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2021 Chevy Blazer Is One Midsize SUV To Avoid, Says Consumer Reports

These days, there’s really no shortage of options in the midsize crossover SUV segment. However, according to a recent report from Consumer Reports, the 2021 Chevy Blazer is one midsize crossover SUV that is best avoided.

According to Consumer Reports, the 2021 Chevy Blazer is primarily focused on aesthetics and luxury, and as a result, it skimps on utility. Consumer Reports also gives the 2021 Chevy Blazer a below-average predicted reliability score.

Further criticisms include an “unimpressive” 19 mpg with regard to overall fuel returns, as well as the lack of standard safety features on the lower trim, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot warning.

That said, Consumer Reports does classify the 2021 Chevy Blazer’s naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 LGX gasoline engine as “smooth,” and it praises the crossover’s ride and handling, while also pointing out the quiet cabin and easy-to-use controls.

Nevertheless, Consumer Reports maintains that the 2021 Chevy Blazer is one midsize crossover that should be avoided. Instead, the organization suggests that buyers consider the 2021 Ford Edge, which comes with a variety of “key safety features” as standard, and provides 22 mpg overall from the standard turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine. The organization also praised the Ford’s infotainment features, and called it a “pleasant, well-rounded vehicle with agile handling, a steady ride, and a quiet interior that contributes to its premium feel.”

Consumer Reports also suggest an “Under-the-Radar Alternative” in the form of a 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe. Recently receiving a thorough refresh, the Santa Fe offers more power engines, including a hybrid model. Consumer Reports praised the Santa Fe’s handling, roomy cabin, large rear seat, and cargo room, as well as the new interior styling.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Chevy Blazer is the third model year for the all-new Blazer crossover nameplate. In addition to offering the 308-horsepower V6 engine mentioned above, the Blazer can also be had with the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine, which produces 227 horsepower, and the naturally aspirated 2.5L I4 LCV, which produces 193 horsepower.

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Source: Consumer Reports

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Lol, you can’t make this up, thus is why nobody reads this crap. At least this time they didn’t indicate themselves by recommending only Asian models…

    Reply
  2. “we think this car sucks, now see our add from this cars competitors.”

    I’m still laughing how MT compared the 2019 Silverado high country Z71 with 17″ wheels and off-road tires to a ram limited with 22″s and low profile all season tires and then complained about ride quality and road noise. You can’t make this crap up. There is no comparison of the blazer with the 3.6 to the Ford edge. It’s like comparing a Camaro and a camry. They are only similar in size.

    Reply
  3. The blazer is trash btw overpriced trash to be exact. But hey there are a few people buying that Mexican made crap

    Reply
    1. In the spirit of “buy the Santa Fe it comes in a Hybrid”
      I recommend buying the last gen Camaro it’s a Transformer. It becomes Bumblebee.

      Reply
  4. I happen to love my 2021 Blazer red line addition. I think it’s the baddest looking vehicle out there, and the performance is like no other

    Reply
    1. Everyone always feels like the car they bought is the best most beautiful earth shaking fast thing ever made. It’s usually not btw 😁

      Reply
      1. Imagine going out of your way to attempt trolling a GM blog and show everyone you’re a Hyundai fan boy.

        Reply
    2. SORRY, A BLAZER IN NAME ONLY.

      I STARTED WORKING FOR CHEVROLET CCO 10-6-69 LEFT IN 2000 MARCH. FORECASTING ALL CHEVROLET TRUCK WINNERS AND LOSERS. GM TODAY IS JUST A MINI MODEL OF WHAT GENERAL MOTORS WAS AND IS TODAY. SAD FOR ME TO SEE AND TO HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE SADDEST USA TRAGEDY IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS GREAT COMPANY. USA HISTORY WILL PROVE THAT” WHAT WAS GOOD FOR GENERAL MOTORS WAS GOOD FOR THE USA.”

      Reply
    3. I have a 2021 Chevy Blazer with v6 engine and it is a Great mid size SUV.

