Quebec City, QC – Don’t get us started on car companies slapping the ‘sporty’ moniker to their products, including SUVs and crossovers, when about 90% of the time, there’s absolutely nothing sporty going on aside from a badge and some vanity upgrades.
(Similar to the new, confusing trend of “adventure-ready” sport utilities shot in the mountains with sexy roof racks up top and gutless engines under the hood.)
It’s cheesy, inaccurate, and, above all, a bit misleading for consumers expecting sport-tuned suspensions and performance upgrades to accompany low-slung hoods and sporty LED headlamps.
The new 2019 Chevy Blazer, which made its world debut almost a year ago, is making that same claim – “a sporty mid-size SUV.” But unlike the others, this 5-passenger, 2-row hauler indeed gets a sport-tuned suspension, a respectable 3.6L V6 powerplant, and optional 21-inch wheels to go with its athletic look.
That warrants a proper check in the sporty SUV column in our books. The only thing missing? A badass Blazer SS with, say, the new Camaro’s 455-hp V8. But that’s another story.
Here, however, we’re taking a closer look at the sportier RS trim.
2019 Blazer Trims Available
United States:
- Chevy Blazer L: The base trim level, offering essential features and options.
- Chevy Blazer 1LT: Adds more features and available options.
- Chevy Blazer 2LT: Builds on the 1LT trim with additional features and packages.
- Chevy Blazer 3LT: A more upscale trim with added luxury features and options.
- Chevy Blazer RS: A sportier and performance-oriented trim, often featuring a V6 engine.
- Chevy Blazer Premier: The top-tier trim level, offering the most luxurious and advanced features.
Canada:
- Chevy Blazer: The base trim level with essential features.
- Chevy Blazer True North: Adds more features and options.
- Chevy Blazer RS: A sportier trim with a more aggressive appearance and performance enhancements.
- Chevy Blazer Premier: The highest trim level with the most advanced features and amenities.
The new Blazer begins with the entry-level LT (though you won’t see the ‘LT’ badging on the SUV, just ‘Blazer’), the top-level Blazer Premier with a touch of luxury, including generous chrome treatment on the outside, and quality accented leather interior treatment.
Right in the middle, we’ve got the bolder Camaro-inspired RS. Chevy tells us the volume seller will be the LT with upgrades and options. But for consumers seeking something spicier, it’s the Blazer RS that’ll fit the bill.
Sometimes less is more, and Chevy has nailed it with just three trim levels, which they accurately state offers “three distinct personalities.” You’ve got the good old base trim, the upscale trim, and a more dynamic sporty trim.
That covers it for most consumers without throwing a bunch of other unnecessary trims into the mix.
2019 Chevy Blazer RS Interior
Across the board, Chevy gave its new Blazer a more driver-centric interior, which works well for the new SUV entry.
Some of the key features include an impressive 1,818 litres with the rear seats folded; a rail-based system allowing the space to be configured and blocked off as needed to secure items; a hands-free power liftgate with a light that shines a Chevy emblem on the ground to show you where to swing your foot; rear seats that slide forward to allow more cargo space and tilts back to allow extra headroom; plus, all the latest in tech including Chevrolet’s updated Infotainment 3 system with 8.0-inch touchscreen, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility.
Connectivity & Tech
Here’s a short list of what’s available:
- Infotainment 3
- HD Surround Vision
- Rear camera mirror: first introduced on Cadillac (an industry-first)
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Connected Navigation – available
- Personalization: infotainment system
- myChevrolet Mobile App
- OnStar
This trim steps it up with red accents throughout, including perforated leather seats with subtle red stitching. Expect more RS badging as well. The vast, round air vents, which appear to be ripped out of a Camaro (in a good way), get a red trim that really stands out, sitting front and centre below the touchscreen on the centre stack.
2019 Blazer RS Styling
Sure, the Camaro SUV moniker is played out by now. Still, really, Chevy’s new 5-passenger hauler does indeed look like the sport utility twin of the popular muscle car, flossing a sportier, black-on-black design paired with those sharp edges and massive, menacing front grille treatment.
While the RS certainly looks bolder, all models look sleek with the wider stance, strong grille, athletic hood, and body lines. However, upfront, the first thing you’ll notice is the Chevrolet-first separate headlamps and LED daytime running lights.
