Chevrolet is preparing to fill out its crossover portfolio with the 2017 Trax handling subcompact duties, the 2018 Equinox filling the compact space, the 2018 Traverse growing to fill the full-size space and soon the 2018 (2019?) Blazer to settle into the mid-size segment.
The bowtie brand has been spied testing the Blazer once again, though it still remains heavily camouflaged. It’s difficult to pinpoint any true design cues since plenty of cladding is also present to distort the Blazer’s shape, too. Though, if we had to take a shot in the dark, its front end does remind us of the 2018 Traverse for than the 2018 Equinox. It seems to be slightly more elongated.
The 2018 or 2019 Chevrolet Blazer will ride on General Motors’ C1 platform, which also underpins the 2017 GMC Acadia. Expect the Blazer to also follow the Acadia’s powertrain lineup; a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 3.6-liter V6 will likely be the sole options unless GM has some updates coming for both crossovers down the road.
We’ll likely see the Blazer show face sometime next year, which leaves its model year designation up in the air. If it’s early 2018, we may see it as a 2018 vehicle. If Chevrolet reveals it later on next year, expect it as a 2019 model year vehicle.
Spy shots: Four Wheeler
Comments
Looks to have the same side mirrors as the XT5.
Two of the biggest disappointments will be the Blazer and Bronco. Many are wanting retro but neither will have much of the original concepts.
Both may be good vehicles but both should use other names.
Is the Blazer name a sure thing for this vehicle or speculation?
The Blazer name was in the market as the Trailblazer, too, so it is older than the Bronce and has more years. The Suburban is the oldest model name in the world that is still sold.
From what I can tell the Ford Bronco will be truer to the legacy of its name, it being a rear wheel drive-based vehicle and everything. The same cannot be said for this Chevy crossover.
I’ve said this before, but a front wheel drive-based crossover like this is fine under any other name but Blazer, save a great nameplate and call it the Lumina APV instead.
GM offers the Trax, ‘Nox, Traverse, Encore, Envision, Enclave, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, XT5, & Escalade. Now they’re going to offer a Blazer too? But… that’s like… no choice!
🙁
What pinhead thumb’d down a joke? Oh wait. I know. Nevermind.
That’s a pretty nice looking SUV. I’m a little disappointed that its not a truck based SUV, as expected, but it looks good. Hopefully the interior will be decent. I’ve considered buying a chevy SUV a couple of times, but once I opened the door I went right back to the Cadillac Dealership. I just took delivery of a 2017 XT5 Platinum Edition. It replaced my 2012 SRX Performance Edition. Its a great car, but its expensive. Luckily there is a lot of cash on the hood.
Nice looking cuv and if the worst thing about this vehicle is the name then I think it will do just fine.
People forget that the blazer name was not just on the K5 full-size SUV, it also was on the smaller S-10 based blazer. So having a smaller cuv with the blazer name is not that big of a stretch.
For the people that want a K5 just make a two door Tahoe and call it day.
If it was based on the same platform of the Colorado, it could be used for families in road and could havea ZR2 or kind of version to go off road.
Brian ,the two things you fail to see ,Is that the Blazer has always been body on frame and rear wheel or 4 x 4 drive ! I too believe that GM should use a different name !
The Ford explorer also use to be a body on frame and 4×4 and they changed to a different platform. No one complains and people buy them I see them everywhere
Looks to me that the public expects GM to play by a different set of rules compare to the rest of the industry
Why does GM still utilize the 2.5?
The Acadia and the upcoming Blazer should have the 2.0T as standard instead.
Bring back the Blazer as a 4×4 and make the ZR2 package available and I will be a buyer, do not want another crossover.
a turbo diesel is a likely option. imagine the 2.8 in the blazer, it would be appealing to an off road/enthusiast who would be the target of such a vehicle. The Blazer will be in the right spot to target younger audiences who dont care about rock crawling and just want a smaller SUV to drive their surfboards to the beach.
Jake my friend , because this vehicle is a front wheel drive ,it will not get a 2.8 diesel ,It can not handle the 369 lb torque ! The original Blazer was always truck base ,this Blazer is car base cross over . The new Blazer will now be for mom’s carrying Children to School and to there grandmothers place ,just like the Equinox .
Why go to the trouble of designing a separate model/exterior/interior to fill the mid-size space when GM could have simply designed the Traverse with 3 wheelbase options:
Traverse SWB:
5-seater model with optional 3rd-row riding on same wheelbase as Caddy XT5 and GMC Acadia. Compete against Ford Edge and Nissan Murano.
Traverse LWB:
7-seater model riding on same wheelbase as Caddy XT5-L and GMC Acadia L. Compete against Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.
Traverse LWB-Plus:
7-seater model riding on same wheelbase as Caddy XT5 ESV and GMC Acadia XL.
Give Buick Enclave the same 3 wheelbases as well.
Any idea why GM didn’t follow this strategy?
I agree build it as a body on frame suv not a cross over