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2020 Chevy Blazer Turbo Review: Still Charming, But Delivered Unevenly

Dont half-ass your Blazer. Chevys charismatic midsize SUV shines brightest in RS form , where it really does act like the V-6 Camaro of SUVs. But the new turbocharged 2020 Blazer doesnt captivate in quite the same way. Although the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer 2.0T in 3LT trim was mostly enjoyable to drive, this mid-level model left us wanting more. Heres what the Blazer does right and what it could do better. The 2020 Blazers first issue is the Equinox, or the fact that both spacious SUVs have about the same amount of cargo space. Lets be honest, though; you probably want the Blazer at least in part for its design. We get it. The 2020 Chevrolet Blazer entices far more than the Equinox we rated last in a large comparison of compact SUVs . The Blazer attempts to earn its price premium with unapologetically bold design from every angle. And as weve found, the $41,795-plus RS V-6 version backs up its stylish looks with sporty performance. Thats great, but not everyone wants to spend that much on a midsize SUV. How Does the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer Turbo Drive? Chevrolets engine stop-start system works well in this application of the 2.0T engine mated with a nine-speed automatic. Despite offering only 230 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque from the 2.0Ts turbo-four versus the 3.6-liter V-6s 308 hp and 270 lb-ft, the 2020 Blazer Turbo still shows traces of the RS entertaining moves. The accurate steering makes the Blazer remarkably easy to track on the highway and yes, as capable as you can expect of a midsize SUV on a winding road. Perhaps thanks to our 3LTs 18-inch wheels (versus the RS 20s or 21s), the Blazer even provided a compliant ride. Just as weve found with the nine-speed automatic when mated to the Blazers V-6, the transmission is well-behaved with the 2.0T engine, too. One of the only dynamic disadvantages is a brake pedal that requires a bit too much effort to press down. As for that enginenow the middle step between a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter I-4 and the 3.6-liter V-6dont be fooled by the lure of turbocharged power. The Blazers turbo-four provides perfectly satisfactory acceleration; maybe the Equinox 2.0Ts extra 22 horses would help. Oh, and considering the way the tires squeal as they struggle for traction in FWD mode, keep the Blazer in AWD mode if you want to avoid the stink-eye from pedestrians. The 2020 Chevrolet Blazer Turbos biggest surprise comes at the pump. Moving from the Blazers base 2.5L to the 2.0T unit actually means slightly improved fuel economy (21/28 mpg to the 2.5L 21/27, comparing front-drive models). Go for a Blazer Turbo AWD model like our tester, and youre in for a theoretical 586-mile highway driving range; no Blazer can match it, thanks to the combination of 2.0T efficiency and the AWDs extra 2.3 gallons of fuel capacity. What About the Blazers Interior? Inside, the Blazers backseat makes a positive first impression. Rear-seat passengers will have plenty of space, and theres no drivetrain hump to hamper middle-seat space. On our 3LT tester, the package is topped off with two USB outlets, a 120-volt outlet, an easy-to-use backrest recline lever, and two-tone seats. Nice. Moving to the front seat reveals too many disappointing compromises. Maybe you dig the Camaro-style central air ventstheyre cool, right? Its an unmistakable design feature. But there might be a reason for thatrotate the air vent to redirect the flow, and tell me it didnt require a tad more effort than you expected. Then hit the lock/unlock buttons on the farther side of the door handleswhy are the buttons awkwardly facing away from the driver, making them that much tougher to press? Also, the air-recirculation button is too hard to find and harder still to tell in the daytime whether its engaged. We wish the story ended there. As we noted after driving the 2019 Blazer when the stylish SUV launched , were still unhappy about Chevrolets decision to restrict automatic emergency braking from sub-$45,000 trims. As much as we appreciate the incredible screen clarity provided by the 360-degree multi-camera system on the 8.0-inch touchscreen, wed trade it in a second for what some MotorTrend editors feel is one of the most important safety features available today . Our $41,595 Blazer also lacks adaptive cruise control . Although some adaptive cruise control systems work poorly enough youll only use them once, the best versions of the tech can lower the stress of a traffic-filled commute by accelerating and decelerating for you. While were dreaming of changes wed like on the 2021 or 2022 Blazer, Chevy, please consider moving the electric parking brake button to somewhere near the gear stalk and add touch-sensitive unlocking doors. (Some cars unlock when they sense your hand on the door handle instead of requiring the extra step of pushing a button.) Hmm, OK. So Is the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer Worth It? Despite all those little issues, we still like the Blazer. In RS trim, it might even be one of our favorite Chevys on the road today, but the SUVs overall package is too uneven elsewhere in the range. At the Premiers fancy-pants $45,000$50,000 pricing, we might consider an Acura, Volvo, or Lincoln. At the Blazers 2.0T 3LT AWDs $40,195 MSRP before incentives, the value is hard to discern. If you absolutely must have the Blazers style but cant handle the RS high price with desirable options, stick with the 2.0T engine and try a 2LT Redline Edition. Youll regain some of the RS visual attitude, but at a lower price. 2020 Chevrolet Blazer AWD (3LT) BASE PRICE $40,195 LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV ENGINE 2.0L/230-hp/258-lb-ft turbo DOHC I-4 TRANSMISSION 9-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT 4,150 lb (MT est) WHEELBASE 112.7 in L x W x H 191.4 x 76.7 x 67.0 in 0-60 MPH 7.5 sec (MT est) EPA FUEL ECON 21/27/23 mpg ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY 153/102 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.75 lb/mile ON SALE Currently -->     The post 2020 Chevy Blazer Turbo Review: Still Charming, But Delivered Unevenly appeared first on MotorTrend .

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/chevrolet/blazer/2020/2020-chevrolet-blazer-turbo-3lt-review/

 

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