So far, the new Chevy Blazer hasn’t lived up to the acclaim of the truck it used to be. It can’t tackle off-roading with much confidence and the base SUV doesn’t provide many safety features. Other Chevy SUVs offer better gas mileage, more standard features, and a lower starting price.

However, the 2021 Chevy Blazer added some features that make it slightly more appealing. More trims now have access to the Chevy Safety Assist package with essential driver’s aids. A new trailering package is also available for the Blazer, according to Motor 1, upping the SUV’s towing capacity by a few thousand pounds.

How much can the 2021 Chevy Blazer tow?

Without any upgrades, the Chevy Blazer with FWD can only tow up to 1,500 pounds. Unlocking its full towing capacity of 4,500 pounds previously meant you had to upgrade to AWD. However, the new trailering package allows FWD models to reach the max towing capacity as well.

This will please many drivers who want more towing options but don’t want to pay extra for AWD. However, the new trailering package is not available for every trim of the Chevy Blazer.

Towing package details

The two lowest 2021 Chevy Blazer trims, the L and 1LT, can’t be equipped with the new trailering package. This is because both have the weakest engine, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 193 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. It gets decent gas mileage, but it predictably struggles to accelerate under pressure.

2LT and 3LT trims come standard with a 2.0-liter turbo-four capable of 230 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. However, to get access to the towing package, you’ll need the most powerful engine. It’s a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque.

What’s included in the FWD trailering package also varies depending on the trim level, according to GM Authority. Chevy Blazer 2LT and 3LT SUVs come with the same heavy-duty engine cooling system from the AWD trailering package. It also comes with hitch guidance, which helps drivers back out smoothly with a trailer attached.

RS and Premier models equipped with the FWD trailering bundle have both of these features plus hitch view. That’s just a close-up view of the trailer itself, but it’s still useful to keep a close eye on your cargo. These top two trims also come with more technology features, including enhanced safety functions.

How the 2021 Chevy Blazer shapes up next to Jeep and other competition

With the new trailering package, the 2021 Chevy Blazer is finally a worthy competitor to two notable rivals. FWD models of the 2021 Honda Passport can only tow up to 3,500 pounds. With AWD equipped, that number rises to 5,000 pounds. It costs $2,000 to upgrade to AWD, the same as you’d pay for an AWD Blazer.

The Honda Passport is more popular than the Chevy Blazer because it has more safety features and a better base engine. The Honda Pilot also appeals more to the intrepid crowd with the available Adventure package. This bundle includes body protection to keep the paint job pristine and crossbars to hold fun gear like kayaks or snowboards.

However, as you’ve probably guessed, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a more adventurous SUV than both the Honda and Chevy. The off-roading Trailhawk trim comes standard with all-terrain tires, a limited rear-slip differential, an air suspension, and skid plates. With the standard 295-hp V6 and available tow package, it can tow 6,200 pounds.

You can also upgrade to a 475-liter V8, which boosts the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. That’s more than the Chevy Blazer can handle, but 4,500 pounds is still a vast improvement from 1,500 pounds.