the 2019 chevrolet blazer has burst upon the crossover suv scene, adding a new five-passenger, two-row utility vehicle to the fray aimed at style-conscious buyers looking for a little more sport than utility. meant to counter the nissan murano, ford edge, hyundai santa fe and reborn honda passport, the blazer and it's $29,995 starting price (including destination) is banking on good looks, a solid ride and handling, comfortable interior and up-to-date technology to steal some buyers away from those traditional choices. the blazer is larger and priced higher than the chevrolet equinox, overlapping the even larger chevrolet traverse more than anything.
the blazer spans more than $20,000 worth of content from the base model to the loaded ones. we had a look at the various trims of the blazer and what you can get for the money. all blazers have standard front-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is optional only on v-6 versions, and the cost to add it varies by trim level. the least expensive awd blazer requires the v-6 and is priced at $37,195 - nearly $5,000 more than the least expensive nissan murano or ford edge with awd. here's a real kicker: the hyundai santa fe offers an awd four-cylinder version for less money than the least expensive blazer of any kind.
the blazer is otherwise priced similarly to the murano, edge and santa fe when you consider the range in which it operates, but the equipment list looks very different across competitors. for instance, want automatic emergency braking, a modern safety feature that's becoming standard in a lot of new vehicles? it's standard on the edge and santa fe, both starting at less than $30,000; the murano has it as standard for just about $32,000. if you want it on the blazer, however, you have to pony up for either the rs or premier trim levels and then select it in a package, so the cheapest blazer with automatic emergency braking is a $45,370 fwd rs. that's nearly $15,000 more than the least expensive edge or santa fe with this technology.
if that hasn't put you off looking at the new blazer's pricing, here's your guide to the various kinds of blazer:
blazer l standard features ($29,995):
- 2.5-liter four-cylinder (193 horsepower, 188 pounds-feet of torque)
- nine-speed automatic transmission
- front-wheel drive
- 18-inch aluminum wheels
- 8-inch radio screen, 4.2-inch driver information center, two usb ports
- automatic dual-zone climate control
- cloth seats
- passive keyless entry with push-button start
- cruise control
- high-intensity-discharge headlamps, led daytime running lights
- leather-wrapped steering wheel & shift knob
- apple carplay and android auto
- 4g lte wi-fi
blazer 2.5l cloth ($33,495) adds:
- siriusxm satellite radio
- eight-way power driver's seat
- rear privacy glass
- body-colored mirrors
- illuminated vanity mirror
the four-cylinder blazers come decently equipped with just about everything you'll need in day-to-day use (except for advanced electronic safety features). the cloth seats are cushy and comfortable, there's plenty of space, and the four-cylinder used engine is peppy and quick. the lighter weight of the four-cylinder blazers (almost 400 pounds lighter than a loaded v-6 version) means it handles differently, with a more agile, nimble feeling. apple carplay and android auto are standard equipment, as is an 8-inch central touchscreen and dual-zone climate control.
blazer v-6 cloth ($34,495) adds:
- 3.6-liter v-6 used engine (308 hp, 270 pounds-feet of torque)
- compact spare tire
blazer v-6 leather ($38,695) adds:
- leather-appointed seats
- heated front seats
- six-way power passenger seat
- auto-dimming exterior mirrors
- power liftgate
- black roof rails
- remote start
- blind spot warning and lane change alert
- rear cross-traffic alert
- rear park assist
- universal garage door opener
add the v-6 and you'll get a more powerful used engine that changes the character of the suv. but if you want more amenities, you can either add a convenience and driver confidence package to the v-6 cloth or step up to the v-6 leather trim. all-wheel drive is a $2,700 option on the blazer v-6 cloth and leather regardless of interior material choice.
blazer rs ($41,795) adds:
- 20-inch rs wheels
- navigation
- 8-inch driver information center gauges
- perforated-leather-appointed seats with rs accents
- usb port with sd slot in center console
- heated steering wheel
- 110-volt outlet
- ambient lighting
- unique grille and exterior accents
- gesture-controlled power liftgate
- rear cargo management system
blazer premier ($43,895) adds to blazer v-6 leather:
- 20-inch premier wheels
- 8-inch driver information center gauges
- bose premium eight-speaker audio system with subwoofer
- perforated-leather-appointed seats
- heated and ventilated seats
- heated steering wheel and rear seats
- memory seats, mirrors and steering column
- silver roof rails
- exterior chrome accents
- 110-volt outlet
- ambient lighting
- unique grille and exterior accents
- gesture-controlled power liftgate
- rear cargo management system
- usb port with sd slot in center console
related: show floor face-off: 2019 chevrolet blazer vs. 2019 honda passport
the two top trims for the blazer aren't one above the other, they're more of a branching out toward either the luxury or sporty end of the spectrum — the "y-strategy" as chevy calls it. either go for the sporty-looking rs with its blackout trim, more aggressive suspension and steering, and sporty red-accented interior, or opt for the more luxurious, monochrome premier trim that brings fancier-looking leather surfaces. all-wheel drive is a $2,900 option on the blazer rs or blazer premier and features a unique twin-clutch awd system compared with the lesser models. automatic emergency braking can only be had as part of the enhanced convenience and driver confidence ii package that costs $3,575.
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