Camaro Utility Vehicle: 2019 Chevy Blazer Premier AWD Review

2019 Chevy Blazer Premier AWD Review: Camaro Utility Vehicle
This $50K SUV needs more than muscle car looks to justify its price tag.
John Neff, Editor in Chief
FEB 22, 2019
motor1.com

VERDICT: 5.7/10

Considering America’s appetite for sport utility vehicles has shown no signs of satiation, the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer is a smart vehicle for the Bowtie brand to slot in between the compact Equinox and full-size Traverse SUVs. The addition gives Chevrolet a full lineup of car-based crossovers and tough SUVs to choose from, all the way from the tiny Trax to the super-sized Suburban.

The 2019 Blazer has styling inspired by the legendary Camaro muscle car, a well-proven powertrain, and the right balance between a comfortable ride and confident handling going for it. Unfortunately, those positive attributes can’t overcome the Blazer’s high price and an overall impression that Chevrolet just didn’t try very hard with this one.

Some argue its name is the problem: Blazer. The fact Chevy revived the name of a real SUV for this pavement-preferring soft-roader, though, doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is that the new Blazer feels like an opportunity almost, but not quite, realized. If you’re going to develop an SUV that looks inspired by the Camaro, why not make that connection more than merely aesthetic. Surely a Camaro Utility Vehicle should be more than this.

CONTINUE AT LINK ABOVE

Despite some solid (and even praiseworthy) characteristics to the new Blazer, I have a feeling that the overall pricing strategy will continue to win it criticism from journalists and pundits alike.

Whether that hampers sales moment with actual retail consumers is anyone's guess, but you can't help but wonder if GM may have been a bit over zealous in how they approached this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nadepalma

Despite some solid (and even praiseworthy) characteristics to the new Blazer, I have a feeling that the overall pricing strategy will continue to win it criticism from journalists and pundits alike.

Whether that hampers sales moment with actual retail consumers is anyone's guess, but you can't help but wonder if GM may have been a bit over zealous in how they approached this.

---

You mean like every other recent GM vehicle?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CadillacSA

You mean like every other recent GM vehicle?

---

Truth!

I cringe every time I see this referred to as the Camaro SUV...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Z Fury

I cringe every time I see this referred to as the Camaro SUV...

---

This, not even close to a Malibu CUV.

Worst thing Chevy ever did using the Camaro details on a MEH CUV.

The Edge has been charging these prices for years and is doing just fine with nearly identical equipment and features. Granted the ST seems to be a better value for the top-end price.

I don't think critics understand this segment or customer very well. It's ultimately a mid-luxury vehicle in many ways.

I'm not a huge fan of the Blazer's Camaro design, I think it's a confusing mix for a vehicle typically targeting higher-end female customers. But it's a striking design none-the-less and looks more premium than Chevy's typical utilities. GM is pretty good at selling utilities right now so I'm willing to bet they did their homework. I would still prefer the more sophisticated look of Edge, Grand Cherokee (sorta competes), or even Honda Passport, but if you're shopping Murano then the Blazer is the only other vehicle offering a similarly striking design.

Blazer is a great name, but probably a distracting choice among critics that just can't help themselves talk about what Blazer means to them. It's a little like critics concluding that the Edge ST is replacing the Focus ST...it's not...so critics collectively rebel on a completely irrelevant point. Critics are just terrible customer research agents.

Sport cars don't have "start/stop" or anemic engines. Putting Camaro dash air vents in an overpriced SUV doesn't make it a Camaro.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by joey

Sport cars don't have "start/stop" or anemic engines. Putting Camaro dash air vents in an overpriced SUV doesn't make it a Camaro.

---

310 HP is not anemic, Camaro this is not though.

Another GM hater !! I wonder if they called the Blazer the Traverse Sport if it would get a favorable review. People want crossovers, not body on frame SUV's and the Blazer is a name from the past. It will sell like crazy just like the Equinox !!

It is a nice offering, the interior looking a bit Camaro like aside. I really don't mind that or for that matter the front end. In the right colors it looks really sharp. I just wish they could get the pricing and feature content better so you don't have to come in needing a hefty discount to match the competition whom most have the safety features this is missing at an already better price or so it seems anyway.

Mr editor in chief Neff implies that it'll cost you $50,000.00 to get a Blazer with AWD and 3.6 V6. A 2LT blazer AWD 3.6 starts at $37195.00. Give the facts not the hyperbole. I rate him 2 stars out of 10.

This is not a Camaro and it’s not a Blazer. I’m not really sure what it is other than overpriced.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 1958carnut

It is a nice offering, the interior looking a bit Camaro like aside. I really don't mind that or for that matter the front end. In the right colors it looks really sharp. I just wish they could get the pricing and feature content better so you don't have to come in needing a hefty discount to match the competition whom most have the safety features this is missing at an already better price or so it seems anyway.

---

The 2020 Explorer is more like what GM should have produced. The Explorer will sell well, unlike the overpriced Blazer

Unfortunately, those positive attributes can’t overcome the Blazer’s high price and an overall impression that Chevrolet just didn’t try very hard with this one.

Can say this about everything they do except for the Vette.
Lazy company, lazy CEO