The popularity of crossovers and the nostalgia drivers feel for vehicles that are no longer available on the market prompted Chevy to resurrect the Blazer. During its heyday, the Blazer was a wildly popular SUV that people loved to use for daily commuting and weekend camping getaways. While drivers were delighted to learn that they would once again have an opportunity to slide behind the wheel of the handy Chevy Blazer, it turns out that Chevy wasn’t alone in its realization that it was time to bring back some iconic SUVs.

The Blazer currently faces stiff competition from both the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco. The good news is that Chevy is convinced that the Blazer won’t have any trouble keeping up with the competition.

A short history of the Chevy Blazer

Chevy introduced the Blazer to the world more than 50 years ago in 1969. Drivers quickly fell in love with the Blazer, particularly those who needed a vehicle to haul campers, outdoor gear, and farm equipment. The additional seating and the fact the vehicle was completely covered meant it could be used in situations when pick-up trucks simply weren’t convenient. As the years passed, different versions of the Blazer emerged. These special versions included the K5, the S10 Blazer, a Blazer with a diesel engine, and the LT Blazer.

On November 6, 2012, Road and Track announced the sad news that Chevy would no longer be making the iconic Blazer. Fans had already been prepared for production to stop, but the 2012 announcement revealed that the discontinuation of the line was happening sooner than originally planned. The reason was that sales of the iconic vehicle were simply too slow for Chevy to continue justifying making vehicles that simply say on dealership lots.

The Chevy Blazer returns!

The great thing about iconic vehicles like the Chevy Blazer is that there is always a chance that they’ll return. In 2018, CNN Business reported that Chevrolet decided that the time was right to bring the Chevy Blazer back to life. The new and improved Blazer bore a striking resemblance to the classic Blazers.

Drivers had the option of choosing a four-cylinder or V6 engine. The vehicle was designed to accommodate five passengers and the backseat was built on a slider that allowed it to be moved forward when additional cargo space was needed. Blazers that were equipped with a V6 engine had a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds, making them a good choice for families that wanted to haul a small camper or boat.

Chevy isn’t worried about the competition

The Chevy Blazer isn’t the only throwback-style SUV on the market. Both the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco, another iconic vehicle that’s been brought out of retirement, compete for the drivers that find the Blazer attractive. Chevy isn’t worried about the competition. They’re convinced that the Blazer more than holds its own against the competition.

“We keep a very close eye on our competition, and obviously we are always focused on what our competitors are doing,” Chevy’s marketing manager, Brad Franz, explained to GM Authority’s executive editor, Alex Luft. “We think that what the Blazer stands for in the marketplace right now is more of the on-road performance, and that’s how we have the vehicle positioned. So, we feel good about how we’ve been able to build [the Blazer] brand in that fashion. Now, as you know, the Bronco and Wrangler are going to be bringing very heavy off-road type communication, so we feel like the Blazer will have its spot in the on-road space, and the sales performance reflects that.”

Consumer Reports has given the 2020 Chevy Blazer and overall rating of 68. The vehicle scored five out of five for predicted customer satisfaction and an 83 out of 100 on the road test.