      Reply
  5. I have the 2021 Blazer after Range Rovers, Jaguars, Mercedes and Priuses. It is the best car I have had in over 20 years. I have the RS, fully loaded version with all the safety features and options. I would say the Blazer is a little bit overpriced, but in 2021 it is hard to gauge that with the way car supplies and buying is. But all the same, in terms of the mechanics and utility, I am more than happy with it and I am getting about 23.5 MPG on average.

    Reply
    1. Mmm..I am getting 40+mpg in my RAV4 hybrid

      Reply
      1. I Am Getting Unlimited Miles Per Gallon On My Cannondale Bicycle!

        Reply
        1. I Have A 2021 Blazer RS. It Is A Fantastic Vehicle. Good Looking Vehicle. 6 Cylinder Gets It When Needed…27 MPG On Highway…20 Around Town. It Has All The Safety Features I Need.

          Reply
      2. Why don’t you move to Japan? We live in Merica!!!!

        Reply
    2. And it only cost you $5k less than the Range Rover!

      Reply
    3. Me too.rs grey

      Reply
  6. Please stop posting Consumer Report articles! They are the worst when it actually comes to car reviews. Their reviews make no sense at all.

    Reply
  7. FORD PAID THEM A HEFTY SUM I BET TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE…. CHEVY ALL THE WAY!

    Reply
  8. We own a Blazer..and positively love. I work in rental car business so I get to drive everything. I was swayed by this one. There’s a lotta garbage out there,and we re not about to go 2nd mortgage to impress the neighbors. We don’t need all the frills.

    Reply
  9. Got my 2021 RS and love it. Plenty of space, fast, 21.5 mpg average, all safety features. Gets lots of compliments.

    Reply
  10. The Blazer does exactly that it is suppose to do. It is quiet smooth comfortable CUV that is well sorted on a good chassis. It has a V6 the edge does not offer but also does offer the turbo 4 if one should choose.

    The safety options are there and available on most models at a modest price that most pay for anyways.

    Our larger Acadia also with the drive train gets 21.5 all day. Not sue what they are doing to get 19. Or they just never realy measured it.

    CR is a hack magazine that is not recommended to buy by most automotive knowledgeable people.

    Reply
  11. While I like the Ford edge, I still can’t pick it over the Blazer. And I can’t listen to Consumer Reports. They will recommend you a vehicle that is boring and eventually will pop up a recall

    Reply
  12. I love my 2021 Blazer RS in the new Wild Cherry Metalliac color! I get so many compliments on the exterior and the interior, especially the exterior color. It has tons of space for passengers and for cargo/luggage. It is so fun to drive especially in sport mode, and I own a ‘ 16 Camaro SS! Probably the best vehicle I have ever owned, next to my Camaro of course.

    Reply
  13. Consumer Reports recommendations seem based on how much advertising dollars spent. Some of the lame dislikes are pure petty B.S. and prefer anything but American. Quit the magazine 20years ago with no regrets. Consumer Reports gets a ” Do not buy” from me!

    Reply
  14. I have a great 1999 Blazer XL with all of it’s original components except, for the alternator.
    I wish GM would build a retro Chevy Blazer. That would stand out much better than the cookie cutter style that this new Blazer has.

    Reply
  15. I’ve seen quite a few of these on the road and they look decent except for the generic Camaro front end look. I am just skeptical though do consumers buy this vehicle because they feel sorry for the known facts that American quality suck or that they wholeheartedly enjoy a vehicle that is just powerful and looks nice? There is nothing special of barely 25 mpg combined in a 22 gal tank in the overall gas world, cheap material, lack of reliability, and maintenance over the next 5 to 6 years. I mean those are just facts in the engineering World as well and it is very strange to see people brag about vehicles like these.

    Reply
    1. And do you believe everything you read? The whole GM is unreliable and crap is a bunch of BS! I have owned GM vehicles for life, NEVER had any major issues, outside of a few minor issues covered under warranty. I have friends that have the so called bullet proof Toyota’s that have had major issues within the first couple of years of ownership! Point is, stop reading and listening to BS!

