1995-2005 Chevrolet Blazer - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	Chevrolet Blazer 4WD 4-door Rating (See All Ratings)

Performance	5

Fuel Economy	4

Ride Quality	4

Steering/Handling/Braking	3

Quietness	3

Controls/Materials	6

Interior Room	5

Room/Comfort (rear)	3

Cargo Capacity	7

Value within Class	3

Total Score:	43

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

Chart: One rating chart provided for a representative model

1995-2005 CHEVROLET BLAZER BUYING RESOURCES

Search Local Listings

Sell Your Car

Free CARFAX Record Check

1995-2005 Chevrolet Blazer Review

Chevrolet redesigned its compact sport utility for 1995, giving it new sheetmetal and a driver-side airbag. Overall length increased more than four inches; width by 2.4 inches. Instead of S10 Blazer, the name became Blazer. Similar to the GMC Jimmy, Blazers came in 2- and 4-door wagon body styles with either rear-wheel drive or on-demand, part-time 4-wheel drive. This 4WD setup is not intended for use on dry pavement. Permanently engaged 4WD became available in mid-1995, optional on the LT edition only. Both body styles came in base and LS price levels, but top-of-the-line LT trim was reserved for the 4-door. A 195-horsepower 4.3-liter V6 was the sole engine at first, hooked to a standard 4-speed automatic transmission. Full-time 4-wheel antilock brakes returned as standard.

Year to Year Changes

1996 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: The Blazer's initial engine was replaced by a same-size Vortec V6 with five fewer horses for '96. Daytime running lights and a 5-speed manual-transmission option for 2-door Blazers became available later in the model year.

1997 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: New items for '97 included an available one-piece liftgate, a floor-mounted gearshift for the automatic transmission in models with bucket seats, and an optional power sunroof. The permanently engaged 4WD system, optional on the LT model, gained 4-wheel disc brakes. A special off-road edition of the 2-door 4WD became available. Called the Wide-Stance Sport Performance Package, it offered higher ground clearance, firmer shock absorbers, a wider stance, and larger tires.

1998 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: A revised interior with Blazer's first passenger-side airbag and the addition of standard antilock 4-wheel disc brakes highlight the changes to the 1998 Blazer.

1999 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: Autotrac was a newly available full-time 4WD system. It could be used on any surface. Chevy also added the 4-door TrailBlazer model in both 2- and 4WD. TrailBlazers had gold-accented exterior trim, alloy wheels, 2-tone leather interior, and, on 4WD models, Autotrac.

2000 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: Blazer dropped its base-trim models, leaving 2-door wagons in LS form and 4-doors in LS, LT, and top-line TrailBlazer trim. Chevrolet claimed that internal changes made the Blazer's V6 engine quieter and smoother than before. The Premium Ride suspension with its gas-charged shock absorbers was standard on all 2000 models. No-cost options now included the softer Smooth Ride setup for 4-doors and the tauter Solid Smooth Ride for 2-doors. An in-dash CD player was added to the Blazer's uplevel audio options.

2001 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: The Xtreme, a 2WD 2-dr with low-riding sport suspension, unique 5-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels, and special trim and cladding, was added for 2001.

2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: There were no significant changes for 2002.

2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: Two-and four-door models continue alongside the new Trailblazer. In midyear, 2WD versions got rear drum brakes in a cost-cutting move.

2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: There were no significant changes in '04.

2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer: Chevy consigns 4-dr Blazers to the fleet market for 2005, leaving retail buyers with an unchanged 2-dr model. 2005 is Blazer's last year.

1995-2005 Chevrolet Blazer Road Test >

Car Buying Resources