

          Reply
          1. Zentropy Avatar
            Zentropy

            I wouldn’t put the TourX in the same category as the new Blazer, but I completely agree. Honestly, the TourX is the first GM vehicle I’ve seen in a while that I wouldn’t mind owning. I don’t think there’s a deep enough discount that could tempt me into a Blazer. The styling is nasty, the visibility (those C pillars and low roof!) is poor, and the space utilization is terrible for such a footprint.

        2. salguod Avatar
          salguod

          C&D came to the opposite conclusion. The Blazer was 3rd, the Passport 1st. The liked the dynamics of the Blazer but not the harsh ride or the price. They said the Passport was the best combination of dynamics, value and utility.

          Reply
          1. Zentropy Avatar
            Zentropy

            That doesn’t surprise me. Motor Trend tends to be more performance-biased, whereas C&D is more practical. I find neither vehicle even remotely appealing, but for different reasons.

  8. 0A5599 Avatar
    0A5599

    I remember going to the beach, and there was always a Blazer on 35″ tires cruising the scene with the top removed and a keg iced down in the cargo area. Wave them over and they might top off your cup, reaching over the side.

    This one doesn’t look like a party vehicle.

    Reply
  9. GTXcellent Avatar
    GTXcellent

    Pretty much the OPPOSITE of what Chevy put out:
    Take the all ready existing Colorado (which is easily the best looking truck that GM is making these days) and put a “Blazer” body on it. Pretty simple solution. You’ve got a very off-road capable, body-on-frame SPORT utility vehicle.
    How many cross-overs does GM need? Apparently the answer is none too many.

    Reply
    1. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I don’t think Chevy wanted a BOF SUV, but you’re right, an enclosed Colorado would have perfectly suited the Blazer name (and might have been pretty cool). I think they built what they intended: yet another cookie-cutter car-based crossover. They gave it the name Blazer just to try to spice it up, and in the process are diluting their own product heritage (not unlike how they ruined the Impala name in 2000, or the Malibu name in 1997. or the Monte Carlo name in 1995…).

      Reply
    2. Zentropy Avatar
      Zentropy

      I don’t think Chevy wanted a BOF SUV, but you’re right, an enclosed Colorado would have perfectly suited the Blazer name (and might have been pretty cool). I think they built what they intended: yet another cookie-cutter car-based crossover. They gave it the name Blazer just to try to spice it up, and in the process are diluting their own product heritage (not unlike how they ruined the Impala name in 2000, or the Malibu name in 1997. or the Monte Carlo name in 1995…).

      Reply
      1. GTXcellent Avatar
        GTXcellent

        which is so short-sided. Jeep sold 240,000 Wranglers last year (in 2017 they sold 190,000). Toyota sold 130,000 4Runners in 2017.
        Chevrolet sold 123,000 Traverses (Traversii? Traversesses?) It isn’t that hard to figure out that there is a VERY sizeable amount of customers they do not make a vehicle for.

        Reply
    3. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Of course this does exist in other parts of the world (Trailblazer based on the Colorado) so Zentropy would be right that they didn’t want it.

      Would the Blazer be pretty close to the Edge?
      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1750474b7c58c38b04c25ae5839870730da40a552bf41ccfd9de1789f3ff5220.jpg

      Reply
    4. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      Of course this does exist in other parts of the world (Trailblazer based on the Colorado) so Zentropy would be right that they didn’t want it.

      Would the Blazer be pretty close to the Edge?
      https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1750474b7c58c38b04c25ae5839870730da40a552bf41ccfd9de1789f3ff5220.jpg

      Reply
      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        What the heck? Why do so many cool vehicles originate in the U.S. and then end up available only outside of the country? Outside of muscle cars, what do we have left that’s not outright boring?
        And yeah, I’d say the most direct Ford comparison to the Blazer is the Edge. Two-row, similar dimensions.

        Reply
        1. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          I may be wrong but I think the Colorado was done by GM Brazil and Thailand (and held up/cost cut during the GFC) and later upgraded for the US market. It has had a major upgrade to make it somewhat competitive with Hilux/Ranger/etc in our market too. I think the Trailblazer would have been done in Thailand.

