While vehicles associated with the name Blazer have been around for decades, the Blazer as we know it today didn’t come out until 2019 after a brief hiatus. Chevy began producing the Blazer to provide a versatile and reliable mid-size SUV that builds upon the foundation left by vehicles such as the Chevy K5 Blazer many years prior. While many drivers are likely to recognize the Blazer moniker, the last vehicle to host its name was the S-10 Blazer, a lineup placed on indefinite hiatus in the mid-2000s. Ultimately, this new Blazer lineup had plenty to live up to and was met with critical acclaim as it met the expectations of many loyal SUV drivers. Over the next few years, the lineup would continue to improve, and with the 2021 Chevy Blazer, it’s the best one yet.
Ever since the lineup was reintroduced in 2019, the arrangement of trims has remained identical. Starting with the base model, the L starts at an MSRP of $28,800. Don’t be fooled by its base-trim status as you’ll be getting an impressive set of features for the price. Among these features are 18-inch wheels, smooth 9-speed transmission, and a prosperous infotainment center.
The next three trims are named 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT, each one improving upon the last. 2LT and 3LT share the same engine, but you’ll find the interior on the latter much classier. 1LT and L share various similarities, but you’ll find a far more customizable experience on the 1LT, especially regarding available safety features. Sharing the higher-end of the lineup, RS and Premier are the two trims that deserve your attention. Both models contain an engine that’s far stronger than the previous offerings, along with a vicious looking exterior. Combine this trim with its available 21-inch wheels, and you’ve got yourself one of the best looking mid-size SUVs around.
How’s the Performance?
When the Blazer was first reintroduced into the market, two possible engines could be paired with it. The 2021 Blazer also allows you to select your drive mode while on-the-road with options such as Tour, Tow/Haul, Sport Mode, Off-Road, and AWD when applicable. As previously mentioned, every engine comes paired with the same 9-speed automatic transmission. The first of these two engines is a 2.5L 4-Cylinder that produces 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque, with ample fuel efficiency ratings. This engine gets EPA-estimated ratings of 21 MPG city and 27 MPG highway, which are terrific ratings for its class. You’ll find this engine as the base offering for both L and 1LT trims.
Coming standard on 2LT and 3LT is the turbocharged 2.0L 4-Cylinder engine that wasn’t introduced into the lineup until 2020. With this engine equipped, you’ll be getting 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque along with slightly better EPA-estimated ratings than the previous engine. Both city and highway travel is improved upon with this engine as it gets fuel efficiency ratings of 22 MPG city and 29 MPG highway. However, if your 2021 Blazer comes with an AWD configuration, the highway MPG ratings are decreased from 29 to 27.
Should you be looking for the very best performance the 2021 Blazer can offer, the last engine is for you. This is a 3.6L V6 that has been part of the lineup since 2019, along with the aforementioned 2.5L 4-Cylinder. With this engine equipped, your Blazer will produce 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. For reference, this is approximately a whopping 59.5% increase to horsepower and a 43.6% increase to torque output than the base engine.
Both RS and Premier come paired with this engine as the standard configuration, granting these two trims the most power out of the lineup. Even if you’re looking to perform some towing, Chevy claims this engine can allow for a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 lbs if combined with a properly equipped Blazer. Regardless of this increased power, EPA-estimated ratings remain impressive with 20 MPG city and 27 MPG highway when paired with FWD. AWD will give you 19 MPG city and 26 MPG highway.
An Interior for Everyone
SUVs are historically known for their spacious interiors when compared to vehicles such as sedans. The 2021 Chevy Blazer not only provides an interior that you’ll find awe-inspiring but comfortable as well. As was the case when the lineup was reintroduced in 2019, the 2021 Blazer seats a maximum of five passengers. However, it manages to do this well and offers plenty of leg and headroom, even for taller passengers with 38.6-inches of rear headroom and 39.6-inches of rear legroom.
Of course, mid-size SUVs are also known for allowing a significant amount of cargo, which makes them perfect for road trips. When you’re looking for the most cargo space out of your Blazer, folding the rear-seats downward will allow for a total of 64.2 cu.ft. This is plenty of space for luggage and even larger types of cargo. If you’re bringing a full house of passengers, you’ll still have 30.5 cu.ft. of cargo space to work with. We commend Chevy for utilizing the Blazer’s form-factor to its fullest potential.
Vehicles in the modern-age are often compared with far more than their general performance. Vehicles nowadays are almost expected to include an infotainment screen of some kind, yet many manufacturers continue to miss the mark. In some cases, infotainment centers are small or larger sized ones reserved for the higher-tier trims that cost more money. However, with the 2021 Blazer, you’ll be getting an 8-inch infotainment center regardless of the trim you purchase. This helps to enhance the Blazer’s general appeal for many drivers in the modern era where everything is becoming increasingly digital.
Along with the infotainment center’s included features, you can opt for an available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Owning a vehicle with a hotspot is becoming increasingly more common and for a good reason as it provides your passengers with a network that’s as fast as it’s safe. Also coming standard alongside the infotainment center is the likes of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and even Amazon Alexa. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, your smartphone and infotainment center work in tandem to provide one intuitive and connected experience.
The Blazer’s Future
Now that the Chevy Blazer is back on the market, it has found a whole new audience while catering to its older fans as well. With all of the latest additions to the Blazer, it can properly compete with other big-name competitors who offer mid-size SUVs as well. Having the Blazer back on the market is an exciting prospect, and we are excited to see where Chevy takes it next.
The 2021 Blazer is an exceptional SUV for its versatility, efficiency, and reliability. You have the opportunity to customize the Blazer to meet your wants and needs. In a sense, it is the full package. Chevy has taken all the necessary steps at revitalizing the Blazer for a whole new generation, and the efforts seemingly have paid off. With the successful reintroduction of the Blazer, many begin to speculate if other manufacturers will follow in their footsteps and bring back models we haven’t seen in a while.
