Should You Buy a Used Chevrolet Blazer?

If you like the look of the latest Chevrolet Blazer but your budget doesn’t quite stretch to a brand new one you’ll be glad to know the new Blazer has now been around long enough for there to be a healthy number of used Blazers for sale across the country. The questions you therefore need to ask are should you buy a used Chevrolet Blazer and what should you look out for if you do decide to buy a used Chevrolet Blazer? The good news is I’m going to answer those and plenty of other questions you might have about buying a used Chevy Blazer.

If you like the latest Chevrolet Blazer and you’d like to get one for a much lower price than a brand new one would cost then yes, you should buy a used Chevrolet Blazer because it’s a very desirable midsize crossover SUV that’s great value for money.

And if you want to look for a Blazer or any other vehicle coming up for sale at amazing prices you might want to check out government auctions here, which is where some real bargains can be had on decommissioned government vehicles or vehicles confiscated from less reputable types!

What is the Chevrolet Blazer?

The Chevrolet Blazer is a stylish midsize crossover SUV with seating for up to five people. It’s a relatively weighty vehicle with a base curb weight of up to 4,287 pounds but it’s not as big inside or outside as many of its midsize rivals. With a strong resemblance to the current Chevy Camaro, I’d say the current Blazer is a lot more about style rather than family-friendly capability and versatility.

It’s not a small vehicle and you’re not going to mistake it for a compact crossover anytime soon, but with 41 inches of front legroom and 39.6-inches of rear legroom, and a total passenger volume of 107.8 cu.-ft., it’s only about average in its class in terms of space for passengers.

This is a midsize crossover you buy because of how it looks above all else and I think it looks absolutely sensational, but I love the Camaro too so I was probably always going to love this new Blazer. May I be so bold as to suggest it’s something of a budget Lamborghini Urus?

Of course, only in terms of styling as I wouldn’t even begin to suggest it offers anything like the performance of the Lambo. I’m not even suggesting they look the same because they don’t. What I do mean is they share the same sort of sporty, aggressive SUV stance that sets them apart from the raft of ponderous family haulers that tend to dominate the midsize SUV segment.

Chevrolet Blazer History

The current Chevy Blazer was an all-new vehicle for the 2019 model year that went into production right at the end of 2018, but the nameplate isn’t new by any means. In fact, Chevy has been building Blazers of various types since as long ago as 1969.

The first Blazers were the full-size Chevrolet K5 Blazers that were based on the C/K pickup chassis and were in production between 1969 and 1991. This version was renamed as just the Blazer in 1992 and two-door versions became the Tahoe in 1995.

We also had compact and mid-size Chevrolet S-10 Blazers that were unsurprisingly based on the S-10 pickup, and these Blazers were in production and on sale between 1983 and 2005.

The Blazer nameplate went into hiatus after the 2005 model year but it reappeared in 2018 as a 2019 model year in its current midsize crossover SUV format. Despite the challenges to the auto business brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chevy Blazer continued to sell extremely well through 2020.

In fact, through a combination of high demand and restricted production, many dealers are having trouble getting as much Chevy Blazer inventory as they would like or need.

If you want a Chevrolet Blazer and you want it right now you might have to turn to the used market to get one if demand stays as high as it is and production doesn’t get ramped up soon to meet that demand.

How Much Should You Pay for a Used Chevrolet Blazer?

Despite the continuing high demand from buyers for brand new Chevy Blazers, used prices don’t appear to be as high as you might expect under such circumstances. I remember when the Range Rover Sport came out and used examples were going for thousands more than the MSRP of a new one as demand was so high and people didn’t want to wait 6-12 months for their new order slot to be fulfilled.

MSRPs for the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer start at $28,800 for the front-drive L model and go as high as $45,600 for an AWD Premier, so there’s a wide spectrum of prices to suit a good variety of budgets.

The cheapest used Blazer I could find on the big used vehicle sales platforms on the day of writing this article was the 2020 Blazer L with AWD that had done 16,000 miles and was priced at just $17,950. However, I have to stress that this one was a bit of an outlier as the next cheapest I could find was a 2019 FWD Blazer 1LT with 5,000 miles that was priced at $19,999. There aren’t too many base L models around which is understandable when you look at the specs.

The average price for a used 2019 1LT model with an average mileage of around 12-15,000 miles appears to be in the region of $24,000, which is a saving of more than $8,000. The percentage savings over new can be even better with higher trim levels, but keep in mind that LT models can have 1LT, 2LT or 3LT upgrade packages that make a considerable difference to specification and price.

Which Chevy Blazer Powertrain is Best?

Although the base four-cylinder engine is perfectly adequate for the Blazer if you’re shopping on a relatively tight budget, the V-6 option is the one to go for if you want your Blazer to have the performance to match its styling.

The base engine is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four that develops a useful 193 horsepower and 188 lb.-ft. of torque, which is sent to the front or all four wheels through a very good nine-speed automatic transmission.

The transmission keeps a couple of the low gears for rapid launches, while the middle gears are spread out quite evenly to deliver moderately paced in urban areas. Despite some welcome active noise cancellation, this engine can be a little noisy when pushed, and if you drive the Blazer the way it looks like it should be driven that could be quite a lot of the time.

