[Kayfive]

Hey folks,

So I’ve been on the fence with the new Blazer for awhile, but I had the opportunity to check it out in person at the Canadian International Auto Show. Have to admit that in RS guise, it’s very sport looking crossover, especially in the black/red color theme. Would have to give it a test drive to see how it compares to some of the other new performance crossovers that have recently come to market. Here are some of the initial impressions I had with it.

1.) The black accenting nicely accentuates the more vibrant color options like Red Hot
2.) All of the badging and even the bowtie emblems have been recolored to match
3.) The larger 21’ 6 spoke black rims are much nicer than the set on the lower trim levels imo. I would swap out the chrome lug nuts for ones that are either black or red. Tires were CrossContact Continentals 265/45R21
4.) Taillights have a nice sculpted shape to them. The hidden bowtie in the assembly is a nice, subtle touch
5.) There is very little chrome accenting on the car, aside from the side skirts which seems a bit out of place
6.) The cockpit design is right out of a Camaro, which will be hit or miss depending on your styling preferences
7.) The dash consists of nice plush materials, that is nicely accented with contrast stitching
8.) There were some scratchy, cheap plastics on the glovebox and door panels, which is to be expected from a vehicle in this segment
9.) The vents have been refinished in a sporty red color, which does add some much needed color to the cabin
10.) The seats in both the front and rear were comfortable, albeit a little stiff. I expect that will improve as they are worn in
11.) Excellent rear head and legroom, which should accommodate passengers of all sizes
12.) The Bose sound system sounded pretty good, but didn’t get to test out the bass/treble levels
13.) There were very few physical buttons to control the infotainment system. No shortcut to home or quick access to certain menus. May make operating when in use more difficult and distracting
14.) There was some black piano trim on both the driver and passenger doors
15.) Large sunroof should help to bring light into the cabin, which was a bit dark with all the black leather

 

[Rhett]

Appreciate these photos and insights. Although it comes at a cost the RS model is a nice step up over the lower trim levels and imo I think the 3.6l will be the more popular choice. There is a decent amount of standard equipment however, so it really comes down to your given needs. This car isn't substantially bigger than an Equinox either.

 

[trailblazer]

Did you get a chance to assess build quality? Being a new Chevrolet product and GM not having that great of a reputation is the source of my concern.

 

[Kayfive]

Didn't come across any glaring issues with build quality from my time with it. No noticeable panel gaps or fitment issues with the interior. I do think for its price in the RS trim that there should be no cheap plastics whatsoever in this car, even if its common for the segment. If they want to charge luxury pricing, they should be delivering a luxury product.

 

[trailblazer]

Glad to hear that's the case because it seems that build quality concerns are growing among the industry liking stemming from companies that supply parts to automakers.

 

[Layne]

I do wonder how many people will actually go for the top end RS trim. Personally I find it a lot of money to spend on a crossover, particularly one from GM. Good to hear they haven't been cutting any corners though to get it to market quickly. Was worried about the Mexico based production facility.

 

[trailblazer]

I do wonder how many people will actually go for the top end RS trim. Personally I find it a lot of money to spend on a crossover, particularly one from GM. Good to hear they haven't been cutting any corners though to get it to market quickly. Was worried about the Mexico based production facility.

For $40k its right at a sweet spot which i think you'll find to be true as you start shopping around. Anything less and you're better off shopping used if you want fun vehicles.

 

[Kayfive]

If you check out any of the as tested prices on different auto blogs, most of them have gone past the $50k mark with some of the additional convenience and driver confidence packages. Its a bold move to place yourself in the territory of luxury crossovers, when everyone is looking for the most value for their money.

 

[trailblazer]

If you check out any of the as tested prices on different auto blogs, most of them have gone past the $50k mark with some of the additional convenience and driver confidence packages. Its a bold move to place yourself in the territory of luxury crossovers, when everyone is looking for the most value for their money.

Not that bold when it comes down to choosing two very attractive flavors.
One being pure sportiness and the other luxury and the people that buy them are quite binary in their choice.
Choosing one means sacrificing a lot but at the same time gaining a lot.

 

[Rhett]

Early sales numbers should give us a sense of how Chevy's positioning of the Blazer is playing out. Most of those who have already purchased one are coming from another bowtie, opting to downsize to something that's a bit more sporty and engaging to drive. If figures aren't where Chevy wants them to be, expect to see discounts and incentives at dealerships.

 

[BlueOx]

Purchased an RS. That said, with rebates and discounts I paid nowhere near sticker.