Writer Jim Kenzie
of the Toronto Star was definitely spot-on this week when he
claimed that there must be “around 147” SUVS to choose from, and while the
sizes vary greatly, the shapes don't so much. With so many options abundant for
2019, he wanted to make sure that he tried our mid-size SUV segment Blazer,
situated in between the Equinox
and Traverse
in our lineup. It's a front-drive vehicle that has an available add-on
four-wheel drive system, and comes in base, True North, RS, and Premier trims.
Right off the
bat, he appreciated the belt line that rises up at the trailing edge of the
rear door, contributing to an aggressive stance and modern appearance. Even the
base unit is very well-equipped, sporting 18-inch wheels, heated seats,
dual-zone HVAC, HED headlamps and numerous safety features. Consistent with
past models, the RS is the sportiest, and gets blacked-out trim on the outside,
and red-trim bits for the interior. Promoting grippy handling and a more
precise drive, it also gets dampers that are 40% more firm. The range-topping
Premier trim receives a softer suspension, higher quality trim, ambient
lighting, and upholstery with suede inserts.
As soon as Jim
got inside, he was a fan of the four large and round air vents in the dash,
heavily influenced by Camaro elements during design. The way in which the tech
options are more accessible then past models by Chevy was also appreciated
heavily, and the main screen works just like a modern smartphone. You have the
option of customizing it to put the icons you use most often right where you
want them, while not having to be bound to the designer's chosen layout on a
daily basis. On-board Wi-Fi allows two phones to be paired, so one can take
calls, and you can use the other to stream music and continue to stream music
or search Google for upcoming locations.
There's even a
feature that can help with the trailer hitch: inside the backup camera, you get
guidelines to help you align the hitch ball with the trailer tongue while
slowly backing up to firmly hitch on. This is good news for any family that
knows well what it feels like to wait in a longer-than-average line at the boat
ramp during the dog days of summer, as well as the dumping stations. You'll
also love the cargo management feature: there are two rails on either side of
the cargo bay, which you can use to tie your goods down so they aren't bouncing
all over. The testing team from the Toronto Star also gave the
Blazer props for the noise canceling technology: for the twists and turns they
were encountering along with inclement weather, the cabin remained
astonishingly and appropriately quiet!
