Chevy does good work. End of post. Just kidding, but you know it’s true. The brand certainly does not slack off. They don’t just provide one of each type of car; they essentially provide a transition vehicle between each vehicle and the next so that their inventory is not a series of different and well-made vehicles, but a linear story taking you from the subcompact Spark all the way through to the mighty Silverado HD. Many people are not seeking either extreme of this spectrum but are searching for something in-between; in other words, they are seeking a stepping-stone along this linear path of the Chevy lineup narrative. Fortunately, one of the finest midsize vehicles around can be found at your Chevy Blazer dealer.
This midsize SUV is a powerhouse on the road and serves as a perfect blend between a compact car and a full-size SUV. Another vehicle in the Chevy lineup that may, at a glance, seem very similar is the Equinox. True, they have similar looks, and to an untrained eye, one may be tempted to say they look “almost identical.” True again, they are both excellent vehicles, but they are not as similar as they may look. If you’re interested in making a hands-on drive comparison, a Chevy dealer will be able to help make that happen, but here we’ll show you how the Blazer exceeds the Equinox based upon two simple criteria: performance and style. Now, I will reiterate: these are both Chevy vehicles, so it’s not a question of bad vs good but a question of good vs better. So, let’s see what better looks like with the 2022 Blazer.
Amped Up Performance
The Equinox has one available engine, whereas the Blazer has two. The starting engine for the Blazer may seem to be the same as the Equinox engine (a turbocharged four-cylinder); the difference is that the Blazer has a half-liter advantage, as the Equinox Turbo I-4 is a 1.5-liter and the Blazer Turbo I-4 is a 2.0-liter. The 1.5-liter engine allows the Equinox to have 170 horsepower with 203 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Equinox is not a bad vehicle, but its numbers are not the kind to make you jump. Granted, the purpose of the Equinox is not as much performance as it is functionality. But why not go for both?
Well, the Blazer performs most profoundly with its available 3.6-liter V6 engine. With this engine, the vehicle offers 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Now those are numbers to jump at, especially for a midsize SUV. Additionally (pun intended), the Blazer adds three gears for nine-speed automatic transmission. One of the most notable differences between the performance capabilities of the two vehicles, though, is their towing capacity. The Equinox has a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds. However, with the 3.6-liter V6 engine, the Blazer has a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. That’s a 3,000-pound difference. You can haul a lot of stuff with a 4,500-pound towing capacity.
Now, one area in which the Equinox admittedly surpasses the Blazer is fuel efficiency. At best, the Blazer has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 miles-per-gallon in the city and 29 miles-per-gallon on the highway, whereas the Equinox offers 26 miles-per-gallon in the city and 31 miles-per-gallon on the highway. Dealbreaker? No. But it does add up over time. However, if performance capabilities are something that is important to you, then the significant advantages in power will likely make the Blazer a more appealing vehicle, despite its slight disadvantage in fuel economy.
If you’re looking for a vehicle to do nothing more than serve its purpose of transporting your family, not one with excellent performance capabilities, and you’re trying to keep the price tag manageable, then the Equinox might be fine. But if you’re trying to find a car to combine new family life with exciting performance, then you will likely be able to keep the price tag down by investing a little more in a Blazer and getting the best of both worlds, rather than getting one car for functionality and one for performance. The Blazer does both.
Sharper Style
Buying a midsize SUV does not mean that you have to enter the world of ugly, suburban, functionality-only vehicles. Absolutely not. Chevy is always working to make vehicles that are effective on the road but also enjoyable to be in (or even just look at from the outside).
Here is the essential difference between the exterior design of the Equinox and the Blazer: The Equinox looks like a good, stylish, and standard SUV. It looks good. The Blazer looks a cut above the average midsize SUV. Its dark accents give it an edgier, more complex aesthetic, and it looks like more of a cruiser than the Equinox does.
As to the interior, the Equinox offers a very nice leather-appointed design with a color contrast of Jet Black and Maple Sugar. Truth be told, this looks really nice. It feels classy and elegant. It is a strong choice. It feels modern but not contemporary, as it were. However, if you are looking for a more contemporary and sleek appearance, the Blazer offers a Jet black color scheme that is topped off by red accents. Getting into this car makes it feel like you’re getting into a car that’s ready for action. But it’s not just the action that makes this interior appealing because the Blazer offers 64.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which is certainly not a negligible amount, especially for a midsize SUV.
If you want to take the Blazer to the next level, Chevy has you covered. With the option of the Blazer Sport, you can add accents to make the Blazer even sportier than it already is. The Midnight Edition allows you to go in an edgy direction, giving your Blazer a dark complexion with an all-black design, adding mystery and intrigue to the vehicle. A more unique Blazer is the Redline Edition, which combines design and style in a wonderful way that adds sharpness to the vehicle’s appearance and increases the wheel size.
What’s the Point?
So, what’s the point of this comparison? Like I said before, the Equinox and the Blazer seem, at first glance, to be very similar. The truth is that, while they have similar features and may appeal to similar markets in some ways, the Blazer really does earn its higher price tag. The ability to choose your engine makes for increased and more dynamic performance capabilities, and the truth is that the Blazer is just a more stylish vehicle with better special editions and styling options. Will both vehicles serve you well? Absolutely. But, if you are really looking to purchase the best two-row Chevy SUV, then the Blazer will be the direction in which you want to go.
In many ways, it seems that this is the age of SUVs. People are obsessed with efficiency and compactness while also seeking the best numbers and the most advanced features. So, the automotive industry is responding by producing compact yet high-performing vehicles. The Blazer is a great example of how a vehicle can appear to be smaller but actually perform nearly at the level of a full-size SUV. So, here’s to vehicles that are small but mighty.
