Not long ago, we asked if the omission of LED headlights on the 2019 Blazer was a mistake on the part of GM/Chevrolet. An overwhelming majority, or 76.6 percent, of those who answered our poll, said that it was.
An increasing amount of automakers are beginning to use LEDs on new vehicles in place of halogen or High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights. LEDs have always held several advantages, notably being brighter, longer lasting, and more efficient, but halogens and HIDs were known to have a greater “reach.”
In fact, vehicles with halogen headlights have performed better than vehicles with LED headlights in evaluations conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). To wit: in 2016, the IIHS said the Honda Accord equipped with standard halogen lights was “one of the best headlight systems evaluated,” and gave it an A-rating (for Acceptable). The optional LED projectors, on the other hand, received an M-rating (for Marginal).
What’s more, the IIHS found that over half of midsize SUV headlights were rated marginal or poor. Let’s have a look at how some of GM’s current crossover models were rated.
From best to worst, the IIHS uses a rating system comprised of four scores: Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor.
Trim | Halogen Projector Rating | LED Projector Rating | HID Projector Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Envision (base) | Poor | N/A | N/A |
Preferred | Poor | N/A | N/A |
Essence | Poor | N/A | N/A |
Premium | Poor | N/A | N/A |
Premium II | N/A | N/A | Acceptable |
Trim | Halogen Projector Rating | LED Projector Rating | HID Projector Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Luxury | Poor | N/A | N/A |
Luxury w/ Driver Awareness package | Poor | N/A | N/A |
Luxury w/ LED package | N/A | Poor | N/A |
Luxury w/ LED & Driver Awareness packages | N/A | Marginal | N/A |
Trim | Halogen Projector Rating | LED Projector Rating | HID Projector Rating |
---|---|---|---|
L | Marginal | N/A | N/A |
LS | Marginal | N/A | N/A |
LT | N/A | N/A | Marginal |
Premier | N/A | Marginal | N/A |
The 2017 Buick Envision scored Poor with halogen lights but Acceptable with HID projectors. Similarly, the 2017 Cadillac XT5 received a Poor rating with both halogen and – surprisingly – LED headlights, with the IIHS stating that both lights performed in a sub-par fashion. Meanwhile, the halogen and LED headlights on the 2018 Chevy Equinox received a Marginal rating. None of the vehicles received a Good rating, the IIHS’ best grade.
The GM Authority Take
A knee-jerk reaction could lead one to conclude that by not offering full LED headlights on the 2019 Blazer, GM/Chevy were either cutting corners or simply cheapening out on the crossover’s lighting systems. Either one of those circumstances might actually hold true, but the decision might ultimately not result in a detriment to the Blazer’s real-world lighting performance, since LEDs don’t appear to fare all that well in objective tests – as evidenced by the aforementioned IIHS evaluations.
That said, there’s a good chance that we’ll see Chevy offer all-LED headlights in a refresh of the Blazer. Notably, Chevrolet is offering LED headlights on the all-new 2019 Silverado, and we are curious to see how the LED lights perform on the truck. To note, the 2019 Silverado 1500 offers halogen headlights on base models, LED reflector headlights on mid-level models, and “high-intensity LED reflectors” on the range-topping Silverado High Country model.
Comments
Then use laser light. LEDs are already in the past.
The bloody Equinox has LED headlights and it’s older Blazer brother doesn’t? That’s straight-up classic GM cheapness. Just like their hard plastic use all over (especially in Chevy products).
LEDs not scoring well is just GM doing a poor job of designing lights. No real surprise there either.
So, did you read the part about the Honda?
Like most cars, the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer should get a minor refresh in 2021 and we’ll probably see LEDs then as it’s probably too late for Chevrolet to make the necessary changes before.
People have had a history with light fetishes.
I remember the rear high brake lights arrived around 85. Many complained they did not get one in their car.
The square head lamps in 76 many complained their model did not get them.
The composite lights arrived people complained their favorite car did not get them first.
The HIDs show up and people complain their base Model economy car did not get $2,000 of lights.
Many freaked out the did not have DRLS on their car when they came out and tried to add them.
Then Audi shows up with LED and people complain that their favorite car did not get them right away. And if they did they forget they would lose other content they would complain due to pricing.
The bottom line is the lights we have today of all types are very good. Yes some better than others but they all work fine.
What many who complain do not understand is the companies have to package things with cost so you will lose something else.
They also do not consider that you just do not just plug in bulbs. The electrical system needs to be calibrated for it or all havoc can result with many body control Modules.
These system transition in over time to spread out cost and to give models updates at refreshes.
You just have to have LED just get refit bulbs so you look up to date tech wise and make sure you get all the bits to make them work and not over heat.
Oh my god, the headlights are fine. Why is this such a big deal?
Admittedly, I’m kind of obsessed with car lighting systems and I don’t have any issues with this. If anyone is seriously complaining about this, they need to get a life.
