2019 Chevrolet Blazer Pre-Review Pros And Cons

The Chevy Blazer is making a comeback and SUV lovers have taken notice. GM’s done an incredible job marketing it and everyone is curious.

Chevrolet dealers and truck lovers are hungry for this new Chevrolet Blazer. On paper and in the steel and plastic, it’s got everything going for it. GM’s wisely invested in marketing the RS version especially and the impact of this decision is clear. As we wait to drive, let’s look at a few pre-review 2019 Chevrolet Blazer pros and cons.

Although there are dozens of all-new or recently updated SUVs on offer right now, the Blazer continues to spark interest. The combination of the name, which for many sparks images of ladder frames and true truckn-ess, and the sporty red RS are making it out to be something better than the sum of its parts.

Let’s look a little deeper into what makes the Blazer so blazing hot with our pre-review pros and cons. We’ll be heading out to test the Blazer in a few weeks, but until then this is our original take.

2019 Chevrolet Blazer Pros

• I think we’ve made it clear that styling is a huge plus for the new 2019 Chevy Blazer. On the Red Hot $42,000 RS trim, the polarizing, sometimes questionable, Chevrolet Camaro front fascia actually works. In fact, it’s best on the Blazer, not great on the Camaro and a mild fail on the new 2019 Silverado.
• The available 308-horsepower 3.6-litre V6, available as an option from the basic L model consumes scarcely more fuel than the standard 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine and can tow up to 4,500 lbs.
• Unlike a few of its competitors, the Chevy Blazer can be purchased with a colour paint scheme, like red or blue. This may sound trivial but, in some cases, buyers need to spend nearly $50,000 before they can get red.

2019 Chevrolet Blazer Cons

• Truth be told, about that front grille; it does not sit well on the non-RS trucks. The clash between the overly-aggressive frown and the rather regular-looking standard 18-inch wheels is off. Picture Darth Vader wearing Wrangler jeans…
• With 864 liters of cargo space, the Blazer doesn’t have the same capacity as many of its mid-size SUVs.
• The name, although it conjures up all of the aforementioned nostalgia, is more a marketing ploy than anything else. This truck is a twin to the GMC Acadia which means it’s not a Jeep Cherokee or Grand Cherokee fighter.
• For some very strange reason, GM has opted to endow the majority of its SUVs with a switchable AWD system meaning it needs to be “turned on” in order to activate. Why they’ve simply not made it an “intelligent” AWD get-up that sends power to the rear at all times without driver intervention is beyond us. Essentially, set it to AWD and forget it.

What We Think Will Happen When We Drive It

Seriously, we like what we see about the Blazer. That said, there’s some tough competition out there, namely the 2019 Honda Passport. And maybe the Jeep Grand Cherokee if in part because FCA will make you a massively fat deal on one for simply visiting their website. Then there’s the Ford Edge and the Nissan Murano.

We’re hoping we will be getting a mid-sized, five-seat SUV with an edge. Something that’s fun to drive, solid, tight in the corners and connected to the road. We don’t expect much from the base engine, but the V6 with over 300 horsepower should and needs to prove potent and responsive. We’re hoping we will be driving a truck with some gumption.

We’ll let you know how we really feel after some wheel time.

2019 Chevrolet Blazer Photo Gallery