The all-new 2019 Blazer is the latest model in Chevrolet's growing SUV/crossover family of vehicles. The four-door Blazer is a midsize unibody crossover vehicle with two rows offering five-passenger seating.

Automotive Fleet recently test drove the Blazer RS model, which is one of four distinct trim levels that also include L, Blazer, and the top-end Premier trim.

There are two engine choices for the front-wheel drive Blazer: a standard Ecotec 2.5L four-cylinder engine and a 3.6L V-6, both with direct gasoline injection and intelligent stop/start technology that are mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission.

The Blazer RS is powered by the 3.6L V-6. With 305 horsepower, the 3.6L V-6 instills confidence in both urban and freeway driving and the 9-speed transmission offered smooth shifts. With the 2.5L I-4 engine, which is standard on L, Blazer can generate 193 hp and 188 lb.-ft. of torque.

All-wheel drive is available on all Blazer 3.6L V-6 models. An advanced twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system is available on the RS and Premier models. This system improves driver control by independently directing torque through a twin-clutch rear-axle design to give the best traction in poor road conditions. Our test drive was fortuitously during a prolonged rain storm, which allowed the AWD system to demonstrate its ability to grip slippery roads on winding freeway onramps. The 3.6L engine generates 269 lb.-ft. of torque that can tow up to 4,500 pounds. A trailering package featuring Hitch Guidance and Hitch View technology is available on AWD models equipped with the 3.6L V-6 engine.

New Cargo Management System

The Blazer is the first Chevrolet model to offer a cargo management system comprised of a floor-mounted rail system that helps keep cargo secure, preventing items such as point of sale merchandise or sales literature from shifting due to the pitch and roll of stops and turns. It is standard on RS and Premier trim levels. The Blazer has 64.2 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the second-row seats folded flat.

Exterior and Interior Design

On the exterior, the Blazer is a very attractive looking vehicle soliciting comments from paserbys. It has distinctive front-end look with ultra-thin LED daytime running lamps. While on the topic of lighting, high-intensity discharge headlights are standard with a longer lifespan than halogen bulbs.

On the interior, the Blazer is noticeably quiet, which upon further research is enhanced by the standard active noise cancellation system. In terms of productivity, the Blazer includes an 8-inch touchscreen, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, up to six USB port, and wireless charging available on RS and Premier trims.

One handy interior feature is an electronic-locking glove box to keep valuables safe and important documents out of sight of prying eyes. The glove box is locked via the Valet mode.

Comprehensive Safety Features

There is a long list of available driver-assist features in the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer. The available driver-assist features include adaptive cruise control, lane change alert with a blind-spot warning system, forward collision alert and automatic braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and a rear cross-traffic alert system.

2019 Chevrolet Blazer Specs:

• Engines: 2.5L I-4 (193 hp and 188 lb.-ft.) or 3.6L V-6 (310 hp and 271 lb.-ft.)

• Transmission: 9-speed automatic transmission

• All-Wheel Drive: Twin-clutch AWD system (RS and Premier trims)

• Cargo Capacity: 64.2 cu.-ft. with rear seats folded flat