The 2019 Chevrolet BlazerOpens a New Window. sees the return of an iconic name for the brand's

 newest crossover, but something seems to be missing. Unlike the upcoming 

Ford BroncoOpens a New Window. or the Jeep GladiatorOpens a New Window., the BlazerOpens a New Window.isn't a rugged, off-road capable

vehicle, but instead a sportier, slightly smaller version of the Chevy TraverseOpens a New Window..

With room for only five passengers, the Blazer looks to take on smaller crossovers

like the Ford EdgeOpens a New Window. and the Hyundai Santa FeOpens a New Window., as well as the Nissan MuranoOpens a New Window. and

to some degree, the Jeep Grand CherokeeOpens a New Window.. To its credit, the new Blazer is an

attractive vehicle with loads of features and two engine options: a 193-horsepower

2.5-liter 4-cylinder or a 308-hp 3.6-liter V6. Slightly larger than the current 

Chevrolet EquinoxOpens a New Window., but not as long as the Traverse, the Blazer sets up camp in the

 middle ground between the two, offering consumers a sporty, midsize SUV with

plenty of room for all their stuff. On the flip side, a trailer tow rating of 1,500 pounds

for the front-wheel drive models isn't going to impress many, although that figure

 jumps to 4,500 pounds when equipped with all-wheel drive and the V6 engine.

We also are not impressed that, unlike most rivals, the Blazer's driver assists

(think automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control) are options

only offered on the most expensive trims.

What's New for 2019?

The Blazer is all-new for 2019. Sharing a platform with the Cadillac XT5Opens a New Window. and the

 GMC AcadiaOpens a New Window., the Blazer offers buyers a sporty, 5-passenger crossover with

 more presences and features than the smaller Equinox, and a more sinister

 look than the family-sized Traverse. See the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer models for sale near you

What We Like

·         Camaro like good looks

·         Sporty driving attitude

·         Powerful V6 engine

·         Plenty of cool options

·         4,500-lb tow rating when properly equipped

·          

What We Don't

·         Optional driver-assist systems only offered on most expensive trims

·         Uncompetitive pricing

·         1,500-lb tow rating for FWD models

·         Lots of black plastic inside the cabin

How Much?

$29,995-$54,000

Fuel Economy

 

The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer offers a choice of two engines. Base models with

 the 193-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder are FWD only. This engine earns an

EPA estimated 22 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Optional is a 308-hp 3.6-liter V6. Fuel economy for this engine is rated at 20

mpg city/26 mpg hwy with FWD, and 18 mpg city/25 mpg hwy when equipped

with AWD. There are two part-time AWD systems that activate only when

 wheel slippage is detected. RS and Premier trims get a more advanced, 

twin-clutch setup that can shuttle power to the outside rear wheel helping

 improve cornering. All models employ a 9-speed automatic transmission.

Standard Features & Options

 

The Chevrolet Blazer comes in five trims: L, L Blazer Cloth, L Blazer Leather,

RS and Premier. The L trim comes only with the 2.5-liter engine, the Cloth

and Leather offer the option of AWD and a V6 engine, while the RS and

Premier come standard with the V6 and offer the option of all-wheel drive.

The Blazer L ($29,995) comes standard with power windows and door locks, 

dual-zone automatic climate control, 18-in alloy wheels, cloth seats, hill start

 assist, an electronic parking brake, an 8-in color touchscreen with a rear

backup camera, 6-speaker audio with Bluetooth audio streaming, Apple CarPlay 

and Android Auto as well as 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot and OnStar. Also standard

 are two USB charging ports (one type-A and one type-C), cruise control, a

 tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, heated outside power mirrors, keyless

entry with push-button start, a spare tire inflator kit, HID headlights with

 auto on/off and seven airbags.

The Blazer L Cloth ($33,495, FWD) ($37,195, AWD) adds an 8-way power

driver's seat, a 4.2-inch color driver information center, 18-in compact spare tire,

 rear privacy glass, driver and front passenger illuminated vanity mirrors and

 SiriusXM satellite radio. A V6 engine is optional.

The Blazer L Leather ($38,695, FWD) ($41,395, AWD) adds the V6 engine,

 leather seating, heated front seats, a 6-way power passenger seat, blind

spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert, rear park assist

and a power lift gate.

The Blazer RS ($41,795, FWD) ($44,695, AWD) adds unique black exterior

accents, 20-in alloy wheels, black leather seating with Alcantara inserts, gesture

power lift gate, navigation, a 120-volt outlet, an 8-in diagonal color driver

information display and a heated steering wheel.

The Blazer Premier ($43,895, FWD) ($46,795, AWD) adds chrome

horizontal grille slats, unique 20-in wheels, Bose audio, heated and ventilated

 front seats, heated rear seats and a power adjustable steering column with

 memory settings.

Most options are bundled into packages and vary by trim. The Blazer Cloth

offers the Convenience and Driver Confidence package that adds heated front

 seats, remote start, a programmable power lift gate, roof rails, lane change alert

 with blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist and auto

dimming heated side mirrors.

The Blazer Leather offers the Sun and Wheels package that adds a panoramic

power sunroof and 20-in wheels.

The RS and Premier are the only trims to offer the advanced Driver Confidence II

 package that includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking,

 lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, auto high beams, rear camera

 mirror, a wireless charging pad, a surround vision camera and the safety alert seat.

Safety

 

The Chevrolet Blazer comes standard with seven airbags, electronic traction and 

stability control, a rear backup camera and a tire pressure monitor. Additional

safety equipment varies by trim and includes blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision

warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, rear cross traffic

alert, lane change and lane-keeping assist.

As of the writing of this review, neither the government nor the independentInsurance Institute for Highway Safety has crash tested the 2019 Blazer.

Behind the Wheel

 

When powered by the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, the Blazer feels adequate, but not spectacular. It can accelerate and pass, but it doesn't do either with any sense of urgency. The situation doesn't get much better with four passengers onboard. Overall, the Blazer L has a fairly smooth ride, responsive steering and a quiet cabin.

 Body roll in the corners is minimal, comparable we'd say to that of the Ford Edge and the Nissan Murano. The 4-cylinder can feel a bit jumpy at low speeds, making it difficult to get a smooth start from a standing stop. We also noticed the 9-speed transmission was slow to shift at times.

Move up to the V6, and it's a whole different story. The 308-hp engine fulfills the promise made by the Blazer sleek sheet metal, and when teamed with the torque vectoring AWD system, increasing towing from 1,500 pounds to 4,500 pounds

(requires optional tow package). Assisting with the drive is a mode selector thatadjust steering, shift points and throttle response to one of three settings: SportTow and Off-road. We like the V6 in the L Cloth and L Leather, and think this isthe best choice for comfort, power and value. While the RS is clearly aimed at the enthusiast driver, it's stiffer suspension and big wheel and tire combo produce a rather stiff, sometimes jarring ride.