MID-SIZED SPORT UTE DEFIES TEST DRIVER’S EXPECTATIONS
Carolin Adie was surprised by the 2020 Chevy Blazer.
“I was shocked, actually,” the Calgary driver admits. “I figured a Blazer would be kind of bland, but this was definitely far from bland.”
Reintroduced to the Chevrolet line of vehicles in 2019, the Blazer nameplate actually dates back 50 years to 1969, when the automaker first launched a sporty truck-based vehicle to compete with the Ford Bronco. Several iterations followed, some proving extremely popular, but Chevy quit Blazer production in 2005.
The newest five-seat midsized Blazer fits between the larger Traverse and the smaller Equinox in Chevrolet’s current range of SUVS. Taking some of its design cues from the Camaro, the Blazer has a wide stance, plenty of interesting sheet metal and a rather tall beltline.
“A lot of SUVS seem to have a similar body style,” Adie says. “But, the Blazer had lots of character and I loved the wheels on it, they really helped give it a unique look.”
Adie spent time behind the wheel of the 2020 Blazer RS AWD that comes with larger 20-inch rims Chevy calls Dark Android. This particular rig is equipped with a 3.6-litre V6 engine that puts out 308 horsepower through a ninespeed automatic transmission. Depending on the drive mode selected, that can be through just the front wheels or to all four corners.
The base Blazer LS, however, features a 193-hp 2.5-L four-cylinder power plant, with a ninespeed automatic, that puts power to the front wheels only. In other models, a 2.0-L turbocharged four-cylinder is available.
Adie’s RS AWD tester had several options, including the power panoramic sunroof, pearl paint and RS Plus Package that adds niceties such as a Bose premium sound system, memory settings for the driver’s power seat, mirrors and steering column, and ventilated front seats. All in, not including taxes, the SUV cost close to $56,000.
The Blazer didn’t disappoint when Adie slid into the driver’s seat.
“I was wowed by it,” she says. “The dial controls for the heating and cooling system were large and red and they definitely added to the overall sporty look.
“All of the materials seemed to be high-end, and there was nothing plasticky about the interior at all.”
She says it took only seconds to get comfortable in the eightway power adjustable driver’s seat trimmed in leather, while the power tilting and telescoping steering column fitted with a leather-wrapped steering wheel proved intuitive to adjust.
In fact, all of the controls were intuitive to use, Adie says, and the gauge cluster was highly visible.
The centre console, with a long lid to cover the storage bin to the rear, had the gear shift within easy reach, alongside a pair of cupholders.
The power panoramic sunroof added $1,695 to the total, but Adie figures it’s worth it.
“It’s so nice to have all of that extra light in the cabin,” she says.
Adie drove the Blazer to Banff and up the Mount Norquay road. The V6 never struggled, and had plenty of jam to overtake vehicles on the highway. She says the nine-speed automatic transmission was seamless.
The rotary driver mode control knob offers five positions. Tour puts the vehicle in front-wheeldrive mode, Sport improves handling and acceleration and engages all-wheel drive, AWD puts power to all four wheels when traversing slippery surfaces, Tow/haul is for pulling a heavy load, and Off-road is for what GM refers to as off-road recreational driving.
“It rained a lot during my test drive, and sometimes it poured. The traction control was working, and I always felt well connected to the road,” she says.
“On gravel or on pavement, I never had any inkling of not being in control.”
Adie says the Blazer was very quiet in the cabin and the overall ride was smooth.
She appreciated the rear motion-activated power liftgate and said there was plenty of room in the cargo area.
Overall, Adie says she struggled to make any kind of critical comment about the vehicle — and she didn’t want to give it back at the end of the week.
“It was just a little larger than what I would need for my own use, and it might be a little expensive,” she says, “but it was kind of a dream vehicle for me.”