2022 Blazer review - rental

[dishdude]

Currently driving this 2022 Blazer Premier with the 3.6 and have to say I'm impressed with it. Has 19k on it, I normally wouldn't select a vehicle with this many miles, but the other options were pretty boring - Altima, Camry, Malibu, etc. This is surprisingly clean for having 19k on it, usually rentals are trashed by this point. IMO, National does a better job of maintaining their fleet than the other companies.

Anyways, the Blazer is close in size to a Grand Cherokee, this is a great option for people like me that like a larger 2 row SUV, and I would consider this a real SUV, it isn't a Rav4/CR-V/Equinox type vehicle.

Pros -

• Super comfortable. The ride is great and there is plenty of suspension travel. The seats are supportive, have a ton of padding and both front seats are power and easy to find a comfortable position
• Powertrain is great. The 3.6 is fast off the line, has a ton of power and the transmission shifts fast and always seems to be in the right gear
• Brakes and steering are also great - a lot of feedback and they give the driver a lot of confidence. I like hopping in an unfamiliar vehicle and feeling like I know where all four corners are immediately
• Infotainment - I love GM's infotainment, it's easy to use and intuitive. Sirius was active, wireless Android Auto worked flawlessly
• Interior - It was a nice place to spend time. The dash was wrapped in a nice leatherette, a lot of nice accent lighting, storage and quality materials

Cons -

• ??? Tough to find any. This is a really nice SUV.

Oddly enough, this is the only rental I've ever had with a dealer sticker on the back. Usually these are delivered directly from the factory to the rental agency at the airport, but I guess since this originated in WV that wasn't possible.

 

[Nick1994]

Whoa, a rental with floor mats? Every rental I've ever had they take them out. Feels so wrong to have your shoes touching bare carpet.

 

[Oillover]

Seems you got the upper trim level with the V6.
Nice to see they still offer something more than just a turbo 4.

 

[userfriendly]

Seems you got the upper trim level with the V6.
Nice to see they still offer something more than just a turbo 4.

3.6L LGX. All it needs is a cold air intake, cat-back exhaust and the Camaro tune.
For winter I’m going to 245/70/17s on a 2022 Acadia. Same car with three row seating.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Is it just me or does it look like a RAV 4?

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Thanks for the review! I agree with your comments on National. They do seem to generally have a nicer and newer fleet. I think the blazer is pretty different from the grand...I'd say the grand is more of a real SUV given its towing and off-road ability (low range).

 

[Nick1994]

Thanks for the review! I agree with your comments on National. They do seem to generally have a nicer and newer fleet. I think the blazer is pretty different from the grand...I'd say the grand is more of a real SUV given its towing and off-road ability (low range).

Agreed, it's too bad the Blazer is FWD.

 

[SatinSilver]

Agreed, it's too bad the Blazer is FWD.

On the back hatch it says AWD.

 

[Nick1994]

On the back hatch it says AWD.

It's still a FWD car like a minivan, with some rear AWD support.

 

[JTK]

Why does it have a dealer sticker on the lift gate if it's a rental from National?

Great write up.

It seems the days of low/mid grade models built specifically to pump out to the rental co's are long gone.

 

[I<3oil]

Is it just me or does it look like a RAV 4?

Looks fairly similar, yep

 

[jjf729]

I was in Virginia for work two years ago (this week actually) and National upgraded me to a 2021 Blazer with 4k on it. It was a middle of the road 2LT package with the V6 and AWD. I liked it a lot. A lot of people knock it for not being true to the Blazer heritage, but I would’ve traded my CR-V for that thing in a heartbeat.

 

[4WD]

Currently driving this 2022 Blazer Premier with the 3.6 and have to say I'm impressed with it. Has 19k on it, I normally wouldn't select a vehicle with this many miles, but the other options were pretty boring - Altima, Camry, Malibu, etc. This is surprisingly clean for having 19k on it, usually rentals are trashed by this point. IMO, National does a better job of maintaining their fleet than the other companies.

Anyways, the Blazer is close in size to a Grand Cherokee, this is a great option for people like me that like a larger 2 row SUV, and I would consider this a real SUV, it isn't a Rav4/CR-V/Equinox type vehicle.

Pros -

• Super comfortable. The ride is great and there is plenty of suspension travel. The seats are supportive, have a ton of padding and both front seats are power and easy to find a comfortable position
• Powertrain is great. The 3.6 is fast off the line, has a ton of power and the transmission shifts fast and always seems to be in the right gear
• Brakes and steering are also great - a lot of feedback and they give the driver a lot of confidence. I like hopping in an unfamiliar vehicle and feeling like I know where all four corners are immediately
• Infotainment - I love GM's infotainment, it's easy to use and intuitive. Sirius was active, wireless Android Auto worked flawlessly
• Interior - It was a nice place to spend time. The dash was wrapped in a nice leatherette, a lot of nice accent lighting, storage and quality materials

Cons -

• ??? Tough to find any. This is a really nice SUV.

Oddly enough, this is the only rental I've ever had with a dealer sticker on the back. Usually these are delivered directly from the factory to the rental agency at the airport, but I guess since this originated in WV that wasn't possible.

Renting one now - like it over past rentals - and have rented pretty much everything this size - certainly agree with all you posted - it’s handling bumpy and wet roads with the Conti’s and good suspension keeping it well planted …

 

[buster]

The RS with the 3.6L/9 speed auto & AWD is a nice combination from what I've read.

 

[Leo99]

I think the Blazer is a very nice looking vehicle. Great proportions. I just can't wrap my head around them costing over $50k well equipped.

 

[Oillover]

I just can't wrap my head around them costing over $50k well equipped.

Times change.
These days, a Corolla can be a +30K car....that wasn't always the case.

 

[buster]

A ZR2 Blazer would be nice, although completely unnecessary.