2019 Chevrolet Blazer: Forget the Past, This Is Our Future

General Motors has pulled the wraps off its 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, a vehicle that in no way reminds anyone of past vehicles bearing that heritage-steeped nameplate.

Sporting two rows of seating, an edgier profile than either its smaller Equinox sibling or its hulking Traverse big brother, and two engine choices, the Blazer’s main competition seems to be the Ford Edge, rather than its three-row GMC Acadia platform mate.

While the underpinnings and engines are shared with the Acadia (as well as other GM vehicles), the Blazer, which arrives early next year, has a sportier persona in mind. The rear glass is much further from the vertical than its stablemates. Its fenders bulge. Its roof floats, if only by a bit. The flat beltline appears high, the similarly straight roof low. Its stacked headlights, seemingly designed by Hyundai, lend a meaner look to this family hauler’s face.

GM claims those peepers, which place thin LED running lights on top and driving lamps slung below in large, crowded vents, are meant to reduce glare for other drivers. Overall, the impression is of a vehicle that’s lower and wider than its compatriots. Dare we say muscular? Athletic, maybe.

In terms of volume, there’s a whopping seven-tenths of a cubic foot more cargo space with the rear seats folded down than in the compact Equinox. At least there’s more power, as well as towing capacity. When equipped with the familiar 3.6-liter V6 (305 horsepower, 269 lb-ft of torque), the Blazer can manage up to 4,500 pounds on a rear hitch, or 1,000 lbs more than the Equinox when outfitted with the 2.0-liter turbo four.

Entry-level Blazers, simply called “Blazer” and not the traditional LS or LT or some variation thereof, come equipped with a 2.5-liter inline-four making 193 hp and 188 lb-ft. Both engines put the power down through a nine-speed automatic, and both a feature stop/start system.

All Blazers leave the factory with adjustable Traction Select traction control, with all-wheel drive an option for all. The sportier mid-range RS trim seen here (GM calls it “sinister-looking,” tell us if you agree) and the top-flight Premier model can both be had with a twin-clutch AWD system that’s more suited to diverse road and weather conditions. And driving moods, one assumes.

Looks-wise, you’ll be able to tell a base Blazer apart from the others from its standard 18-inch aluminum wheels. RS and Premier trims can be outfitted with hoops as large as 21 inches. There’s also the matter of the grille. Blacked out and mesh-filled in RS guise, the fancy-pants Premier goes all in on the chrome.

GM says buyers can expect plenty of choice with the interior, with a number of colors and trims to choice from, depending on model. As you see below, there’s more of a horizontal motif going on here than in other GM crossovers. This impression of width, plus circular air vents, is meant to convey an impression of sport. We’re eager to see if the ride comes close to cashing that check.

Elsewhere, a panoramic sunroof is available, as is Chevy’s Cargo Management System, which segments the cargo area via rails and a fence. It’s standard on RS and Premiere.

Among the high-tech niceties are available Hitch View, which gives passengerless drivers a bird’s eye view of the vehicle’s rear, an electronic locking glove box to keep other people’s hands off whatever, and the ability to roll all four windows down en masse via the key fob. No one likes ass-searing leather. A feature seen on other GM models — hands-free power liftgate with logo projection — appears on RS and Premier.

Infotainment comes by way of an 8-inch touchscreen on all Blazers, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity as standard kit.

That’s all GM’s willing to tell us right now, and, depending on your memories of past Blazers, it might be more than you need to hear. Reusing nameplates can be controversial, and we have no doubt many readers already have their shorts in a bunch over GM’s decision to slap a brawny name on a unibody crossover. Regardless, the vehicle fills a hole in the lineup, and the name rings a bell for many. Sad? Too bad.

Further details, including price, will have to wait until closer to the model’s production date.

[Images: General Motors]