Blast from the past but in name only

Chevrolet Blazer’s platform based on Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia

EVERYTHING old is new again is a common phrase, which is especially true for the Blazer nameplate.

It has been decades since you saw it attached to a Chevrolet vehicle, but here it is on a five-passenger utility vehicle that’s 8 inches longer than the compact Equinox and 13 inches shorter than the Traverse.

The Blazer, new for the 2019 model year and fleshed out for 2020, is the latest such vehicle in a lineup that ranges from the teeny-tiny Trax to the very-large Suburban. The pintsized Trailblazer (another name from the past) will join the group for the 2021 model year.

The Mexico-built Blazer’s shape is highlighted by a blunted nose, dominant grille and an agglomeration of creases and curves that extend along the sides, gracefully folding into the liftgate.

Clearly, any connection between this Blazer and any Blazers of old extends no further than the name, and that includes the chassis. While the original’s body-on-frame construction was based on that of Chevy’s full-size pickups, the new Blazer’s unitized platform is from the Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia.

The Blazer’s designers created an interior that’s as stylish as the body that surrounds it. Thankfully, the tablet-style touch screen doesn’t perch atop the dashboard but sits more discretely below the driver’s line of sight.

The dashboard also comes with a standard electronically lockable glove box that’s controlled via the key fob.

Second-row seating provides ample legroom for three people, thanks to 5 more inches of distance between the front and rear wheels over the Equinox.

The cargo space behind the split-folding and sliding rear seat can be ordered with a special cargo management system consisting of a removable aluminum “fence.” It can slide fore and aft on rails that lock in place to keep your stuff from rolling around.

The base Blazer comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. Optional is a 3.6-liter V-6 rated at 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet. This is definitely the one to have when towing (up to 4,500 pounds) is a necessity.

For 2020, the Blazer can be optioned with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that puts out 230

Dodge Durango horsepower and 258 pound-feet.

A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard for all engines.

For best-case fuel economy, the turbo four-cylinder is rated at 21 mpg in city driving, 28 on the highway and 24 combined.

Front-wheel-drive is standard for the base four-cylinder while allwheel-drive can be fitted to the V-6 and turbo models. When the system is not needed, it decouples the rear axle, which helps save fuel.

Note, however, that top-level RS

Chevrolet Lovely to look at from just about any angle, the Blazer also has 5-plus inches more space between the front and rear wheels than the Equinox. All-wheel-drive is optional, but only for V-6 models. Order a four-cylinder and you get front-wheel-drive.

Whether you think Chevrolet really needs yet another utility vehicle, the benefit of the Blazer is up-to-date styling and technology. Note that the Blazer neatly slots between the smaller Equinox and the larger Traverse. Optional cargo bars slide along tracks to contain your various belongings. You could also use rope, cords and bungee straps to secure items to the rails.