      Reply
      1. So, just because you have good experiences everyone else is going to? That is not how The Real World works. Maybe at one point in time GM was good quality but not since the bailout using Gov’t subsidies. I don’t support big Gov’t and will not support car manufacturing companies that feel they can get away with their half a** quality simply to stay in business and provide “jobs”. Times are changing and it is time to put reliable vehicles out on the road that will not only deliver excellent gas mileage, build quality is adequate, holds value and reliability, and will not take a lot of money out of our pockets. The facts are there in bold statistics that GM has one of the poorest rated quality out of most car manufacturers with exceptions to some of the vehicles they produce. Shocker considering a lot of their vehicles have parts from overseas and are not 100% American.

        Reply
        1. Well Fred, first of all , all three manufacturers got a bailout for your info, Ford just barrowed 50 billion in June before the banks shut down and that is why GM and Chrysler had to go to Congress for a well structured government loan, with collateral, which they paid back with interest. I have personally owned over 65 GM, all Chevys but 2 Olds, and I have never had a lemon, a serious problem with one of them and I got my first car a 68 Chevelle SS in 70 and the rest have all been new. Several of them have run well over 200,000 miles and I have only had one trans problem and it was my fault, driving it on a zero degree morning without letting it warm up. So your comments about quality is about as convincing as Joe Biden’s press conferences! Union labor is what put the American manufacturers under the 8 ball and the do nothing Congressmen allowed Japan and others to dump thousands of cheaper made cars on our soil with no tariffs so we had to try to compete with 6/hr labor when ours was 24/hour! Drive your foreign made crap and smile as you see America continue to decline globally and domestically. Buy from Amazon too, don’t help out your local businesses because I am sure that Amazon sponsors all your little league ball clubs, your schools and needy in your community. And keep voting Blue so China can take everything away from us! Long live Xi!!!!!!!!!!!!

          Reply
    2. Free advise for Fred,
      When trying to dog someone or something out via written means, it is always best to:

      1. State some verifiable technical facts to support your claims…not “just facts in the engineering world.”
      2. At least attempt to communicate in an articulate manner, while also using proper punctuation. Otherwise, you run the risk of just looking like a buffoon.

      If you are an engineer and this is all the communication skills required for the profession, then that’s a shame. Perhaps this is the cause for disconnect between engineering and design. Or perhaps, you are one of the million automotive experts that has everything figured out from your Cheetos dust encrusted keyboard and no profession related to the automotive sector.

      I have been coming to this sight for years, but usually refrain from commenting. But your post, Fred, has inspired me to contribute.
      When visiting a site dedicated to any brand, if you’re not exactly a fan, it’s best to respectfully refrain from commenting, lest you run the risk of looking like a troll.
      If my Ex-wife sucked as much as you claim American quality suck(ed)…I would still be married to her!

      Reply
      1. “I have been coming to this sight for years” shows how much I should even waste my time with your comment. I am pretty much convinced GM owners are a bunch of old geezers mad that people don’t purchase American garbage and are slowly losing that traditional way of life. The same people complaining about America’s thirst for Chinese crap are the same people that buy China-made versus USA-made products. You’re all a bunch of hypocrites at the end of the day and it shows in how you refute an argument.

        Reply
        1. This old geezer is a past GM owner who likes to buy American. I switched because of poor GM quality. My garage is full of vehicles built in the USA. Tesla, Honda Pilot, Ram 1500, 2 Harley Davidsons, Honda Gold Wing.
          The Honda Pilot is the best vehicle I gave owned. The Tesla the most innovative.

