1990-1994 Chevrolet S10 Blazer: Road Test

The 4.3-liter engine develops considerable torque at low engine speeds, yielding strong acceleration around town, plus plenty of towing power. Sadly, it's also noisy. Suspensions are among the least compliant in their class, but the 4-door's longer wheelbase improves ride quality. With a 2-door, you can expect to bounce and bang over bumpy roads. Body lean in turns isn't bad, but Blazers don't match the smaller Jeep Cherokee in urban nimbleness. Interior room is good, but not as spacious as an Explorer or Grand Cherokee. Dashboard layout also is pleasing on the whole, but some controls are a long reach, and radio buttons are small. Interior noise gets bothersome on the highway. Back seats are hard to get at in 2-doors. Four-door models, with their extra 6.5 inches of wheelbase, boast vastly improved access. Rear leg room is identical in each body style, but the 4-door's longer wheelbase allowed the back seat to be fitted ahead of rear wheelwells, for 15 inches more hip room than the 2-door. Shift-on-the-fly 4WD and 4-wheel ABS are particularly appealing features.

Value for the Money
By 1993, when Jeep launched its Grand Cherokee with a driver-side airbag and available V8, the Blazer was showing its age. Grand Cherokee and Explorers beat the Blazer in refinement, but the S10 Blazer still is a good choice in a smaller sport utility.