2023 Chevrolet Blazer

Pros:

• Exceptional ride quality
• SUVs should be able to turn quickly and easily.
• The infotainment system is user-friendly and attractive all at the same time.
• A powerful V6 engine that can add

Cons:

• Less headroom for people in the back
• Less than the most cargo that some competitors can carry

What is the Blazer’s speed? The Blazer stands out because of how quickly it picks up speed and how well it handles. From 0 to 60 mph, our test Blazer only took 6.6 seconds to speed up. That’s fast for a car in this class and a little shorter than the turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Ford Edge and Honda Passport. The Blazer can turn quickly because it has a controlled body roll.

But only some things are right. Most of the Blazer’s attempts to be athletic are ruined by its slow and heavy steering, which, when combined with its extreme torque steer, makes the steering wheel pull in your hands when you hit the gas. Because the Blazer has a lower ride height than the Jeep Cherokee or Subaru Outback, the available all-wheel drive is better for driving in the rain than for serious off-roading.

How well does the Blazer fit? The Blazer is as comfortable on the road as you’d expect from a new SUV. The ride is steady and controlled but not too bumpy. The front seats have good backs and are comfortable to sit in for a long time. Even though the back seats are pretty flat, they are at a good height and angle.

The Blazer could be quieter. As you drive down the highway, noise from the tires, wind, and road fills the cabin. It would help if you spoke louder to talk to people in the back. It takes a while for the temperature control system to warm up the house and time for the seat heaters to turn on.

How does the inside look? The Blazer is easy to get in and out of, but people taller than 6 feet will need more headroom in the back because the roof slopes down. Only two people can sit across from each other comfortably in the back. Up front, there is more room, and you can adjust the steering wheel and seat differently to fit drivers of all sizes.

The controls are in the wrong place, which is another flaw. Some of the buttons and knobs are awkwardly placed and have strange markings. Like the Camaro sport coupe, the Blazer has poor visibility from the outside, especially behind and over your shoulder. We suggest getting a Blazer with a blind-spot warning system, which is an extra.

How good is the tech? The touchscreen in the Blazer has clear images and is easy to use. Smartphones can use Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the native interface functions fine. Even though it’s not high-end, the Bose system with the car is good enough. Even though the midrange sounds excellent, distortion will happen if you turn the system up too loud.

Voice instructions need a relatively strict way of putting things together, and conversational speech often leads to requests to repeat. The modern driver aids in the Blazer work well.

What about putting things away? Most of its rivals can carry more stuff than the Blazer can. When the back seats are folded down, there are only 64 cubic feet of space, much less than what the Hyundai Santa Fe and Passport offers. The high liftover height of the Blazer makes it hard to load large, heavy items. On the other hand, its innovative cargo rail system can hold things of different lengths and widths.

There needs to be more room for personal things in the cabin. Even though the door pockets are small and not very deep, the center console is big and deep. With all-wheel drive and a V6 engine, a properly set-up Blazer can pull up to 4,500 pounds. This is about average for a midsize crossover SUV.

How well does it use gasoline? Over 1,245 test miles, our Blazer V6 with front-wheel drive averaged 19.5 mpg. The EPA said the combined city/highway mileage would be 22 mpg. This is less than that. But on our planned mixed-driving test route, the Blazer did what we expected, getting 21.1 mpg.

Is it wise to buy the Blazer? The Blazer’s value needs to be clarified compared to other midsize SUVs. It has a pleasant but unremarkable interior, less cargo space than competitors, average driving performance, and an average price for the class. Except for being able to turn sharper, which is a little low on our list of SUV needs, it only does a little better than the others.

But the warranty is good enough. The Blazer comes with a guarantee of three years or 36,000 miles, which is about the same as most competitors offer. It also comes with a powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles. Unlike many competitors, Blazer’s plan includes one free service visit during the first year of ownership. While the powertrain is under warranty, roadside assistance is covered.

The Blazer would be more fun to drive if it drove like the Camaro, which it is based on. Instead, it’s a slightly sporty SUV that can sometimes be more fun to drive than most of its rivals. If you remove the prominent front grille and the unique look of the outside, the Blazer is just a typical midsize SUV. Even in a class where it’s easy to blend in, fashion sense is still important.

We’ve always suggested the base 2LT trim, and we’ll keep doing so for the 2023 model. This year, all frames come with a 10-inch touchscreen as standard, which adds to the value. We suggest adding the Convenience package for features like heated front seats, wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control, and a power liftgate.

Chevrolet Blazer variants:

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer is a midsize crossover with up to five seats and four doors. There are four trim levels, which are 2LT, 3LT, RS, and Premier. All versions come with front-wheel drive by default and can be upgraded to an all-wheel drive. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque powers the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier. On the 3LT and Premier, you can add a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, but it comes standard on the RS.