Both the Blazer RS and Premier get 18-inch wheels as standard, with 21-inch optional.
We spent time with the 2019 Blazer RS in red which looks super sharp in contrast to all that black. But we got a glimpse of totally blacked-out RS as well – from the black Chevy bowtie logos and black wheels to the dark paint – lending it a more diabolical attitude which suits it just fine.
Performance: a sport-tuned Chevy SUV
It’s hard not to imagine a burly V8 powering this mid-size hauler – say, the 455-hp V8 under the hood of the 2020 Camaro SS. Buy, hey, maybe a Blazer SS is in the works. Make it happen, Chevy, make it happen.
Instead, the 2019 Blazer RS gets an updated 3.6L V6, putting down a respectable 308 hp. A step up from the EcoTec 2.5L inline-four engine, making only 193 hp at 6300 rpm and 188 lb. ft of torque at 4400 rpm, to go with a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity.
Two Blazer engines compared
The other 2019 Blazer powertrain is a less powerful 2.5L. Here’s a comparison between the two:
| Engine Option | 2.5L Inline-4 | 3.6L V6 |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 193 horsepower | 308 horsepower |
| Torque | 188 lb-ft | 270 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic |
| Drive Type | Front-wheel drive (FWD) or All-wheel drive (AWD) | Front-wheel drive (FWD) or All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Fuel Economy (FWD) | Approximately 21 mpg city / 27 mpg highway | Approximately 18 mpg city / 25 mpg highway |
| Fuel Economy (AWD) | Approximately 21 mpg city / 27 mpg highway | Approximately 17 mpg city / 24 mpg highway |
All-wheel drive Blazer
We didn’t drive the 2.5L-powered Blazer but we can confidently say you’ll want to stick with the 3.6L, mating appropriate power with the SUV’s beefy look. Add the advanced twin-clutch AWD system for increased dynamics and safety.
Handling
The best part: unlike some competitors, Chevy isn’t just slapping the ‘sporty’ moniker to the Blazer RS; they’ve tuned it appropriately to back up the claim. Don’t expect a track beast with insane handling; do expect enough upgrades to please the average Joe seeking a more planted driving experience without compromising everyday comfort.
While all Blazers see a wider track suspension for improved stability for cornering, the RS steps it up with sport-tuned dampers: the front struts get 40% more compression control, while the rear shocks a 15% bump.
As we said in our original Blazer review, “The sporty RS also has high rate suspension springs, heavy stabilizer bars, sport-turned dampers, and oversized shock absorbers. Although a relatively tall vehicle, the clever engineers have made this SUV feel very sportscar-like.”
Takeaway
As the SUV and crossover market is flooded with new entries every year, the new Blazer RS does a great job differentiating itself for consumers seeking a truly sportier, bolder sport utility.
With just over 300 hp, this isn’t a beast, nor should it be, but the RS’ sport-tuned suspension offers improved driving dynamics to go with the already widened track suspension. So, for everyday driving, it’s just enough.
The styling is on point, too, and you can’t go wrong with a black-on-black look, especially in red. The front end looks bold and sleek, especially with the slim headlamp and daylight running light split design.
Of course, as a completely new mid-size SUV model, you’re getting the latest tech and connectivity, including the optional rear-view camera, which turned out to be more helpful and less gimmicky than expected.
Overall, Chevy has done a great job with the new Blazer, offering it only three trims that cover all the bases, with the RS ramping it up just enough to be sporty without going too far. A Chevy Blazer SS, on the other hand, would be going too far, but we’re okay with that.
2019 Blazer RS Specs and Photos
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Engine | Five passengers |
| Horsepower | 308 horsepower |
| Torque | 270 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
| Drive Type | Front-wheel drive (FWD) or All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Fuel Economy (FWD) | Approximately 18 mpg city / 25 mpg highway |
| Fuel Economy (AWD) | Approximately 17 mpg city / 24 mpg highway |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Cargo Space | Approximately 30.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, 64.2 cubic feet with rear seats folded down |
| Wheelbase | 112.7 inches |
| Length | 191.4 inches |
| Width | 76.7 inches |
| Height | 67 inches |
| Curb Weight | Approximately 4,246 lbs (FWD) or 4,246-4,346 lbs (AWD) |