Why make excuses for GM?
So LED lights are good enough for GM to offer on the NOX, and the Traverse but not available for the middle child Blazer?
Come on now. We all know shoppers pick a car that offers the most for the least amount they can afford. Kia and the likes are shoving everything they can for the least amount of money and are selling like hot cakes. Not having LED even as an option is bad. Period. There’s no way to spin this at all. The Blazer is all new.
2 takeaways from this:
1: GM is cheapening out on the Blazer by not offering full LED head and tail lights.
2: It doesn’t matter because they can’t figure out how to make decent LED lights anyway.
Haha
Seems to me GM can’t figure out the economies of scale of bringing things like LED lighting to the entire portfolio. If Honda and Toyota have figured out how to offer LED lighting and basic safer features standard or optional on nearly every car they produce, while still maintaining some of the best quality interiors (more so Honda imo) then maybe GM is missing something.
Agreed.
Honda has better overall interiors but unfortunately Toyota is catching up with every all new model they launch.
So what about the new D optic led’s on the new traverse. Was that wasted money developing that headlamp system?
I would rather the lighting be attractive and compliment the vehicle–and be inexpensive to repair, should the need arise–than be of any particular type. There’s a point these newer, whiter lights get hard on your eyes–to say nothing about the eyes of oncoming motorists.
The only thing I really want more than anything are DRLs. And for other cars to have a functioning CHMSL. Too many don’t work.
The other thing is people who don’t aim there headlights correctly. People assume you put a new bulb in that it will be aimed right. Most of time its not because the filament is different in every bulb.
Talk about the headlights, man, that grille is horrible looking. Black chain link fence fabric as opposed to chrome slats, anything, chrome… Chrome is still where it’s at…
Why dont you buy a Honda and Toyota! My mechanic friends tell me how bad their interior is and sheet metal. After 70k miles when they have tranny issues they replace fluid with GM spec so it doesn’t overheat. They tell the blue hairs they couldn’t find anything wrong and it should be ok… unfortunately older population buy those cars for the price and they listen marketing.
As for the lights, you all mention the foreign companies…well Chrysler is the only company that started with true LEDs a few years back using switchbacks for the rear and front turn signals and rear lights. These are on the low end models… Others use LED wrappers around the head lights to give a better light, aka Nissan and Hyundai. Illusion of projection and dispersion. Talk about saving money and fooling the public.
Yes GM should get on the ball and offer true LEDs like Chrysler and Audi. Its cheaper GM!
I retro fitted LEDs and HIDs on my 09 truck and couldn’t be happier! Same for my 17 Impala Premier. My wife won’t let me upgrade the 4200 HID to 50000 or 6000… ugh…
If you dont believe, watch the blinkers of those cars names you threw out and they have regular bulbs wrapped around the LED tail lights and front lights. Not 100% LED. So far Audi, BMW, some Cadillac models and there are others that are completely LED.
GM, get LEDs or sell replacement upgrades from the dealership.
Buick material quality must become a benchmark for Chevrolet may this be interior or exterior (lighting).
With Avenir Buick can reach further upmarket, challenge Audi for quality, fit, finish.
20 years ago VW and Audi shifted upmarket. GM has no choice of they hope to be viable as the industry applies EV and AV technology. GM with Cruise may lead but they needs brands desirable enough to host this technology.
Awww, come on guys, it’s so simple. Maybe you need a refresher course. … It’s all LED nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And I’m gonna need ’bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State.
Imagine a 2021 Chevrolet Blazer ZR1 equipped with a 755 hp supercharged 6.2L V8; given that the 2019 Blazer has an optional 3.6L DOHC-4v V6 means that there should be sufficient space for the LT5 engine under hood.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing found that the 2019 Kona with the halogen headlights provided visibility of the roadway out to 200 feet but the same car with the LED headlights provided with the higher priced models, illuminated the road ahead by over 400 feet. A vehicle driving at night at 60 mph travels 200 feet in 2.2 seconds and I for one would like having twice as much time to react to something in the road ahead, be it a deer or rock or a someone on a bicycle.
Today is Oct 22 2020–I have a 2019 Equinox diesel! I want this on the record! The headlights on my Equinox are so poor, it scares the hell out of me that it will cause some kind of terrible accident! The low beams are HORRIBLE as it is! When I hit my high beams there is no real difference other than I can see overhead tree branches light up to a very small amount! There is zero improvement with my headlights to see further ahead or side to side. This is worthless! I brought my Equinox to the local Chevy dealership for this urgent problem! The dealership told me that nothing could be done! They told me that they did not have better bulbs and the level of the headlights could not be adjusted at all!
i got a 2019 chevy blazer and it snowed, after it melted the salt and ice got on the head lights and driveing at night i couldnt see the road. The head lights are to low and a safety issue.