2023 Chevrolet Blazer

Kit on the side. As well as sporting an improved infotainment setup for 2023, every Blazer includes a powered driver’s seat and keyless push-button start. For the first time, it’s possible to add features like adaptive cruise and wireless phone charging to even the cheapest 2LT model. Our money would go on an RS, whose specification list extends to navigation, a sunroof, and a hands-free liftgate. Only buyers of Premier models receive a Bose stereo, though.

Whichever Blazer you fancy, safety is well-catered for. Blind-spot monitoring and rear parking sensors help to compensate for the aforementioned lack of rear vision, while active lane control and automatic emergency braking are also standard. The headlights activate high beams automatically but are sufficiently weak to have attracted concern from the IIHS, which stopped them from awarding the Blazer their highest safety rating. The NHTSA has no such concerns. We’d like to see surround-view cameras added to the standard safety roster, but otherwise, this is an impressively safe vehicle.

It's fast, too. If you find yourself in a Chevrolet showroom lusting for power, you’d naturally gravitate to the Corvette and Camaro. The Blazer might suffer by comparison, but it’s no slouch. The standard turbo-4 engine emits 228 horses at surprisingly low revs, creating a sense of urgency under heavy throttle. Lighter acceleration can cause the nine-speed automatic transmission to keep changing its mind, though. The 3.6-liter V6 will accelerate from 0 to 60 in around six seconds, though its 308 hp comes at a price – $8,000 more than the turbo-4, to be precise. RS models have different AWD systems depending on their engine – the smaller unit employs a basic system, whereas the V6 receives a twin-clutch rear diff which can switch torque to individual wheels for superior grip.

If you want to go full Laguna Seca, there’s a Sport mode on RS models that adjusts everything from gearshift ratios to steering responses. You’re unlikely to need it, though, since steering heft is impressive by default. While the smaller wheels on LT models would normally deliver the best ride quality in the range, RS and Premier versions feature uprated suspension which improves both the ride and the handling. Again, it’s no performance car, but it’s pretty good for a mid-size SUV. Whichever engine and drivetrain option you specify, you’ll be looking at combined fuel economy in the low-to-mid-twenties.

A mixed picture inside. Let’s start with some positives: there’s loads of room inside the Blazer. It teaches the smaller Equinox a thing or two about how to cater to taller occupants, while the split rear seat also slides back and forth to generate almost 40 inches of legroom at maximum setting. The cargo area more than doubles in size from 30.5 to 64.2 cubic feet once the back seats are dropped, and there are handy storage compartments below and beside the trunk floor.

The driver’s seat has eight-way power, but no amount of adjustment can compensate for the lack of padding or the unusually short seat base. Even Premier models suffer from this affliction, while their perforated leather isn’t cooled unless you raid the options list. And while there’s lots of headroom and legroom in the back, a middle adult is going to feel decidedly squashed; they may also rue the upright seat back and lack of head support.

Final thoughts. The mid-sized SUV sector is renowned for its crushing competence, with models like Ford’s Edge and GMC’s Acadia not bringing anything especially fresh or innovative to the table. At least the Blazer has some styling chops, especially with its revised LED-powered front end. A modest price increase for 2023 means it’s still reasonable value, with decent levels of equipment and standard safety as you move up through the models. Performance and road manners are better than the class average, and if mediocre gas mileage bothers you, an electric Blazer is scheduled for release next year.

In the minus column, the seats are quite literally tiresome – small, unsupportive, and not suited to long journeys. Despite the pretense, you’d struggle to fit three abreast in the rear, and the stylish dash is more form than function; you could play a party game where people have five seconds to find a certain button amid a collection of identically sized alternatives. The absence of surround-view cameras is a concern given the poor rear visibility, and the subscription-based WiFi/navigation could provide a nasty sting in the ownership tail. Finally, the ride – while better on Premier and RS models – is firmer than family members will likely appreciate.

Check Prices for the 2023 Chevrolet Blazer