At 191.4 inches in length, the five-seat Blazer fits in between the smaller Equinox and larger, three-row Traverse in Chevrolet’s SUV lineup. For 2022, it loses its base 193-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and its two lowest L and 1LT trim levels. Instead, you now get either a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 228 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V6 producing 308 horsepower. Both engines use a nine-speed automatic transmission and come in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).
Chevrolet resurrected the Blazer name for 2019 on this model. So for 2022, it undergoes only minor updates, including a new package (Enhanced Convenience, $1660) on the Premier trim that adds premium items, including ventilated seats, heated rear seats, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and a Bose premium stereo. There’s also a towing package for 2.0-liter models that’s standard with AWD and optional with FWD. GM plans to make an all-electric version of the Blazer, but it won’t go on sale until 2023.
With the discontinuation of the base trims, the Blazer now comes in 2LT, 3LT, RS, and Premier trims. The 2LT comes only with the 2.0-liter and the RS solely with the V6, but the other two offer both. All start with FWD, at prices ranging from $35,790 to $43,915, including a freight charge of $1,195. AWD adds $2,700 in the 2LT and 3LT and $2,900 in the RS and Premier. That’s because while both transfer power to the rear axle when extra traction is needed, the upper trims include torque vectoring which sends power to the left or right rear wheel for sharper turn-in.
The Blazer competes in a crowded market, up against its own smaller Equinox cousin, as well as two-row rivals such as the Ford Edge, Honda Passport, and Hyundai Santa Fe. It doesn’t feel cramped, but it’s also not the roomiest of those models, where its 41 inches of front-seat legroom can’t meet the 44.1 inches of the Santa Fe and falls some two inches short of the Hyundai’s rear-seat legroom. Its 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat is small for the segment.
Its engines aren’t as powerful as some competitors, but the ace up its sleeve is how it drives and handles. The steering is far more responsive than you might expect, and it’s very confident in curves and delivers a smooth ride. It’s a genuinely pleasant vehicle to drive.
The interior is inspired by the Chevrolet Camaro. While some of the materials don’t feel quite top-notch in the highest trims, the controls are simple and intuitive and with a minimum of distraction. Overall, it’s not the most spectacular SUV in the segment, but it’s definitely worth a test drive when you’re shopping.
Performance: 13/15
The Blazer comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, making 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, or a 3.6-liter V6 that makes 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both use a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0-liter is the only choice in the 2LT, while the V6 is exclusive in the RS trim. The 3LT and Premier start with the 2.0-liter and can be optioned to the V6 for $500.
The engines aren’t as powerful as in some competitors, where the Ford Edge has a turbocharged 2.0-liter making 250 horsepower, and the Hyundai Santa Fe has a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder for 281 horsepower. But both of the Blazer’s engines are still strong enough for acceleration and passing power, and the Blazer is among the best in its segment for its driving and handling performance. It’s responsive, feels light on its feet, and is surprisingly engaging to drive.
All trims start with FWD, and the optional AWD sends power to the rear wheels as needed for extra traction. It’s a $2,700 option on the 2LT and 3LT, but costs $2,900 on the RS and Premier. That’s because the pricier system can further distribute torque between the left and right rear wheels for better slippery-surface performance and sharper turn-in during aggressive driving.
Fuel Economy: 10/15
The EPA rates the Blazer’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder at 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined in FWD; that drops slightly to 22/27/24 mpg in AWD. The 3.6-liter V6 in FWD gets 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined; AWD drops it slightly to 19/26/21 mpg.
That’s about average for the segment, putting it in line with its competitors. For example, the Ford Edge AWD only for 2022) gets a combined 23 mpg with its turbocharged 2.0-liter and 21 with its turbocharged V6. The Honda Passport comes only with a V6 and is rated at 22 mpg in FWD and 21 in AWD, while the Hyundai Santa Fe, in its non-hybrid configurations, rates at 24 and 26 mpg.
Safety & Driver Assist Tech: 11/15
The Blazer earns the top five stars in crash testing from the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA). It also gets the top “Good” crash scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) but falls short of a Top Safety Pick designation because its headlights don’t meet the “Good” rating.
