DRIVER’S JOURNAL
Day 1: My first impression was just how much I liked the look of the Blazer. I was excited to get in and see if the interior was as nice. (I’m happy to report it is.) With a few adjustments, I was in a totally comfortable driving position. I immediately liked the feel, sound and how it handled. This is a premium vehicle and it felt very much like a luxury brand. The fit and finishes were upscale, and I loved how everything was laid out. We went to The Saskatoon Farm (sorry about the mud), easily fit a host of plants and two Larch trees in it and headed off antique shopping in Okotoks, just outside Calgary. Found the back seats huge, with a lot of leg room. When it was raining, the traction control automatically came on and the rain-sensing wipers were a bonus. Everything fit me perfectly. The centre console and the door armrest were sized and cushioned for comfort.
Day 2: Another rainy day, so headed off to several local markets. The adjustable cargo rail kept our purchases in place. It handled very well on the slick roads and through the big puddles.
Day 3: Road trip! Off to Banff for the day. Up to the Tunnel Mountain Hoodoos, Mount Norquay (the six-kilometre windy road up was really fun to drive), Vermilion Lakes, Bow Falls and into the townsite. It handled fantastic; it has limited cabin noise, is super comfortable and has a lot of power. It definitely turns some heads. It was a warm, sunny day, so we got to try out the ventilated seats and the air conditioning. No complaints here. The 360-degree camera was great when navigating the parking, too.
Day 4: Just a quick drive up Deerfoot Trail today. Used the built-in 4G Wi-fi and wireless charging, which worked seamlessly. I find navigating the touch screen and knob easy and intuitive. All of the safety features are appreciated and reassuring (including the attention-getting vibrating seat notification, which at first was a little shocking). Enjoyed having the panoramic sunroof open today.
Day 5: Another nice sunny day and Bragg Creek was calling. Parked among all the other SUVS, and it really stands out. I wish the sun visor had an extension piece on it. I still love the big round vents because they are so easy to adjust both the temperature and the fan speed and you don’t even have to take your eyes off the road. Yet again, I caught people stopping and walking around the Blazer to get a better look at it.
Day 6: I couldn’t resist another trip up Stoney Trail. I tried out all the driver-mode options again, however I drove in 2WD (Tour) 99 per cent of the time. Despite the V6 engine, I didn’t find the fuel consumption too bad. It has a nice big gas tank, which is great for road trips. I appreciate it takes regular fuel.
Day 7: Today was the (sad) day I had to hand back the keys. My overall opinion is I love this vehicle. I loved driving it and have to admit I did find myself staring out the window at it … a lot! It really changed my opinion of Chevrolet. I am looking for a new vehicle, and if I had a family and needed the space, this would be a vehicle I’d consider buying.