The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer is one of General Motors’ more sporty SUV offerings. Given the Suburban, Tahoe, and Traverse offer loads more for interior room, the Blazer can exude the brand’s athleticism. However, some of the design cues promoting quickness and nimbleness have consequences. Teamed with a hesitancy to add a hybrid-assisted powertrain and more soft touch-points, there are drawbacks to the new Blazer.

1. Firm ride

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer is one of the sportiest options in the class outside of luxury competitors. It can handle corners with ease with minimal body lean, but its firm suspension has a trade-off. The firmness erases everyday comfort many enjoy. Moreover, the larger 20 and 21-inch wheels in the upper trim levels make the ride even more jittery.

2. Small backseat and cargo hold

The two-row midsize Chevrolet Blazer provides consumers with 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. However, that’s near the bottom of the segment. Part of the problem is the lower, swept-back roofline of the athletic SUV. Not only is cargo space sacrificed, but the rear occupancy room is. U.S. News says the rear seats are spacious enough for two adults or three kids. But headroom will be tighter for taller folks in tow.

3. Cheap cabin materials

Although the Blazer isn’t a luxury vehicle, it should still have a reasonably nice, well-built interior. It’s not a hard ask considering a starting MSRP in the mid to high $30,000s. Unfortunately, reviewers aren’t happy with the excess hard plastics on the interior surfaces. The dashboard features high-quality touches, but the rest of the interior appears unimpressive. Moreover, they seem to cause quite a bit of road and wind noise to leak into the cabin.

4. No hybrid option

Nowadays, nearly every auto manufacturer has a hybrid SUV model. Mitsubishi has the Outlander Plug-in, Ford has the Escape and Explorer Hybrid, Honda has the CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota has half a dozen models. Kia and Hyundai also have plenty of fuel-friendly hybrid picks. On the other hand, Chevrolet doesn’t off a hybrid version of the Blazer. It could be that the company is holding off until later this year when they unveil the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV. Nevertheless, it means the current Blazer is less desirable than offerings from other automakers.

Should you buy the 2023 Chevrolet Blazer?

The Blazer is a good option for potential buyers with life changes that a two-seater Camaro can’t support. Aggressive styling, competent handling, and seating for four or five make the two-row SUV a bargain sports SUV.

Outside of performance, though, potential buyers will likely benefit from a competitor’s car. For example, the Hyundai Santa Fe has the same starting price as the 2023 Chevrolet Blazer but a much nicer interior. The Honda Passport will also provide a larger cargo hold and space for taller passengers in the back. If fuel economy is a priority, the best the Blazer can do is a combined 25 mpg, per the EPA. Even Toyota’s non-hybrid midsize SUVs can do better than that.