Auto123 opinions the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer.
Amongst 4×4 die-hards, the unique Chevrolet Blazer is a real icon. Good-condition fashions courting from the late 1960s promote for a veritable fortune lately. And so, as we’ve seen quite a lot of occasions in recent times, the corporate logically requested itself, Why waste robust model recognition? Since final yr Chevrolet has thus introduced again the Blazer title, this time caught on a crossover the corporate has parachuted into its already-well-stocked SUV lineup in between the Equinox and the Traverse.
Predictably, some see the appropriation of the Blazer title as sacrilege; others rejoice on the return of a well-recognized title to a lineup that features not simply huge ‘utes however the tiny Spark and the electrical Bolt as effectively.
See our Comparability of the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe
No matter facet of that individual fence you sit on, whether or not you’re an outraged nostalgist or a curious forward-looker, the Chevy Blazer does really fill a necessity within the automaker’s lineup. It is going to look to siphon off gross sales from the likes of the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Honda Passport, which is likely to be simpler stated than carried out.
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Fortuitously, not like most of its rivals, the brand new Blazer is a reasonably sporty affair, particularly in its RS incarnation, which borrows visible parts from the automaker’s muscle automobile division. That is particularly so in entrance, with the dominant grille and the skinny daytime working lights.
Not the Blazer we as soon as knew
These acquainted with the Blazer of previous will know proper off the bat that the Blazer of recent has completely nothing in frequent with earlier generations – aside from the Chevy badge and the title itself. Not like earlier fashions, this SUV sits not on previous ladder body, however on a unibody structure, the identical one GM already makes use of for the Cadillac XT5, for one. The straightforward incontrovertible fact that the Blazer is supplied with a six-nut hub confirms the connection with the model’s different SUVs.
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The design additionally serves to distinguish the mannequin from them, thoughts you. Whereas previous Blazers had stretched truck-like roofs, the newby takes inspiration from the Camaro to set itself aside from the herd of look-alike SUVs at present available on the market. In truth, stand it subsequent to its rivals and the brand new Blazer seems like a little bit of a nasty boy, particularly the RS. That model sports activities particulars like black exterior parts just like the grille, the headlight housings and the 20-inch wheels. What’s extra, with the white end on my tester, the contrasting impact of the floating roof is properly amplified. Are you able to inform I discovered the Blazer RS to be a looker?
Shades of a sport sedan?
The fact is, in fact, that regardless of its Camaro schnozz the Blazer doesn’t deal with on the highway fairly the identical method because the muscle automobile. Nonetheless, after a number of hours on the highway – which was really a problem what with the Covid-19-caused confinement measures this spring – I felt like I used to be on the wheel of a automobile with sharper driving dynamics than the common mannequin on this section. The stiff chassis, agency suspension and more-responsive steering (on the RS mannequin solely) give it a surprisingly nimble really feel for a utility mannequin.
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What’s extra, the Camaro-inspired dashboard with its giant spherical local weather management vents and the slim fenestration provides the entrance half of the Blazer’s inside the texture of a sports activities automobile. On the wheel, you don’t get the impression you’re driving an SUV, even with the upper floor clearance of the mannequin. In different phrases, the Blazer RS is conscious of interesting to these for whom driving pleasure issues.
A phrase concerning the powertrain, which unsurprisingly is already in broad use throughout the GM lineups of autos. The trusty 3.6L direct-injection, naturally aspirated V6 as soon as once more delivers round 300 horses (308 right here, to be exact), whereas torque maxes out at 270 lb-ft at 5,000 RPM. The one transmission on supply is a 9-speed automated, which has confirmed in broad use itself since its introduction in GM autos.
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The Blazer RS is not any light-weight, actually talking, nevertheless it acquits itself effectively throughout aggressive accelerations. Like different GM SUVs, the Blazer could be pushed in a number of configurations: FWD, AWD, Sport, Off-Street and Towing. I discovered myself gravitating again to Sport, which sharpens the reactions of the V6 by stretching out the gears within the acceptable conditions.
I wouldn’t thoughts in any respect if Chevrolet added a pair of paddle shifters on the again of the steering wheel to additional enliven the driving expertise. Possibly within the near-future? Nonetheless, in Sport mode accelerations are greater than acceptable. It wouldn’t damage the engine to be extra expressive in doing so, the Blazer may then have a extra convincing argument to make to skeptics.
One of many drawbacks of the SUV’S sporty bent is that you would be able to anticipate to pay extra on the pump, particularly in case your driving tends to be aggressive. My common was round 13.0L/100 km, larger than the official Canadian EnerGuide determine. I’d wager that conserving the automobile in FWD mode and taking it straightforward on the gasoline pedal would cut back the distinction between these numbers.
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The final phrase
The massive takeaway for me right here is that the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer constitutes a nice shock, regardless that it’s fairly heavy and provides frankly atrocious rear visibility (although that’s hardly distinctive amongst SUVs that attempt to be sporty). The midsize utility mannequin exhibits potential that I can’t say I beforehand noticed in GM SUVs. I even assume the stiff chassis of this mannequin might deal with and profit from a more-muscular engine. No sense in dreaming, nevertheless, as a result of frankly GM has different fish to fry proper now than to try to win over a handful of efficiency nuts.
Then there’s the double-take-inducing pricing of the RS variant I drove. At $53,768, when the choices are factored in, it’s no discount, and I’d if shopping for the brand new Blazer in all probability go for a much less dressy model. At this value, there are some fairly juicy choices on the market available on the market which may tempt me extra. In truth, assume exhausting sufficient about it, why not simply go for the Chevy Camaro for some actual driving pleasure?
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We like
The muscular look
The sporty really feel
The efficient automated transmission
We like much less
Rear visibility
The asking value (RS model)
No paddle shifters on the steering wheel!
The competitors
Ford Edge
GMC Acadia
Honda Passport
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Nissan Murano
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