- The new Blazer is the sixth member in Chevrolet’s crossover/SUV line-up.
- It brings back the Blazer moniker which was discontinued in 2005.
- The Blazer is positioned between the Equinox and Traverse.
After many spy shot appearances, Chevrolet has officially taken the wraps off the Blazer crossover. The new compact SUV revives the moniker after the iconic Blazer badged SUV was discontinued in 2005. The new Blazer looks like the Camaro on stilts.
The wide-gaping Chevrolet grille dominates the fascia of the Blazer. The headlights are the sleekest one ever seen on a production-ready model. However, there are low-placed HID lights which do duties of normal headlights. Chevrolet is offering two variants of the Blazer, the RS variant gets a blacked-out treatment on the grille with mesh finish while the Premier comes with a horizontally louvred grille. The silhouette is muscular with a floating D-pillar. The rear continues the muscular appeal with a creased tailgate and stylish tail lamps. It sits on 18-inch wheels as standard, upgradable to 21-inches.
The cabin is scrounged directly from the new and updated Equinox. The centre console has a floating touchscreen with a nicely sculpted dashboard. The circular air-con vents are replaced by squared-off units. The two-row five-seater comes with 1,818 litres of cargo space with second-row seats folded down. The Blazer comes with a host of safety devices along with trailer hitch guiding assist. The eight-inch touchscreen runs Chevrolet Infotainment 3 as standard, along with 4G LTE Wi-Fi and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other features include electronic-locking glovebox, wireless charging, six USB ports, a hands-free power liftgate, adaptive cruise control, automatic heated steering wheel and heated/ventilated seats.
Power comes from a 2.5-litre four-cylinder motor producing 193bhp and 255Nm as standard. Customers looking for a more powerful option can have a 3.6-litre V6 with 305bhp and 365Nm. Both engines get a nine-speed automatic transmission sending power to the AWD system. The Blazer will have decent off-roading capabilities as well.
The new Blazer will arrive at the American dealerships in early 2019. Pricing is yet to be announced. It will go up against the Cadillac XT5, Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5 and GMC Acadia.