          Reply
  16. Here we go again with CR…a non comparison trash rag. I have never bought a CR in my life. My father in-law, as a gift, gave us a 1 yr prescription and after the 1st biased month, i cancelled and never read another mag. I was 33 yrs old and never looked back. I didn’t have the courage to tell my father in-law. Truth be told, he got burnt many times buying CR recommdations with cars, lawnmowers, and electronics. He was a creature of habit…

    Reply
    1. CR seems to mainly look at gas mileage and free safety features as opposed to handling, power, and design.
      They are about function over form and getting from Point A to Point B regardless of how uninspired the ride. I consider numb steering and road noise dangerous yet CR loved Fusion and Sonata.

      Quality is important, no doubt, but in 2021 GM holds up as well as most brands whether we are talking Kia, Ford, Peugeot or Honda. Interior quality is a different issue but Ford is the worst here with FCA Stellantis leading the Detroit brands.

      Reply
  17. While I can’t comment one way or another on the Blazer, I *can* say that CR has misguided me on multiple, major, household purchases. I wonder whether they just see the glossy product photos and write their reviews.

    Reply
  18. The Blazer feels modern and sporty with a monster engine in the 3.6, I couldn’t believe how nice it was when we took my in-laws 20 Blazer on a long vacation drive this summer. It’s an engaging, well-styled rocket with a rock solid feel in the curves.

    Reply
  19. I love my 2021 blazer. Would buy it again.

    Reply
  20. Yeah consumer reports, blatant bias,and favoritism, I do have just one complaint about the Blazer because we tried to lease one, only way to go is the RS,way overpriced.

    Reply
    1. Agreed. I’ve been wary of CR ever since I saw them unnecessarily rag on a Jeep Patriot. I drove one around for a while and saw none of the “problems” that they stressed.

      Reply
    2. If anything I would avoid the RS as it is the second most expensive, has those massive hard riding 20 or 21″ tires that are noisy and terrible in the snow and it is mostly black plastic and body color appearance items that make it so expensive. The 2LT is the best value here and can be had for under 40K with a V6.

      Reply
  21. I have a 2019 RS I’ve had it for almost 2 Years have no complaints happy with the way it handles Quiet performed very well No Complaints little costly .

    Reply
  22. Personally, I like the Chevy Blazer with the V6 engine and RS.
    In addition, the interior quality, often portrayed negatively, with hard plastic is more valuable for the life of the car (15 years)!
    Painted plastic has the disadvantage that the paint wears off quickly and the parts are then defective. Also applies to headlining decors that detach quickly from the adhesive due to the USA climate.
    Recommendation for blazers and all inexpensive CARS in the USA.

    Conclusion:
    Whether the CR and some readers disagree here is theirs. He thinks CR is subsidized with donations and advertising!
    I just find it dubious if you advertise here for competitors that is illogical, since you compare apples with oranges.
    If I followed the opinion of others, I wouldn’t drive an old car here in Europe or a convertible or a superbike or whatever! Everyone their opinion, but for YOURSELF!

    Reply
  23. Our Blazer Premier is great and I would recommend it to anyone! It handles and looks better than average. We have the 3.6 with strong power but if fuel mileage is important get the 2.0. We get 25mpg+ on the highway and both engines use 87 octane. It has more useable space than our outgoing Terrain. The problem in this area is low dealer inventory.

    Reply
    1. Thanks for supporting Mexico with your purchase 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

      Reply
  24. CR is written by people who know nothing about cars for people who know nothing about cars

    Reply
  25. I own a Trax. Mentioned was the lack of safety features, that is a selling point for me. I dont want that crap nor need it.

    Reply
  26. CR’s gas mileage on a GM product is as usual suspect just as in the past. I have driven two different AWD Blazers, a 2LT V6 and an RS model with the same engine. The 2LT averaged 22 overall and the RS 21.5. This was an even 50/50 mix of city and highway driving. If I were to choose it would be the 2LT hands down. For about 7K less it rode a bit smoother and quieter and for sure would be better in Winter driving which we have 5 months a year potential. I also think the 20″ RS wheels are ugly and the exterior while sharp is a bit too dull.