In the middle of the 2020 model year, Chevy started producing the Blazer with a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four that boasts 230 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. If you want more power than the base engine has to offer but you’d like fuel economy that’s better than the V-6 can deliver, a mid-2020 Blazer or newer with the turbo-four under the hood doesn’t feel like you’ve made any great compromise.

If your budget for your used Chevy Blazer will run to it, you really should go for a model with the 3.6-liter V-6 which then gives the Blazer 308 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft. of torque to play with. This engine isn’t exactly silent either, but the sound this one produces is the kind of V-6 roar you’ll probably appreciate if you like the way the Blazer looks in the first place.

Is the Chevy Blazer AWD?

In its standard form, the Blazer is a front-drive crossover SUV but there are two different all-wheel-drive systems available that you should look out for. Adding all-wheel-drive to the price of a brand new Blazer is a price that’s worth paying, but it’s not as much of a premium on the price of a used model so you should definitely look for an AWD model if you can possibly afford one in the trim level you want.

The first of the two AWD systems available is a relatively basic setup found on base models that’s capable of disconnecting power that would otherwise go to the rear wheels to help with fuel efficiency. With this system, however, you will have to remember to re-engage all-wheel-drive when you need it.

Blazer RS and Blazer Premier trim levels come equipped with an all-wheel-drive system that’s quite a bit more sophisticated than the standard system, and that’s because it features a twin-clutch rear differential for shifting torque between rear wheels to deliver improved handling and greater traction.

As well as the regular AWD driver mode, this more sophisticated system also features a Sport mode, an Off-Road mode, and a Tow/Haul mode for additional capability.

How much can a Chevy Blazer Tow?

The good news is it doesn’t matter whether you have an AWD or an FWD Blazer if you’re concerned about being able to tow the maximum, but you do need to think about which engine you have. All of the four-cylinder Blazers can tow a maximum of just 1,500 pounds but V-6 Blazers can tow up to a maximum of 4,500 pounds, which is 1,000 pounds more than an Equinox but 1,000 pounds less than a Traverse.

Which Blazer Has the Best Fuel Economy?

If fuel economy is high on your list of priorities for your next SUV then the Blazer might not be the right vehicle for you to be looking at. The Chevy Blazer EPA fuel economy ratings are not terrible, but they’re not particularly good either.

Engine	Drivetrain	City mpg	Highway mpg	Combined mpg
2.5L inline-four	FWD	21	27	23
2.0L turbo-four	FWD	24	21	28
2.0L turbo-four	AWD	23	21	27
3.6L V-6	FWD	21	19	26
3.6L V-6	AWD	21	18	25

Which Blazer Trim Level is the Best?

The obvious answer to this question is almost always going to be the highest and most expensive trim level, isn’t it? However, we’re talking about buying used here and that tends to imply an element of value for money has to be considered, and that’s an entirely different question.

In my humble opinion, the best value for money used Chevrolet Blazer trim level is the RS AWD because it delivers all the style and performance you’d want from a vehicle of this type as well as all the modern tech and connectivity features you need without paying for things you can probably do without.

The basic Chevrolet Blazer trim levels available are the LT, RS, and the Premier, but LT models come in 1LT, 2LT, and 3LT versions and there are also FWD and AWD versions to consider.

I like the RS because it gets sportier and more aggressive styling as well as such upscale features as navigation, a cargo-management system, blind-spot monitors, a 120-volt outlet, rear parking sensors, remote start, heated front seats and steering wheel, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, a power tailgate, and 20-inch alloys.

All that comes on top of what is already a pretty generous level of standard equipment in LT models, so the RS is my pick of the Blazer to go for.

Chevrolet Blazer Rivals

When you look at the main rivals of the Chevrolet Blazer in the current market, if you’re anything like me it would only strengthen your resolve to buy a Blazer ahead of any of them. Main rivals include the likes of the GMC Acadia, Ford Edge, Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and the Nissan Murano. If you add them all together they can’t muster as much excitement as the Chevy Blazer offers, but maybe that’s just me.

Is the Chevrolet Blazer Reliable?

It’s a little early in the life of the “new” Chevy Blazer to make any big pronouncements about its long-term reliability, and we have to accept that any brand new model will have teething problems during the first year or two of production.

So far, the main issue being reported is the engine running rough in some cases which can result in hesitation, stalling, and not even starting in some cases. Technicians can solve this problem by inspecting and repairing the ground terminal or harness under warranty, so as long as a used Blazer isn’t more than three years old this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Whether this is or isn’t an intrinsic problem, it’s likely to be sorted by GM before too long.

You can, of course, go on something like Cars.com and find damning user reviews of the Blazer that detail some serious problems that can sound very alarming. I suggest you don’t let this put you off buying a used Chevrolet Blazer as mass-market vehicles like this are made in big numbers and it’s inevitable that some will experience issues, especially early in the production run.

Chevrolet Blazer Specifications

I’ve already stated that I think the AWD RS is the Blazer trim level to go for, but I appreciate plenty of budgets may not run that far so lower trims will have to be considered.

Instead of me going on about which trims have which features and which engine and drivetrain you can have with each trim level, here are the brochures for all models years so far of the new Blazer for you to download so you can work out which model has what you need.

If you’re prepared to potentially wait a while and your budget might stretch to buying leasing or financing a brand new Chevrolet Blazer, enter your details here at thecarconnection.com to get the most competitive quotes out there.