Rumors of a new Blazer being in the works have been
confirmed with the debut of the 2019 Chevy Blazer today in Atlanta. Unlike the old body-on-frame Blazer that last graced Chevrolet showrooms during
the 2005 model year, the new model is built on a unibody structure shared with
the GMC Acadia.
News of the unibody will likely disappoint some fans
of the previous Blazer models, but the migration to the more complaint
foundation from a full frame is hardly new among SUVs. The Ford Explorer and
Nissan Pathfinder have previously made the switch.
Instead of offering rugged off-road capabilities
like the Jeep Wrangler, the new Blazer will instead cater to customers looking
for a stylish and versatile five-passenger crossover SUV, which slots between
the relatively bland-looking Equinox and three-row Traverse in the Chevrolet
lineup. To make more of a visual statement, Blazer designers looked to the
Camaro for a little inspiration giving the SUV a wide stance, tall hood, big
grille and skinny headlights up front. A high beltline runs along the sides
that lead back to the strong rear haunches.
For base-level Blazers, 18-inch wheels will be
standard with 20-inchers available. The sporty RS and range-topping Premier
will ride on 20-inch wheels or optional 21-inchers. Sleeker and meaner looks on
the RS come courtesy of blacked-out exterior accents, while the Premier wears a
tasteful amount of chrome for a more premium appearance.
The Camaro design cues continue in the cabin with a
center stack that borrows heavily from the sports car with familiar climate
controls for the dual-zone system and round air vents. Depending on trim level,
different accent bits and colors will dress the interior with the RS getting
red touches and the Premier offering two-tone seats with accented piping and
galvanized chrome trim.
Other cabin features include a leather-wrapped
steering wheel, sliding rear seat, optional panoramic roof and hands-free power
liftgate. When it comes to carrying stuff, the offers 64.2 cubic-feet of cargo
space with the backseats folded down.
The latest Chevy MyLink system handles
infotainment with an 8-inch touchscreen, Bose audio, 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and
both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. There's no shortage of smart
device charge options, either, with entry-level Blazers featuring four USB
outlets, while RS and Premier get six USB ports and come standard with a
wireless charging pad. Available safety technologies include adaptive cruise
control and rear camera mirror.
Two engines will be offered with a 2.5-liter
four-cylinder producing 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque serving as
the base engine. Those looking for additional grunt can spring for a 3.6-liter
V6 with 305 horses and 269 pound-feet that offers an estimated tow capacity of
4,500 pounds. Both engines work with a 9-speed automatic transmission in front-
or all-wheel drive configurations.
The new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer will go on sale in
early 2019 to battle it out with the likes of the Ford Edge, Jeep Grand
Cherokee and Nissan Murano. No official pricing details are available yet, but
a base price tag in the low US$ 30,000-range similar to its competitors seems like
a good bet.
