Overview & Reviews

The Chevrolet Blazer was one of the most popular SUVs for five consecutive decades, though its name was shared by two completely unrelated model lines. Chevrolet first started affixing the "K5 Blazer" designation to two-door convertible SUV versions of its big trucks starting in 1969.

Today, most of the old-school K5 Blazers have long since rusted away or have otherwise been reclaimed by off-roading enthusiasts. Chevy continued to produce full-size, two-door Blazers through 1994, after which it rechristened these vehicles with the now-current Tahoe name.

In the early 1980s, however, Chevrolet started to call another one of its products the Blazer. And in actuality, the other Chevy Blazer -- the "S-10 Blazer" -- is the one consumers are most likely to come across in the used-car market due to its greater popularity and more recent place in history.

Born as a variant of Chevrolet's S-10 compact pickup in 1983, this S-10 Blazer was a pioneer of the modern small-SUV segment. Though initially limited in terms of body styles and often underpowered, it did eventually receive four doors and better engines. A redesigned second-generation model (without the S-10 moniker) arrived in 1995 with improvements in performance, styling and interior room.

As an inexpensive choice for a small or midsize SUV, a second-generation Chevy Blazer might be worth a look. However, compared to other vehicles of the time, this Blazer was let down by average driving dynamics, middling comfort and poor crash test scores.

Most Recent Chevrolet Blazer

The second-generation Chevrolet Blazer was produced from 1995 to 2005. In terms of size, it was bigger than its predecessor but smaller than competing midsize SUVs like the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The two-door version was sold throughout the model run, but the four-door was discontinued after 2004, with fleet sales continuing through '05. If you encounter an '05 four-door Blazer on the used market, chances are it used to be a rental car. (Consumers should note that four-door Blazers from this era are unrelated to the superseding TrailBlazer that arrived for '02.)

The second-gen Chevy Blazer's mechanicals were largely consistent throughout its lifetime. Under the hood was a 4.3-liter V6 producing 190 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. It was typically connected to a smooth-shifting four-speed automatic, though a five-speed manual transmission was available on two-door models. Rear-wheel drive (2WD) and four-wheel drive were offered.

The Blazer initially came in three trim lines: base, LS and LT. The base model started with little more than a radio, air-conditioning and antilock brakes, but the LS added the features most consumers expected: power windows and locks, a tilt steering wheel, a folding rear seat and cruise control. The luxurious four-door-only LT upgraded to leather upholstery, a power driver seat, a more deluxe stereo and an overhead console. A "TrailBlazer" trim line with two-tone leather and unique styling became the new range-topper in 1999. Chevrolet realigned the trim levels in 2000, dropping the base model and de-contenting the LT (leather seats became optional). In model year 2001 the Blazer Xtreme arrived. This 2WD, two-door model had a low-riding sport suspension, deep-dish wheels, a monochromatic exterior and tinted windows.

In our initial reviews of the Chevrolet Blazer, we found it quick (thanks to its robust V6), fun to drive around town, comfortable to ride in and decently capable off-road. However, as better competitors emerged, the Blazer's handling seemed sloppy and vague and its turning circle wide. We also found that rear-seat comfort was lacking due to a low bench and inadequate foot room. Other faults included spotty build quality and low-grade interior plastics.

Of the few changes to affect the Chevy Blazer during its long life, the most crucial came in 1998 when it gained revised inner and outer styling, four-wheel antilock disc brakes and a passenger-side front airbag. The addition of a second airbag is especially important in light of the Blazer's very poor NHTSA one-star frontal crash test score for the passenger in prior years. After the revision, the score jumped to four. Another major change came for the 1999 model year when Chevrolet introduced a new AutoTrac four-wheel-drive system that could automatically sense wheel slippage and send power to the axle with the most traction.

Past Chevrolet Blazer models

The original Chevrolet S-10 Blazer was produced from 1983 to 1994. Through much of the 1980s, it relied on a variety of four-cylinder and V6 engines, all with meager outputs. The S-10 Blazer's first big improvement came in 1988 when it gained an optional 4.3-liter V6 with 160 hp. That V6 finally became standard in 1990.

The Chevrolet S-10 Blazer's second major improvement came in 1991 when Chevy introduced a four-door version based on a slightly longer body. This certainly helped improve the vehicle's appeal, as did an optional "Enhanced" version of the V6 engine that brought horsepower to 200.

Though popular, the S-10 Blazer was increasingly outclassed as the 1990s came about. In particular, the Blazer's sloppy handling, harsh ride, cramped backseat and poorly designed controls made it look crude compared to newer designs like the the Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Pathfinder of the time.

As for the full-size Chevrolet Blazer, the best models from the early '90s to look at would be those built from 1992 to 1994. These redesigned models were built using GM's then-new full-size truck platform. A 200-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 powered nearly all Blazers of this generation, though a 6.5-liter turbodiesel V8 with 180 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque was optional for '94. Four-wheel drive was standard across the board. In 1995, Chevy changed this model's name to Tahoe and introduced a four-door body, which in short time proved to be far more popular than the two-door.

