Vehicle Spotlight: 2019 Chevy Blazer Goes Suburban, Trading Trails for Pavement

When will automakers learn to stop breaking our hearts? They raise our hopes by raising a dead nameplate, only to slap it on something that bares very little resemblance to what we hold dear. The Chevy Malibu, Dodge Charger, and Mitsubishi Eclipse should have drawn enough backlash over the years for designers to get the picture. Instead, now the 2019 Chevy Blazer has joined the club of resurrected champion models.

Ghosts of their former selves, they sit in suburban driveways and soccer field parking lots, sighing sadly, “I could’ve been a contender. I could’ve been somebody.”

Remembering the Chevy Blazer

Okay, so perhaps we’re being a little overdramatic. After all, by the 1990s, the Blazer was already sporting a very different form and function from original off-road-ready K5 models. And to be completely fair, this new model does look a lot like Chevy simply picked up where it left off over a decade ago. Showing off a few familiar styling cues to remind you of the good ol’ days, but ultimately looking like a sleeker and sportier version of both itself and every other crossover/SUV on the market today.

And there’s the problem. The 2019 Chevy Blazer has gone mainstream. It sold out to rising trends. The Blazer has long been a go-to name in the off-road community, as it was one of the toughest, meanest, boldest trucks around. Even today, you can see grizzled old models roaming the roads, polluting high-school parking lots and blazing backwoods trails.

But this??

We won’t deny it’s a good-looking vehicle. But the decision to bring it back feels hollow—something drawn up by suits in a conference room yammering on about target demographics and ROI. Maybe we’re just stodgy purists who refuse to get with the times, but when given the choice between a boxy, body-on-frame juggernaut or a tall car with an aerodynamic haircut, we’ll take the former.

Every. Damn. Time.

That being said, times are changing. So, let’s unpack the new 2019 Chevy Blazer for what it is—a middle market, middle size SUV crossover, perfect for the middle class.

Meet the 2019 Chevy Blazer

Exterior

First looks don’t lie: the new Blazer gets an updated, aesthetically-pleasing exterior. Borrowing design cues from the sixth-gen Camaro, it looks significantly more aggressive than its competitors, the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. (We gravitate toward the RS trim, which wears a bolder style and custom black mesh grille.) The long and low angular hood is a nice touch, as are the ultra-thin LED daytime running lamps above the standard HID headlights.

Its car-based setup rides on the same wheelbase underpinning the GMC Acadia and Cadillac XT5, affording it smooth on-road handling but underwhelming cargo space.

Which brings us inside.

Interior

Sports car styling continues, with the dashboard looking suspiciously familiar to the 2019 Camaro, though the materials leave a little something to be desired considering the higher price point. (Autoblog points out that lower trim levels are no nicer than compact SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, which cost significantly less with similar appointments. Also, the Premier and RS trims can easily top $50k when added goodies are factored in.)

Tech-wise, the 2019 Chevy Blazer earns some points. All trims come standard with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring the new user-friendly Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, plus Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, four USB ports, and available 4G WiFi and OnStar. A back-up camera is standard as well, though we expected to see some more safety features wrapped in for free. Oddly enough, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking are all add-ons, with that last one only available on trims over $44,000.

Cargo space is lacking when compared to other vehicles in the segment, with 30.5 cu ft behind the rear seats, 64.2 cu ft when folded down. However, the seats fold down completely flat thanks to their clever design and a generous recline is available for sleepy back-row passengers seeking a little more headspace.

Performance

You won’t find a bolstering V-8 under the hood of the 2019 Chevy Blazer, but you won’t necessarily be disappointed. While the standard 193-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder is a little soft for a 3,810-pound vehicle, it handles nicely around town, offering an estimated 22 mpg city/27 mpg highway. If you’re seeking a little more zip and the ability to confidently pass a tractor trailer on the highway, opt for the 308-hp 3.6-liter V-6.

Behind both engines is a GM 9-speed automatic transmission that can be paired with either a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive setup. Though, if you’re seeking the latter you’ll need to upgrade to the V-6. You can also choose the differential gear ratio to ensure the right amount of get-up-and-go.

Drivability is where the model shines most, providing smooth handling and on-pavement performance worthy of a crossover borrowing so heavily from the Camaro. Even the base model whips around corners with a grace old-school Blazers could only dream of.

Pricing

Released early this year, the 2019 Chevy Blazer has already hit dealership lots. Starting price is around $29,000 MSRP, on par with its competitors—although they offer beefier standard powerplants and more cargo space. Six trims are available: L, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, RS, and Premier. As stated, the sporty RS caught our eye with its bolder styling, 20-in wheels, and interior upgrades but at a starting price around $41k, we could nab a 2019 Ford Edge ST with more horsepower, more torque, more safety tech, and more cargo space.

Economic Evolution

All in all, the 2019 Chevy Blazer isn’t a disappointing vehicle. In fact, if it weren’t sharing its name with a revered old school off-roader, we probably wouldn’t be grumbling so much. Clearly, Chevy took the path-more-traveled here, opting to target a market it knows it can hit well. Probably not a bad move, since Jeeps and pick-ups currently dominate late-model representation in the off-road community.

But we can’t help but wonder “What if?”

What if Chevy had honored the glory days with a new Blazer that didn’t immediately kowtow to modern buyer personas? They say those glory days are gone, but we say tell that to the Jeep Wrangler. Or the new Gladiator, debuting to wide eyes and rabid applause. Or how about the new Bronco? A vehicle that enthusiasts have been piecing together from leaked photos, fan renderings, and strategic rumors because they’re that desperate for a little hit of classic SUV styling and off-road performance.

We wish Chevy well on this venture. It’s a legendary badge we want to see succeed for another 100 years. But sometimes you should call a rose by another name. Especially when modern trends dictate it just can’t smell as sweet.