Brace yourself for a roller coaster story: at first, it was believed that Chevrolet was planning on using the Blazer name for an upcoming unibody midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV). Then, reports began to surface that intelligence prevailed within Chevy’s product planning, and that the bowtie brand was planing on giving the crossover in question a different name, while potentially reserving the Blazer name for a more capable body-on-frame model. Now, however, we have as good a confirmation as any that the Blazer name will, in fact, be used on the upcoming midsize CUV. Here’s our exclusive scoop.
A recent shipment of some OEM accessory wheels from General Motors to one of its dealers in North America curiously contained stickers/labels for a vehicle labeled as “Blazer” (pictured below). The labels state that the Blazer will ride on 235/55R20 size tires – the same exact tire size used by the second-generation (2017 and newer) GMC Acadia which the new 2019 Chevrolet Blazer will share its short-wheelbase C1 platform.
That’s as good a confirmation as any that Chevy’s upcoming midsize crossover will be called Blazer. However, we should note that this might be a case of one hand not talking to the other within a large organization like General Motors, and that these documents could theoretically reflect the name Chevy was initially planning to give the vehicle, but has since changed it… with the labels being old and/or not updated to the newest name.
Either way, Chevy’s upcoming midsize crossover has been spied undergoing testing several times before. It will slot between the compact Equinox and full-size Traverse in terms of size and price. In fact, it will feature nearly identical dimensions to the 2017 GMC Acadia, and – like the Acadia – will offer two rows of seating, with the third row being available as an option. Styling is expected to be influenced by the Chevrolet FNR-X.
Check out what we expect from the future Chevy Blazer at this link – 2019 Chevy Blazer expectations – and follow our coverage of Chevy Blazer news.
A (major) hat tip to GM Authority reader Steve.
Comments
Well that’s infuriating.
The Blazer name will be attached to a lame crossover just as the Bronco debuts.
Incredibly stupid move by Chevrolet. Both for not having a real mid sized SUV to offer and for naming a crossover/van after the Blazer.
It’s as if Chevrolet wants to not only to ignore people that want a Grand Cherokee or 4Runner, but to piss them off too.
Seems you are projecting your wants and desires on to others.
People buy for looks more than anything.
Maybe the majority of the buying public simply won’t care if the Blazer nameplate was once attached to a BOF 4×4 from 20 years ago. Maybe they’ll really just want a CUV between X and Y dollars.
I know people on GMA and other automotive blogs will pitch a fit about this vehicle being named Blazer, but I don’t think the majority of the buying public will care because they weren’t going to go off-road with their Blazer CUV anyway.
This is the same thing I tried to tell these people weeks ago, the name of this cuv will zero affect on how it sells!
I asked the question (and nobody wanted to answer it) do you think a 23 year old mother will have any idea what the name Blazer use to mean?
Nope! In my opinion the people who buy the blazer wont have a clue or wont care.
So I think it’s time to stop complaining about the name and start looking at how well this current blazer will perform!
Its not so much the fact that it wont sell, its more that the enthusiasts will be angry. All they had to do was give it a different name and it would please both parties
Just an idea here.
Solstice would complement the Equinox name better in the line-up. And I expect Solstice enthusiasts would have less attachment to the name, or hope for a new, small, roadster Pontiac.
They will care about the hideous and cheap looking proportions.
How do proportions look cheap?
So you have x-ray vision and can see through the camo?
The camo is supposed to make it look “hideous and cheap looking proportions”.
GM looks blind, as always.
Give the market this cuv, but keep the Blazer name for an Bronco-fighter. Jeep Wrangler was almost 28,000 last month!
I honestly just think that some of us just need to pull their head out of their rear ends for the name to be honest. I meant in all honesty most of the blazers or trailblazers that we all seen are mostly on the road instead off road. In fact, it’s the same for explorers and pathfinders. Only the 4runners are BOf but again most of the time it’s on road instead of off road. Some of you guys just act like the name Trailblazer doesn’t exist. Perhaps Chevy would have the Trailblazer in the future? Who knows?
So many uses of “that’s as good a”… Please stop. It doesn’t befit the usual professionalism found here.
I don’t care what it’s called, just get it to market so I can buy one for the wife. Vehicle name heritage went out the window long ago with piles of crap like the Malibu Maxx SS. Like the person above said, Blazer hasn’t been known as a beast vehicle since before Metallica was cool. Look up “Blazer” on your local Craigslist to see all the S10 based, stock, lameo examples of your oh-so-storied name plate.
