10 Things You Need to Know About the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer

2019 Chevrolet Blazer front three quarter driving ・ Photo by General Motors

The Chevrolet Blazer is back as an all-new SUV after being discontinued over a decade ago. The name might be the same, but this is far from the same old Blazer. This is a Blazer designed for today with a fresh, new look and the features buyers crave.

Available in a range of six trims, the Blazer offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a more modest SUV or something that’s powerful and fun to drive, there’s a Blazer that’s just right for you. Here are 10 things you need to know about the all-new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer.

1. Inspiration comes from the Corvette and Camaro.

Although Chevrolet offers a wide range of crossovers and SUVs, that’s not where designers looked when they started working on the all-new Blazer. Instead, they took inspiration from the brand's performance vehicles like the Corvette and Camaro.

There are lots of SUVs, but not all of them are fun and not all of them are stylish. Chevrolet aimed to make the Blazer a sporty offering both in terms of its aggressive appearance and its choice of available engines. Particularly in the RS trim, the Chevrolet Blazer is an SUV that lets you have a little fun and enjoy hauling the kids to soccer practice.

Photo by Chevrolet

2. It’s available in three “personalities.”

The Chevrolet Blazer is available in six trim levels, but Chevrolet thinks of the Blazer as having three distinct personalities across that range. Rather than just adding features as you move through the lineup, each personality is designed to appeal to a different type of buyer.

The base L starts at $29,995 with cloth seats, front-wheel drive, and a smaller engine followed by the Blazer trims, which start at $33,495. Those are for the more frugal buyer. Just past the midrange, the RS adds sporty accents, power seats, and a more powerful engine for $41,795. At the top is the Premier with a luxury vibe that includes Bose audio and heated and ventilated seats at $43,895.

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3. There are two engine options, depending on the trim you choose.

There are two engine options for the Chevrolet Blazer, but your choice is limited by the trim. On the base model, you can only get the 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 193 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque. One step up to the Blazer trim and you have the option for a 3.6-liter V6 with 308 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque.

If you want the smaller, more fuel-efficient engine, then you’re limited to only the two base trims. The good news is those who want the more powerful engine don’t have to go all the way to the top. It’s available as an option on the Blazer trim level and standard on the top RS and Premier.

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4. Fuel economy is middle-of-the-road.

Fuel economy in the Blazer is about average for vehicles in the mid-size crossover segment. You’ll do best with the smaller four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive with an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined. Choose the more powerful V6 and the numbers dip to 20 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined.

All-wheel drive knocks fuel economy down a bit further. Only available with the more powerful engine, you’ll get an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. It’s a tradeoff between fuel economy and capability, but one that’s worth it if you live where the snow flies.

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5. The comfortable seats are perfect for long trips.

A large part of the appeal for SUVs and crossovers is the extra room they offer passengers. While you’ll find seating for five passengers in many two-row vehicles, some have a few tricks that make them better than others when it comes to passenger comfort. The Blazer offers several key features to make it more comfortable, especially on longer road trips.

First, the rear seats recline slightly, which is ideal when you’re spending hours on the road. Second, they move forward and back, so passengers can have more room to spread out. This is especially nice for anyone with longer legs who might otherwise find the typical two-row SUV cramped.

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6. Infotainment is fully featured across the lineup.

Going with the base trim of many vehicles often means going with a meager infotainment system. Features are often limited, and screen sizes can get annoyingly small.

The Blazer takes a different approach. It comes with Chevrolet Infotainment 3 with a standard 8-inch touchscreen across the lineup, so you never have to struggle with a too-small screen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity all come standard. While top trims get additional USB ports, navigation, and Bose audio, simply because you went with a less expensive trim doesn’t mean you don’t get a solid infotainment system.

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7. Unique safety features are standard even on the base trim.

The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer has a solid suite of standard and available safety features including two unique features with special appeal to families. Helping make sure nothing and no one is left behind is Rear Seat Reminder. It activates any time the rear doors are opened and closed up to 10 minutes before the engine is started or whenever the engine is on. Once the engine is turned off, it sounds a chime and displays a message to remind the driver to check the rear seats.

There’s also Teen Driver, which lets parents customize select vehicle settings to encourage safe driving. Additionally, it lets parents monitor how their teens drive to help educate them toward better habits.

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8. Selectable drive modes let you tailor your Blazer to road conditions.

If you’re looking for an SUV that can handle a variety of road conditions, then the Blazer has you covered. Models equipped with the base engine are only available with front-wheel drive, but those with the 3.6-liter V6 have the option for all-wheel drive. The top RS and Premier get a more advanced all-wheel drive system that can direct power to each individual wheel, rather than sending power to only both rear wheels at once.

Even without all-wheel drive, there are selectable drive modes to improve handling in all conditions. Choose from normal, snow, and sport in front-wheel drive models. All-wheel drive models get an expanded range of choices including touring, normal, sport, off-road, and tow-haul.

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9. There’s a new flexible cargo management system.

When it’s not people, but cargo, then you need a way to store everything neatly. While large objects can simply slide in through the back — a task made easier thanks to fold-flat rear seats — it's not always so easy when you have smaller things. As neat as you may be when you load everything, a short stop or twisting road can leave it all a jumble by the time you reach your destination.

The Chevrolet Blazer has a new cargo management system that’s standard on the RS and Premier trims. It uses a rail system and a cargo fence to partition the cargo area, making it easier to stow smaller items securely.

Photo by Chevrolet

10. If there’s not enough room for all your cargo inside, then hook up a trailer.

The Blazer has a roomy interior with 30.5 cubic feet for cargo behind the rear seats and 64.2 cubic feet behind the front seats. While that’s great, sometimes you need a bit more room, especially when you have a full load of passengers and all their luggage.

That’s when you need an SUV that can tow, and the Blazer is up to the task. It can tow up to 4,500 pounds when equipped with the 3.6-liter engine, all-wheel drive, and the trailering package. This makes the Blazer a great choice with the flexibility to carry people, cargo, or both depending on your needs.

Photo by General Motors