The Chevrolet Blazer will be dumping its base engine for the 2022 model year. The naturally-aspirated, 2.5-liter motor always felt as though it would have been more at home in a vintage Plymouth Acclaim or original S-10 Blazer, however. Removing the 193-horsepower unit from the modern crossover, which can be optioned to weigh in excess of two tons, probably isn’t going to make anyone’s eyes well up.
In exchange, the manufacturer has seen fit to expand the color palette.
The top-trimmed Blazer RS now comes with a new two-tone paint option that can be applied to less flashy models. Chevy is also adding Nitro Yellow metallic and Blue Glow metallic to its roster of hues. While we’ve seen neither covering the crossover’s exterior, they sound as if they’ll be difficult to miss. But those changes are small potatoes, and don’t impact the driving experience beyond potentially garnering some added attention on the road.
Most crossovers offer a competent but totally forgettable driving experience. The Blazer’s big advantage was its eye-catching, Camaro-inspired looks and actually having decent handling — something the 2.5-liter motor failed to build upon. But the more-powerful engines did, which is a large part of why they’ll be sticking around.
For 2022, base models will come equipped with the 228-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four. Blazer shoppers wanting even more power, and the ability to tow up to 4,500 pounds, can opt for the 3.6-liter V6 pushing 308 ponies. Front wheel drive remains standard, though all-wheel drive can be had on every trim level.
Unfortunately, this means prices are definitely going up. The base Blazer L starts a hair under $30,000, whereas the LT models typically sticker couple bucks below $35,000. The latter figure will be much closer to the crossover’s new entry-level price moving forward, though General Motors has not confirmed anything official regarding pricing. We’re just hoping the manufacturer doesn’t go crazy, because some trims already felt a bit too steep for our tastes.
[Images: General Motors]
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