    Reply
  27. It seems a lot of people posting here know CR stinks. The problem I’ve noticed over the years is many people swear by CR and that’s a shame.
    I think CR is a scam. They pride themselves on not taking advertising money. Well how do they sustain their operation? They supposedly don’t get any of their products free, and they purchase whatever items they’re testing as regular customers. That’s a huge expense. I was told they sustain their operations on donations. Who’s donating to CR?

    Reply
  28. Consumer Reports???…Really??? They are simply a big joke.

    Reply
  29. CR is correct on their reliability ratings. Some of their other complaints are questionable, but reliability is the #1 item customers turn to CR for and GM has done nothing to address the on going poor ratings it receives. While at GM I often heard about addressing the poor CR reliability ratings from executives, but it continues. Why? because absolutely no one is accountable for it. CR reliability improvement certainly was not on Mary Barra’s or Mark Reuss’s performance goals.

    Reply
    1. But other publications give them good reliability ratings.

      Reply
  30. Dang it, been hankering for a new Blazer. By the time inventory gets back to normal and prices settle down, I will have enough cash on hand to buy 2 (both my current vehicles are 2014s, so I have had many years to save).

    So my hankerings looked good on July 27th when this site posted that “Blazer Chevy Blazer Wins AutoPacific 2021 Vehicle Satisfaction Award”.

    Then 5 days later, “2021 Chevy Blazer Is One Midsize SUV To Avoid, Says Consumer Reports.”

    My hopes have been dashed. Woe is me!

    Reply
  31. Suggest putting the 3.0L GM Diesel in as an option …and have more power than the 3.6L and 50+ mpg.
    I have a 2018 GMC Terrain 1.6L GM Diesel and get 43-44 mpg with no effort(59 mpg top mpg) for 3.5 years …and would buy another one instantly. Diesel fuel is now cheaper than regular in my area. Super.

    Reply
  32. Where is all the GM nut huggers lol

    Reply
  33. Look to J D Power for unbiased vehicle evaluations. CR is junk.

    Reply
  34. We have a 2021 Blazer Premier and it is a fantastic suv.
    I cancelled my subscription to CR last year as they heavily promote foreign made products.

    Reply
  35. Unfortunately, CR reviews the whole car, not just the horsepower rating !

    Reply
  36. I avoid consumer reports. Who reads cr anyway.

    Reply
  37. The modern day Blazer is clearly a cash grab for GM. Just when Ford announced the come back of Bronco, GM started making the Blazer. But the new Blazer is a complete loser to the original body on frame, rear wheel drive K5 Blazer. Does anyone expect quality together with a cash grab product? Never ever!

    Reply
    1. and the S10 blazer as well and the new trailblazer is even worse.

      Reply
  38. I Agree with you, this new blazer is a big time disgraceful insult to the fans of the K5/S10 blazers, those were the real blazers.

    Reply
  39. I’m so with Dan on this issue of the Chev Blazer. We have a 20 Blazer Premier, iridescent pearl tricoat, tan interior, 21″ wheels, and optional grille treatment in black both sides. I too own a Camaro SS 2020 and love driving both of them. The Blazer is a super fine SUV and my wife is very happy with it,,,,nuff said.

    Reply
  40. I’m with Dan on this issue. We have a 20 Blazer Premier, iridescent pearl white, tan interior, all the bells and whistles and my wife loves it. Our neighbor has a high dollar Rover and another has the BMW SUV but we still get compliments from them on the Blazer. I also own a 20 Camaro SS(awesome car) and love driving both. You go GM.

    Reply
  41. I happen to like 306 horsepower. I don’t really give a rip about 3 miles per gallon since I only drive about 6,000 miles a year. My 2021 Blazer is ripping fast, good looking, and after 6 months of driving now doesn’t seem to have a problem.

    And when I say fast, I am astonished how fast this thing goes from 0 to 80.

    Reply
  42. please be advised, consumer reports doesn’t accept any advertising. so whatever they say, weather you agree with it or not is their opinion. not purchased with any corporate money. you may not agree with them but at least you can respect them for not beingsold to the highest bidder. they just try to give the most informative opinion, without politics. politics.

