It seems to be a trend for automakers to introduce new vehicles while giving them a familiar name. Ford has done it twice with the Bronco and the Ranger, and now Chevy has jumped on board. It brought the Blazer back in 2019, but it’s not the same Blazer that failed to impress. 

In spite of several changes, however, there is one area that Autotrader feels Chevy has failed in. So what is it, and is the new 2021 Blazer worth buying? Let’s find out.

An off-road warrior no more

Just a few years ago, the Chevy Blazer was considered a great off-road vehicle. Then Chevy decided to change things up, and cater to city dwellers who want an SUV. Thus, the Blazer was reborn in 2019 and it began a new regime for the midsize crossover. 

Why Chevy decided to do this is unclear, and the critics are torn. Some love the new Blazer while others think it doesn’t stack up to competitors like the Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Nissan Murano. 

Still, sales seem to be going well. In spite of COVID-19 shutting down some plants and severely hampering many automakers, the Blazer is still going strong.

The 2021 Chevy Blazer has some great features

The 2021 Chevy Blazer is loaded with options, which is always a plus. For example, there are three engine options. 

The base engine is a 4-cylinder 2.5-liter that produces 193 hp. This engine gets 21 mpg/city and 27 mpg/hwy.

The  2LT and 3LT trims get a slightly more powerful engine. It’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 227 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The gas mileage is only slightly better at 22 mpg city and 29 mpg hwy. There is an all-wheel drive transmission optional that gets 22 mpg city/27 mpg hwy.

The third engine that comes standard on the RS and Premier trims is a 3.6-liter V6 engine. It produces 308 hp.

There are some very nice tech features that consumers will love on the 2021 Chevy Blazer, and better yet, they come standard. The base L trim comes with an 8-inch color touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and OnStar with 4G LTE. 

This is paired with  6-speaker audio with Bluetooth audio streaming. Two USB charging ports (one type-A and one type-C) makes keeping personal devices running easier than ever.

Other much sought after features include a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, heated outside power mirrors, keyless entry with push-button start, a spare tire inflator kit, and HID headlights with auto on/off, 

The lack of safety features might be a deal breaker

There was one area that the Blazer got slammed by Autotrader, and that revolves around the severe lack of safety features. Chevy has taken some steps to remedy this by adding in some features, but not enough to justify its price of $28,800-$45,800.

According to Autotrader, “For 2021 the Blazer has widened the availability of active safety options, but that they are still options at all is disappointing. The Blazer’s main rivals include active safety features like automatic emergency braking as standard. And in the case of the Passport, Venza, Outback, and Santa Fe, they also include active driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control that are only available in the Blazer if you opt for the most expensive models, and then pay even more money for an option package.”

So what do new owners get? There are seven airbags, electronic traction and stability control, a rear backup camera, and a tire-pressure monitor. That’s not a lot, and for drivers who are more concerned with safety features than they are with the number of USB-ports, they might choose to go with one of Chevy’s many competitors.