          Reply
          1. Zentropy Avatar
            Zentropy

            Outback, you’re entirely correct, but my statement was unclear. What I meant was that the 1969 Blazer was cool, if not entirely original (being a belated reaction to Ford’s Bronco, which itself was a belated response to the Jeep CJ). Likewise, the compact pickups were good ideas that sold well in the 80s and 90s, and the Explorer sold like hot cakes. Way back, we had El Caminos and Rancheros that made sense for those who needed utility but not outright trucks. The Americans have in the past nailed the market with good vehicles.

            Now, the U.S. has this so-called “Blazer”, essentially a stilted FWD hatchback made in the mold of a Nissan Murano, while a legitimate truck-based Blazer is sold everywhere from Brazil to Russia (but not here). GM and Ford abandoned their true compact pickups in 2005 and 2013 and have only recently brought them back in the U.S. but as mid-sizers, while in other parts of the world compacts like the Chevy Montana are available. For the past decade, our Explorer has been riding on a neutered FWD platform derived from 1990s Volvos, while Asia gets the truck-based Ford Everest (the latest of which is Australian-designed and damned cool). And speaking of Australians, while the coupe utilities aren’t everyone’s cup of tea in America, I think utes could have had a niche following in the U.S. if made available.

            My long rant is only to say that we once had many more options of vehicles sold in the U.S. Now we have the automotive equivalent of a fast-food value menu. For the most part, you can have a S/M/L/XL version of a FWD/AWD pill-shaped crossover with an automatic transmission. Everything is basically the same except for the wrapper/badge. Sedans? Grab one quick, because they’re a dying breed. Pickup? Sure, but only if you like them huge. And our options lists are limited to “packages” designed for manufacturer profit, not customer satisfaction. I once looked forward to the new model year releases, but now the activity has all the appeal of window shopping washing machines or refrigerators. Maybe I’m just old-school (and getting older), but my desirable choices grow more limited by the day.

          2. outback_ute Avatar
            outback_ute

            You are right I was not thinking of the bigger/longer picture. Even amongst what does survive, things tend to converge into sameness.

            Mind you I believe the CUV trend is just as much a return to the original form factor of cars before the whole longer/lower/wider thing was started (by Harley Earl?) as just the latest trend – compare 1930’s cars with higher seating and rooflines.

  10. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    With respect to the target market, I think this vehicle is perfectly typical of the product people are buying right now. It’s completely unoriginal, but it fits the mold, albeit with the expected fit/finish issues and debatable styling we’ve come to expect from GM. In that respect, this is an unsurprising move by Chevrolet. Their mistake was in giving it the Blazer tag, because that name carries the connotation of a completely different vehicle. If they wanted to give it a heritage name, they should have gone with “Nomad”, because this is more of an expanded car than an enclosed truck. Or maybe they could have continued the “-rado” theme of their trucks and called it “Desperado”. Whatever– it’s certainly not what anyone thinks of as a “Blazer”.

    Reply
  11. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    The MSRP seems set to be discounted. It’s within spitting distance of the New Explorer ST or the Lincoln Aviator for that matter.

    The loaded out version seems like it would be a decent vehicle for most everyone’s daily, but at that price, you have tons of options, not sure why this one would be compelling.

    Reply
  12. Victor Avatar
    Victor

    O/T Buick Wildcat >
    https://nmi.craigslist.org/cto/d/harbor-springs-1962-buick-lesabre/6885042135.html

    Reply
  13. ptschett Avatar
    ptschett

    In that price range, if I’m shopping for a 2-row 4-/5-door SUV/CUV my default is the Jeep Grand Cherokee; RWD based, V6 power through most of the Blazer’s price range, V8 power potentially an option in the Jeep at the Blazer’s upper end. For someone on that particular fence, what does the Blazer do better than the GC?

    [*I do happen to work for the FCA-related company that makes the red tractors & butterscotch-colored construction equipment often seen in the background of Ram Truck ads. Opinions are my own, etc.]

    Reply
  14. George Moy Avatar
    George Moy

    I don’t know what kind of power a 4 cynider engine does for a blazer but all I know when it comes to cruising it looks like a person half asleep,it’s moving down the road with very little energy when compared with a Oldsmobile aurora and this just a car

    Reply