User Reviews:

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  I love my 2003 blazer - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mountainchick - August 20 - 7:00 pm

  Wow I was really shocked at some of the comments Ive seen on here. First off I really believe that the way a truck works depends on how you drive it and maintain it! I am not saying that the people arent taking care of it but the owners beforehand didnt. As for the worst gas milage I did agree untill I changed my fuel pump omg It saved me a lot of money and I didnt even change it because it was broke! If you drive like an idiot and go 55mph from stop sign to stop sign you will waste so much gas in anything. I go out the mountain every weekend and I have and always will buy Chevys! The one and only thing I hate is changing the spark plugs because it is soooo tight in there!

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  Dont buy one - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By fishguy204 - August 5 - 1:50 pm

  This little truck has been a headache from day one. In four months I have replaced the front brakes and rotors, the fuel pump and the wheel bearings. Pretty well the only thing I like about it is the looks.

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  Nothing to brag about - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Tim - July 31 - 7:43 pm

  Bought this SUV for my wife. I have the same year Mazda Tribute and it is amazing how different they run. The Mazda is a tight ride, drives new. We have done nothing but general maintenance. The Blazer runs rough, we have probably spent $1,500 over the past year for repairs. A friend of mine had a blazer and he told me to stay away but I did not listen.

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  Good, reliable, but really small... - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By gmann - July 29 - 10:00 am

  We leased this SUV, and paid entirely too much for it! But, it has been very good to us. We havent had to take it in for anything major, only minor cosmetics. However, the interior is cheap, and very small. We have to kids, and once they and their car seats are in the back, theres no room for anything else. Also, the spare tire is on the side of the trunk, which takes up precious space! The gas mileage is alright, but typical for an SUV. Buy this only is you can get an AMAZING deal!

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  GM makes the best veicals in the world - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer
  By johnny no goode - July 28 - 9:41 am

  Chevy trucks last forever, I have owned a bronco and a ram and they stunk. I have always been a gm fan and when I got this truck I discovered how right was. Fuel economy aside, I got this truck at 98.000 was15, ooo over the oil change bought it anyway put little work into it a she still rides like a dream I actually flipped it on its drivers side an a pile of mud got a gmc truck pulled back over the next day and drove off the field this truck just will not die I drove in 4 feet of water and it didnt stall for over a mile. The best truck I ever had it now has 139.000 and its still running strong I been beating the hell out of it about 50, ooo miles just keep up motor and it will do another 138.00

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  OK...But Could Be Better! - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By dne_thompson - July 26 - 5:45 pm

  I bought my 2003 Chevy Blazer in June 2006, making me the 2nd owner. It had 32,000 miles and was just under warranty! By the time the warranty was up, about 2 months, the ball joints needed replaced as well as brakes and rotors. Had all work done under warranty! About every 15-20,000 miles, it has to have the ball joints replaced for some reason. I now have 86,000 miles on it and it is due for ball joints again. Also, my air conditioner quit working as well as my drivers side window. THESE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS! Also, have to do brakes and rotors about once a year. It is a good vehicle to drive though, especially with the sun-roof open and the cd player going. Great in snow!

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  Very Dependable - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Gurnis - July 23 - 8:04 pm

  Ive made a lot of repairs to my Blazer in the 13 months I had it. But this was due mostly to lack of care by the previous owner. So far Ive replaced the radiator, both hub assemblies, alternator, brake pads (front & rear), 4 new tires, new muffler and just recently replaced the trans fluid and screen. Overall, Ive found the repairs not too difficult and the parts are cheap compared to foreign makes. The tires were the most expensive hit to my wallet so far. The OEM muffler was the only part I thought too expensive, so I went with an aftermarket muffler instead. Anyway, I would recommend a Blazer to anyone. Its a tough, go anywhere vehicle that really comes through when it counts most.

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  Many Problems - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By 56lowe32 - July 19 - 6:21 pm

  I bought this car from the original owner and have had many problems. The seat recliner handles have broken 3times on each side(they are junk). The AC works fine until it has been used on the highway and then you come back into town and have some stop and go driving. The radiator fan shifts to a higher speed and the noise is extremely loud. Difficult to hear each other inside the car. When this happens the shifting from 1st to 2nd gear is very hard until the car cools down again. Have replaced the fan clutch 2 times. The other day I drove off the highway and about 8-9 miles stop & go before the shifting and noise became somewhat better, not normal until car was off for 1 hour or more.

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  A Well Proven Durable Truck based SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Garth - July 12 - 5:05 pm

  Chevrolet based this compact SUV on their S10 pickup. This means that it is a truck based SUV which is some what of a rarity in todays world. The down side is that this adds weight but to me, I plan to own this truck for a long time and the frame offers some great jacking points. The power trane is based on the Chevrolet 350 V8 minus 2 cylinders so the basic design has millions of development miles under its belt. From a service stand point, the push rod motor eliminates the need to replace a cam belt which is an expensive requirement on many of its competitors. The automatic transmission offers electronic control which helps with drivability. The truck is a proven design which I prefer.

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  Decent... - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By nick - July 12 - 10:54 am

  Good truck, too many problems. not reliable. Head gasket went out at 100k, should not be a problem at this mileage. Bought at 87k approx. 6 months before. Gas mileage is poor, truck has power and is fast, but its a cool little truck.