We recently spent a week with the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer – Chevrolet’s still-new two-row midsize crossover. Riding on the GM C1 platform shared with the GMC Acadia and Cadillac XT5, the Blazer is positioned between the Equinox and the Traverse within the Chevrolet lineup.
Our test unit was the high-end Blazer RS, which comes standard with a twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system and the 3.6L LGX V6 engine good for 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The naturally-aspirated six-banger is mated to the smooth-shifting GM nine-speed automatic transmission.
With this new Blazer – which has absolutely nothing in common with the body-on-frame models of yore – Chevrolet offers a two-row midsize crossover to compete existing models like the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, as well as new entries like the Honda Passport, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, and upcoming Toyota Venza.
Now, practicality is one of the foremost reasons that consumers buy crossovers in the first place. So to see if the Blazer is worthy of the “utility” part of the name, we decided to give it a challenging test by fitting a fully-assembled mountain bike in the trunk.
The bike itself is a size large 2020 Specialized Rockhopper Expert with 29-inch tires. The Rockhopper is a “hardtail” mountain bike, meaning it only utilizes a moving suspension system only in the front, while the rear section is solid like that of a conventional road bike. This reduces the bike’s overall weight and increases its rigidity so it can perform better during uphill climbs or occasional road use.
The Rockhopper is a stalwart entry-level trail bike that has been around for quite some time. It remains to this day one of the best values in its segment due to a competitive price and high-quality components. Thanks to an all-aluminum frame, the bike is light and nimble, making it ideal for light to medium-grade trails. It also offers the ability to quickly remove its seat and wheels for easy storage thank to a set of quick-release levers.
For the sake of our test, we left the bike fully assembled. The measurements included a wheelbase of 43 inches long and a total height (with the seat on) of 32 inches.
It’s worth noting that the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer’s cargo space is far from class-leading. With the second-row seats folded and the available cargo bar removed, the Chevy crossover features 64 cubic feet of total cargo space, which is less than the 78 feet featured by the Honda Passport, 73 inches in the Ford Edge and even the 67 inches offered in the Nissan Murano. But that didn’t stop our Chevy from swallowing the Rockhopper in one bite.
We managed to fit the fully-assembled bicycle through the vehicle’s trunk without breaking a sweat.
It’s worth noting that (probably) the most effective way of getting the bike into the car is to put the rear wheel in first, and to then turn the front wheel 90 degrees towards to the right, as pictured.
Once the bike is in, the Blazer still has enough room for more things, like a helmet, bike shoes, and other sports equipment. All this proves that, while the Blazer has less cargo capacity (on paper) when compared to its direct rivals, it still fulfills the basic function of a utility vehicle.
Of course, in an ideal scenario, we would have hooked a bike rack to the Blazer’s roof, but throwing the bike in the cabin also does the job just as well – proving adequate when a rack isn’t available.
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Comments
The Chevrolet Blazer is a bit deceptive in pictures where it’s difficult to guess the actual size of the crossover as while some may think of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, the Chevrolet Blazer is more like a GMC Arcadia and share more in common with a full size SUV than a Chevrolet Equinox.
It really is a perfect size
Seriously , with the rear seats down I fit the same bike in the back of my Honda Fit .
What a useless puff piece .
How much did you get paid by specialized ?
The 1990 era specialized are a far better product then new models
James be mad. James be very mad.
But why James be mad nobody understands.
James be mad.
James – don’t you think that if specialized paid for this, then their name or the name of the product would at least be mentioned in the title?
Also – please try to fit this bike into your fit. I don’t think you’ll be able to close the hatch.
I read GMA daily. Unlike most, these guys don’t do puff pieces or sponsored articles or whatever and I respect them for it.
“ Seriously , with the rear seats down I fit the same bike in the back of my Honda Fit .”
= the biggest load of BS I’ve heard yet.
Go troll somewhere else.
Putting a 29’r in a hatchback without taking off at least the front wheel is not a fun time, regardless of it being a Blazer or Fit. Getting a hitch mounted rack will save you countless hours and scratches over the course of a season. I bought my hitch new and found numerous affordable hitch mounted bike racks available used for under $200. Hitch mounted racks are easier than roof racks and serve as a great bike stand for maintenance.
As far as the bike goes, love all bikes, especially hardtails. That bike is going to suit 90% of most riders needs just fine and specialized still makes some top of the line bikes. The Rockhopper is loaded with features and a bargain at that price point. Aluminum is not the best build material for a hardtail once you get out on the single track because it does not absorb much vibration. For affordability I prefer Steel, but Ti or carbon are probably the best materials. Have fun and wear a helmet!
90’s era MTB were all 26’rs and most lacked front suspension and disc brakes, so you’re just straight up wrong about that. Modern geometries are not even comparable to the old bikes. I currently ride a 29+ Surly Krampus w/rockshox, hardcore hardtail 4 lyfe 🤘, or until my knees give out. Any fluff piece with bikes is something I’ll read.
I used to fit my 90’s era 26’r full suspension in the back of my 2000 Camaro no problem, without removing wheels or seat!
If you cant get one in the back of an SUV/CUV or what ever, I wouldn’t call it an _UV!
My 2009 Chevy Equinox can carry that bike and still have room for more stuff. I have carried eight feet by four feet panels, a ten foot aluminum ladder, and even twelve feet lumber, ALL INSIDE! My mother in law wanted my wife to carry a full sized mattress, too, but we never tried to.
Where are the results of the questions that were asked for that week spent with the Blazer article? Are we going to get an article for each question asked? I don’t care of that’s the case I just want to know what you thought of the vehicle.
Hi Fredo,
An article is coming out very soon with answers to the most popular questions regarding our Blazer drive. Sorry for the delay.
Fredo – here they are:
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/07/2020-chevrolet-blazer-we-answer-your-questions/