All trim levels include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assistance, automatic high beams, OnStar and Teen Driver, which lets you set speed alerts and limit the stereo volume. Blind warning with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on all but the 2LT, where it’s available as part of a $1,845 package that includes such items as heated seats, auto-dimming mirror, and remote starter. Adaptive cruise control is only available on the RS and Premier in a $1,650 package.
Comfort & Room: 11/15
The Blazer doesn’t leave its passengers feeling cramped, but it isn’t as roomy as some of its competitors. It offers 39.8 inches of front-seat headroom and 38.6 inches in the rear, and 1.8 inches less in each row, if there’s a sunroof. The Ford Edge gives you 40.2 inches of headroom in front, and the Hyundai Santa Fe an inch more than that.
The Blazer provides 41 inches in front and 39.6 for those in the rear seats for legroom. That’s virtually the same as the Honda Passport, but Ford Edge offers 42.6 and 40.6, respectively, and the Santa Fe lets you stretch out with 44.1 inches in front and 41.7 in back.
Infotainment: 11/15
The Blazer comes with a standard eight-inch center touchscreen neatly tucked into the dash, with a volume dial and a hard button to take you to the home screen. The icons are large, and the system is straightforward, if not segment-leading in terms of graphics.
The system includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OnStar, satellite radio and a WiFi hotspot, although you’ll have to buy a subscription for those last three once their trial period runs out. The RS and Premier include onboard navigation that’s optional on the 3LT, and all but the 2LT can be optioned with a premium Bose eight-speaker audio system.
Cargo Space & Storage: 8/15
The Blazer trails its competition at just 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up. The Hyundai Santa Fe offers 36.4 cubic feet, while the Ford Edge affords 39.2 cubic feet, and the Honda Passport swallows up cargo in 41.2 cubic feet. Even with its second-row seats lowered, the Blazer only comes in at 64.2 cubic feet, while the Passport gives you 77.7 cubic feet.
The Blazer also could do better on small-item space. There’s an open cubby ahead of the gearshift lever, but it’s not very big, and while each front door has two pockets, they’re tiny and not of much use. If you need to tow, the Blazer can handle a maximum of 4,500 pounds with the V6 and 3500 with the four-cylinder. The Passport can go to 5,000, but the Edge and Santa Fe have a maximum capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Style & Design: 7/10
The Blazer is a handsome design, if not a standout in the segment. A two-tone roof is available on the LT and RS trims, a new option for 2022. In addition, the LT trims can be optioned with a Redline Edition package for $1,895, which includes a black grille and exterior accents and 20-inch gloss wheels with an odd-looking red stripe on them. Even if it’s to your liking, remember that larger wheels mean costlier replacement tires. The RS trim offers the sportiest appearance.
The interior design takes styling cues from the Camaro, most notably the large round air vents in the center stack. Their equally large bezels are the temperature dials, making it easy to adjust to warmer or cooler with a minimum of distraction, even if you’re wearing winter gloves
Is the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer worth it? Which Blazer is the Best Value?
The Blazer starts at $35,790 for the 2LT 2.0-liter FWD, including a $1,195 delivery charge, and tops out at $46,815 for the Premier with V6 and AWD. It’s less to get into a Hyundai Santa Fe, which runs between $28,645 and $44,055 for non-hybrid versions. The Ford Edge comes only in AWD and it’s $37,440 to $46,240, while the Honda Passport starts at $39,095 in FWD and goes to a high of $46,655 in AWD.
Blazer buyers will likely look at the 3LT, which is $39,990 with the 2.0-liter and $40,440 with the V6, and an extra $2,700 to add AWD. In addition to the 2LT’s standard features, it adds a nicely curated collection of items, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, power liftgate with programmable height, interior and driver’s-side auto-dimming mirrors, roof rails, remote starter, garage door opener, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a power passenger seat in addition to a power driver’s seat.
How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer?
Insuring the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer won’t break the bank. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of about $1,897, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1,770 for the Ford Edge, $1,899 for the Honda Passport and $1,779 for the Hyundai Santa Fe. Visit our car insurance calculator to get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses.
