2026 Chevrolet Blazer: Kirkland Buyers Guide

Where the Blazer fits in the Chevy lineup

Think of the Blazer as the answer for people who have outgrown a compact crossover but don't want the bulk of a three-row Traverse. It seats five, the second row slides and folds 60/40, and with those rear seats flat the cargo area opens up to 64.2 cubic feet. That's enough for a Costco run, a stroller and a week of groceries, or a pair of skis heading for Snoqualmie without anyone riding with gear on their lap. It's also the sportiest-looking Chevy SUV at this size, which is a big part of why people pick it over the Equinox.

Every trim runs the same 2.0-liter turbo four, rated at 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and every one of them burns regular unleaded. So the choice between 2LT, 3LT, and RS is mostly about how it looks, what's inside, and whether you want the V6 option. It isn't about getting a slower or faster vehicle by default.

Choose your trim

Gas mileage and drive layout

The EPA rates the front-drive 2.0-liter turbo at 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined. Adding AWD trims the highway number to 27 and the combined to 24. The V6, which is RS-only, comes in at 22 combined with front-wheel drive and 21 combined with AWD. Those are EPA estimates, so your own mix of I-405 crawl and open highway will land somewhere nearby.

One detail worth knowing before you shop: the AWD isn't identical across the lineup. 2LT and 3LT use Chevrolet's standard all-wheel-drive system, while an RS built with AWD gets Advanced Twin-Clutch AWD, which Chevrolet lists as standard on RS AWD models. If you plan on driving over the passes in winter, ask to see how each one is labeled on the window sticker of the exact vehicle you're considering.

Living with a Blazer on the Eastside

Kirkland driving is a mix of short hops and long, slow stretches. NE 85th, Lake Washington Boulevard, the climb up toward Juanita and Finn Hill, then the daily squeeze onto I-405 or across SR 520 toward Bellevue and Redmond. A midsize SUV with a forgiving ride, a high seating position, and Chevy Safety Assist watching the lane and the car ahead suits that kind of use well. Add rain from October through spring and the case for the available all-wheel drive is easy to make, especially if weekends mean heading for Snoqualmie Pass or Stevens Pass, where WSDOT regularly posts traction requirements in winter.

Washington has no state income tax, so the number that shapes a car purchase here is the sales tax on the vehicle itself. We walk through the actual math on the pricing guide linked below.

What Lee Johnson Chevrolet buyers say

The Kirkland store holds a 4.6-star average across more than 2,200 Google reviews, and a good share of them describe the buying process rather than a single car. Justin S. picked up his Blazer in December 2025 and kept it short: "Great experience with this purchase, super happy with the service and the 2026 Blazer." M. B. made a longer trip for the deal and wrote that "from the initial inquiry about the vehicle to negotiating a deal they made the process transparent and straightforward," adding that it was "well worth the trip from the south sound to buy at [Lee Johnson Chevrolet]." And Seth S. called the team who handled his trade-in and new purchase "professional, transparent, and genuinely thorough."

Seth named Brady, Terry, and Andrew in his review. Brady Harjehausen, Terry Flores, and Andrew Wight are all listed on the dealership's own staff page, so you can see who you'd be working with before you stop in.

Keep going

Maintenance intervals, what Eastside traffic and rain do to a turbo four, and the Kirkland service department's hours are all in the Blazer service & repair guide. What each trim actually costs once Washington sales tax is added, and how leasing compares, is in the Blazer pricing & leasing guide. Current manufacturer and dealership offers are posted on the new Chevrolet specials page, and the whole new-vehicle lineup is on the new inventory page.

Questions Blazer shoppers ask

Is the 2026 Chevy Blazer a good SUV?

For a two-row midsize SUV, it checks the boxes most families care about: five seats, 64.2 cubic feet of maximum cargo room, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on every trim, and a standard safety suite that includes automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist. RS adds real personality and the optional V6 for anyone who wants more power or a higher tow rating. The best test is a drive, and Lee Johnson Chevrolet can put you in a 2LT, 3LT, and RS on the same visit if the inventory lines up.

Is the 2026 Blazer bigger than the 2026 Equinox?

Yes. Chevrolet positions the Blazer a size above the Equinox, with more room for people and cargo, and the Blazer is also the one with sportier styling and an available V6. If you're stuck between the two, sit in both in the same afternoon and put a real cargo load or a car seat in each.

How much does a 2026 Chevrolet Blazer cost?

MSRPs start at $34,300 for the 2LT, $39,700 for the 3LT, and $43,600 for the RS, with a $1,995 destination charge added to each. Adding AWD or, on RS, the V6 raises the as-built price from there. The pricing and leasing guide walks through all of it, including Washington sales tax.

Is Chevy discontinuing the Blazer?

No. Industry reporting says GM will skip a 2027 model year for the gas Blazer and carry the 2026 version forward, with a larger update expected around the 2028 model year. Chevrolet's site currently lists the 2026 Blazer as the model on sale, so a new 2026 is a current vehicle, not a closeout.

What's the difference between the Blazer and the Blazer EV?

They're two different vehicles that share a name. The Blazer covered here is the gas model with the 2.0-liter turbo, an optional V6, and trims called 2LT, 3LT, and RS. The Blazer EV is all-electric, with its own trims, pricing, and infotainment, and it has its own page set.