    Reply
  43. It’s not a Blazer. It’s just an Equinox with a 6 bolt lug pattern and an edgy face. The Blazer was originally a dedicated off roader competing with the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, and Dodge Ramcharger. The new Chevy “Blazer” is a lie on 4 wheels made by a car company running out of ideas, so they took the name of a serious full size off road truck from 1969-1994 and slapped it on the Equinox going through its edgy teen years. The new “Blazer” wasn’t a car that needed to be built, they could’ve just put a V8 in the Equinox, but no.

    Reply
    1. Apparently you have never driven the Equinox nor the Blazer. I owned a 2018 Equinox and now own a 2021 Blazer, they are completely different! The drive, handling, feel of the vehicles, the space, materials inside and outside, plus they are very different looking exterior appearance wise! Go look at the overpriced Audi SUVs, they are very hard to distinguish, same boring corporate face, outside of the Q3,5,7 badges on the rear, they are very similiar!

      Reply
      1. I have driven my grandmother’s 2014 Equinox, so I can speak from experience on that department. You are right that I have not driven the new “blazer” whatsoever, and I never plan on it. Since you stated you have driven both the equinox and the “blazer”, and stated they are different vehicles from your own personal experience, I will take that L and admit I might be wrong. If anything, the new “blazer is more similar to the Chevy Traverse. The point I was trying to make and still stand by is that the new chevy “blazer” is not a blazer at all. It’s just one of Chevy’s mommy suvs with the blazer name slapped onto it. You don’t need to worry as I’m not interested in any of audis suvs. I instead recommend you look up Chevy K5 Blazers. That is what the Blazer used to be and will always be in my heart.

        Reply
        1. I am not defending the name, very familiar with the old K5’s, this is nothing like those. The name is really just the name. Should they have used Blazer again, maybe, maybe not. I do agree they need a RWD off road K5 type vehicle. I actually would have liked the new Blazer to be RWD, that is where I feel GM has really dropped the ball, even Cadillac outside of the Escalade has no RWD SUVs/CUVs…oh and the new Equinox is very different hand drives very differently than that 2014. The new Equinox I never loved it, I liked it, but it was too small for my needs. I had the 2.0T, probably the best 4 cylinder I have ever driven, hated the need for premium gas, and since the current Equinox is light weight and the amount of torque with the 2.0, it sucked once the front end would get squirrely. The Blazer is much wider and feels planted, but not heavy at all, especially with the 3.6, which I think is a great engine.

          Reply
          1. Guess we both agree that the new blazer should have been given a different name. I will grudgingly admit the new blazer is a nice looking vehicle and is relatively peppy in terms of performance, but at the end of the day, I will always be upset at Chevy for their decision in naming that vehicle the blazer. If anything, I wouldn’t mind if they slapped the trailblazer name from the mid 2000s on it and called it Trailblazer XL or something. The fact Chevy decided to give it the Blazer name though and not come up with a new name will always upset me no matter what. That’s just me.

            Reply
  44. I see alot of people talking up the RS, but not the lower models. No idea how that turbo 4 goes. And consumer reports did recommend an American vehicle instead

    Reply
  45. Consumer reports Lost ALL Credibility when they intentionally rolled the Jeeps and Suzuki as well as tried to make several other manufacturers look bad because they don’t like that particular brand.

    GMA, you should stop reposting their articles and giving them any type of recognition and attention. They don’t deserve any of it, as they are the film left on the floor when you pick up dog feces off of the floor.

    Reply
  46. What a surprise–CR RATINGS ARE 100% CRAP CANCELED MINE klbi

    Reply
  47. Consumer Reports, experts on thousands of products…. Pure b.s.

    Reply
  48. I have a GM card with points applicable to purchase price.Trouble is GM deletes unused points each billing cycle and they are stingy with how much you can apply with each purchase/lease. Non the less I used it 4 times and we I’ll see what I can get from them when I lease my next Blazer(critics be damned)!

    Reply

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