And that’s the real problem with using that name. My age group (I’m 21) is going to remember the Blazer as a cramped, unrefined, gas guzzling, little SUV. My first vehicle was a 2000 S10 Blazer and I loved it, but it drove like a dump truck for something it’s size, and was more thirsty than a lot of half ton trucks. I’m worries that that’s what my age group will think of when they see the Blazer name.
I’m 24 my first car was a 99 GMC Jimmy. You described it perfectly…. “cramped, unrefined, gas guzzling, little SUV” (TRUCK)
You are right. The last versions of the Blazer were so watered down from the originals that it doesn’t matter. It seemed like every redo of the Blazer made it more cushy and a less capable 4X4 until the time that it got dropped.
Well the name use here is not the end of the world.
Let hope they at least they come up with a body on frame model no matter the name. That is more important no matter the name.
Crossover naming aside, GM should bring back the Task Force truck names from the 50’s: Apache, Viking, Spartan.
Colorado Apache
1500 Viking
2500/3500 Spartan
Make those the names for the top dog offroad models. The marketing for “Task Force” line of trucks could be outstanding. And as we know GM being GM, they’d make appearance packages for the lower trims.
Why all the fuss about a “Blazer”? I have two of them in my bedroom closet. One is black and the other is gray.
None of your blazers have a front overhang like this new Chevy. If they do, it’s time to hit the gym!
It looks like a cartoon car that hit the brakes too hard and the body slipped forward.
haha gotta watch that overhang. eat better.
I think its great. Now in 5 years we’ll be able to say “remember when they called that hideous, disproportionate mall-mobile Blazer?”
If they call it something generic, it’ll just be another forgotten misstep
Still will be another forgotten misstep, lost in a sea of blah.
So would this make the Blazer more of an Explorer rival? I’m pretty sure that the Explorer is larger than the Equinox, but smaller than the Traverse, and is also FWD/AWD, but with a bit more ground clearance. This would be good for sales, since the Explorer is so successful, but pretty disappointing for those of us who wanted a body-on-frame.
Well this was a click-baiter , I thought that only happened on You Tube .
Can we say ” just another CUV in a sea of look alike crossovers ” . It may get the same plastic body cladding that is found on the Acadia All Terrain to help satisfy customers that are familiar what a Blazer used to be .
” Slap the Blazer name on it and the clueless buying public won’t know the difference ” as the Chevy team walks out of their meeting !
You can really see the generational difference in some of the comments . What it will come down to is folks that are Chevy fans and will buy the ” Blazer ” regardless of what name is tacked on to it as long as it fits their needs .
Oh GAWD No!!!
On the weekend in the city I saw a REAL Chevy K5 Blazer, bright orange with the top off, beautiful.
A lot of commenters say who cares about the name, so you would be okay if Camaro, or Corvette went on the latest FWD sedan, or maybe got pasted on another soccer mom SUV?
Oh Lord, not another crossover station wagon… they should call it the Chevy Roadmaster.
Your comparing apples to oranges! The full size blazer has not been built for over 20 years. The majority of the people today either dont remember it or have never seen one!
If the Camaro hadn’t been built in 25 years people would have zero connection to a new Camaro on a different platform!
Like I said before will a 23 year old mother of two care or even recognize the name on the side of a cub called blazer? My opinion is no! But none of you are willing to answer this question! You dont want to answer this question because you know what the answer is going to be!
The reason why I bring it up is because that 23 year old lady will be the type of person that will be buying most of these new cuvs!
That thing is not a Blazer.
If they make another suv with that stupid looking traverse/Equinox front end on it I’m going to scream . Also put a switch in it so you disable that stupid stop/start or I won’t even consider it .
People like you make me laugh, I guess your going to be driving nothing in the future! Start/Stop technologies are not going away, in fact those type of technology is going to be expanded. GM is not just the only company doing it!
People like you make me laugh that you put up with BS technologies that save little gas unless you sit in LA traffic all day and its just another thing that mechanics cant fix. If they have a switch to shut it off then fine stick it on if it will appease the govt.
And you make me laugh because when the v8 engines go away because people like you won’t embrace simple technology that saves gas it will be people like yourself who will be screaming the loudest!
When this happens you will have know one to blame but yourself! I am all for performance cars and v8 powered trucks but they have to be offset by fuel efficient vehicles and that’s where start/stop, DOD, VVT, all come into place.
So what will happen is GM will say, we gave a chance to use this technology, customer said I am not using it so as a result v8 engines will start to dwindle, and more use of v6, I4, I5, engines!
All because you cant be bothered with a engine that shuts off when it comes to a stop! That’s pathetic!