The Chevrolet Blazer nameplate was reintroduced for the 2019 model year, launching as an all-new midsize crossover utility vehicle (CUV). In addition to new customer-focused technology, excellent functionality, and a head-turning design, the 2019 Chevy Blazer came standard with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, as did the following 2020 model year vehicle. Now, GM Authority has learned that the upcoming 2021 Blazer will no longer offer a leather-wrapped steering wheel as standard across the line.
2020 Chevrolet Blazer RS interior
According to our sources, the 2021 Blazer will not come with a leather-wrapped steering wheel as standard on L, 1LT, or 2LT trim levels. Rather, these three trims will instead come with a urethane steering wheel as standard.
Meanwhile, higher trims of the 2021 Blazer, which include the 3LT, RS, and Premier, will continue to offer a leather-wrapped steering wheel as standard.
Check out a complete breakdown of the standard steering wheel material for all model years of the latest-generation Chevrolet Blazer in the table below:
| L | 1LT | 2LT | 3LT | RS | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Blazer | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped |
| 2020 Blazer | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped |
| 2021 Blazer | Urethane | Urethane | Urethane | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped | Leather-wrapped |
2020 Chevrolet Blazer RS interior
While GM Authority has not confirmed the motivation behind changes to the steering wheel material for the 2021 Blazer, it’s possible that the move could be a cost-cutting measure intended to make up for the bevy of active safety features now included as standard on the latest model. Check out our exclusive coverage of this for a complete breakdown of the safety features and their availability, as well as a comparison to the previous 2020 model year Blazer.
Other noteworthy features for 2021 Blazer include the addition of a new optional tow package for FWD vehicles. The new package will increase towing capacity for FWD Blazer models equipped with the 3.6L V6 LGX engine, and will come with a more robust cooling system. The new towing package will increase towing capacity for FWD-equipped 2021 Blazer models to 4,500 pounds, matching the rating for AWD models.
202 Chevrolet Blazer RS interior
Is the deletion of a standard leather-wrapped steering wheel from the lower 2021 Blazer trims a dealbreaker? Do the new safety features make up for it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Blazer news, Chevrolet news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
now why in gods name would chevy do that? I swear the people who are in charge of GM CUVs must be the dumbest set of engineers GM can find
Yeah, engineering doesn’t make those calls, genius.
yo remind me where I asked
Backwards thinking as always at GM.
GM Beancounters at it again I see.
I am serious right now…if GM doesn’t rid themselves of the Beancounters they will have huge issues in the Future. Younger buyers care about The latest and greatest in Tech and quality in interiors. As we all know even if some refuse to accept the facts, cars will go full EV in the Future so not much will break down. So the only thing people will care about is the Tech and quality of interior. Start now GM or be considered inferior by the up and coming Customers as they grow up.
Motivation is basically GM being cheap as usual.
When GM showed the Blazer for the first time I said the Following…
Base engine is not good enough for this segment at all. It needs the 2.0T
Well GM added the 2.0T but did NOT get rid of the 2.5
I also said that the interior has waaaaaay too much HARD Plastic. Well GM has done nothing about that.
I also said if this is a Sporty CUV, that Steering Wheel is not the right one. Well they still use that Steering Wheel and now they get rid od the Leather wrapping as standard.
The Blazer is so close to being a great vehicle but GM just doesn’t sweat the Small things like the other Top Manufacturers do. That is the issue.
While it is a cheap looking move on paper, the reality of it is 95% of the Blazers people are actually buying have the convenience package equipped, which I’m sure that leather wrap wheel will now be part of. What you’ll instead see will be more content at roughly the same cost, Equinox went through this same change for the 2020 model year.
I could see the stripper base L model not having the leather wheel but the 1 and 2LT’s is going too far on what is already an overpriced vehicle to start with. Lets hope they had the sense to at least include it on the convenience package. Note that Hyundai does the same thing on its Sante Fe. You have to go up to the 3rd trim level, the SEL turbo to get a standard leather wheel and it is only available on the SEL in a 2250 convenience package.
Does GM Authority know if the leather wrapped steering wheel will be offered as part of an options package on 2LT and lower trims? This information would have been a helpful addition to this article.
Maybe I will have to try and find one of the vintage steering wheel wraps from the 1970’s? But then again, maybe after spending $38,990 on a Blazer I ma not have any money left for that.
Good old GM, cut, cut, cut..now no light in glove box and center armrest,GM wont last long with cheap interiors.
@Ronald Farmer
I so agree with you. If GM doesn’t dramatically improve their interiors and do it ASAP, they will lose more Market Share in the Future.
Chevrolet to introduce a video to explain why they came to the conclusion that removal of the standard leather wrapped steering wheel of the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer CUV will actually help improve marketing and sales of the CUV.
Okay. We own a 2019 Encore in top Essense trim, and now a 2021 Trailblazer LT.
I would take the incredible tech upgrades on the Trailblazer in a heartbeat over the leather steering wheel on the Buick. One is a tactile nicety. The other is a suite of safety necessities that are worth far more.
Do not agree with this move, part of the appeal of the 2LT package is the leather wrapped steering wheel. That is what I have on my equinox and was surprised to see it is an option on the new Trailblazer. And now it will be dropped from the Blazer. Not a good thing for GM and believe it will affect sales to an extent.
Also, most educated intelligent people want safety technology instead of a leather wrapped steering wheel. Your thinking about holding leather while you drive is silly and illogical. Way to go GM to putting money where it best provides safety!
Leather contains Formaldehyde which is a dangerous carcinogen. I and my children are allergic to Formaldehyde. I support removing all leather from vehicle interiors due to this danger. Your lack of education on Formaldehyde and wish for “luxury” is silly. Many people would rather have accident safety technology on their vehicles instead of leather! Also, there are many people who are vegan and opposed to animal skins in their vehicles. Thanks GM for your excellence in making safer and healthier vehicles!