What did GMC call their Blazer?

The answer lies in branding history: GMC’s Blazer has appeared under the plain "GMC Blazer" badge for most of its life, but the brand also used the name "GMC Jimmy" for its compact, pickup-based counterpart in the 1980s. Over the decades, the Blazer name has evolved with GM’s truck-based architecture and market positioning.

A full-size era: 1969–1994

Badge and branding basics

During the late 1960s through the early 1990s, GMC offered a full-size sport-utility that was essentially the GMC sibling to Chevrolet’s K5 Blazer. The model wore the GMC Blazer badge and shared mechanicals with its Chevrolet cousin, reinforcing GM’s approach of badge-engineered but brand-differentiated trucks.

• The full-size GMC Blazer debuted in 1969 as GMC’s version of the Chevrolet K5 Blazer, marking GM’s practice of selling near-identical SUVs under separate brand names.


• Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, buyers could get two- or four-door configurations, with the Blazer remaining a prominent, truck-based SUV in GMC’s lineup.


• By the mid-1990s, General Motors shifted its full-size SUV strategy, introducing other models that overlapped in capability and size, while the classic Blazer name faded from the GMC lineup as GM refocused on different flagship SUVs.

In this era, the Blazer’s identity was synonymous with GM’s traditional two-door and four-door full-size SUV, and it stood as the GMC-branded counterpart to Chevrolet’s Blazer line.

Compact and mid-size era: The Jimmy and Blazer twins

Compact origins

In the 1980s, GM separated the Blazer’s compact, pickup-based cousin into distinct nameplates. The GMC S-15 Jimmy became the GMC-side companion to Chevrolet’s S-10 Blazer, reflecting GM’s strategy of offering parallel models under different marques to appeal to varying buyer preferences.

• The GMC S-15 Jimmy launched as a compact SUV designed to compete with the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, sharing platform and powertrains with its Chevrolet counterpart.


• The Jimmy name was used specifically for the GMC badge on the smaller, two-door and four-door variants of the pickup-based SUV family.


• During this period, Chevrolet continued to sell the Blazer as the brand’s compact SUV, while GMC used the Jimmy badge for its version of the same basic vehicle.

The division between Blazer and Jimmy reflected GM’s broader branding approach: similar mechanicals and body styles, but different badges to align with each brand’s image and dealer networks.

Modern revival: the 2019–present GMC Blazer

Current positioning

After a period of evolution in GM’s SUV lineup, the Blazer badge returned to prominence in 2019 as a mid-size, two-row SUV aimed at a sportier segment than some of GMC’s broader utility options. The modern GMC Blazer continues the Blazer lineage under the GMC name, serving as a stylish alternative to rivals in the mid-size segment while echoing the model’s rugged heritage.

• The 2019 GMC Blazer reintroduced the name as a mid-size, two-row SUV, distinct from the larger Yukon and the smaller Terrain in GMC’s lineup.


• The modern Blazer emphasizes styling and versatility, aligning with GMC’s contemporary design language and brand positioning.


• Over subsequent model years, the Blazer has continued to evolve with trims, technology, and powertrain options that reflect current market demands for a sportier, more capable SUV in its class.

In today’s market, “GMC Blazer” is the model name you’ll see on showroom floors, with historical ties to the brand’s full-size Blazer and the mid- and compact-SUV siblings that once shared the badge family.

Summary

GMC’s Blazer has primarily been sold under the straightforward badge GMC Blazer, reflecting its position as GMC’s rugged SUV. The naming has included notable deviations in certain eras, notably the compact variant known as the GMC S-15 Jimmy in the 1980s, which served as the GMC counterpart to Chevrolet’s S-10 Blazer. Across the decades, the Blazer name has endured as a key part of GMC’s SUV storytelling, with a modern revival starting in 2019 that positions it squarely in the mid-size two-row segment.

Summary takeaway: The Blazer name has two main chapters—an iconic full-size GMC Blazer from 1969–1994 and a modern mid-size revival from 2019 onward—while the GMC Jimmy represented the compact badge used in the 1980s for GM’s pickup-based SUV pairing with Chevrolet’s Blazer.

What was the GMC version of the Blazer called?

The GMC equivalent of the Chevrolet Blazer was the GMC Jimmy. The original full-size Blazer and Jimmy were offered alongside each other, with the Jimmy being the name for GMC's version of the large SUV. Later, when the Blazer name was phased out for the larger models (replaced by the Chevrolet Tahoe), the corresponding GMC name was updated to GMC Yukon.
 

• Original full-size model: The GMC counterpart to the full-size Chevrolet K5 Blazer was the GMC Jimmy. 
• Later, larger models: After the full-size Blazer was replaced by the Tahoe in 1995, the Jimmy was also renamed the Yukon for GMC's full-size SUV. 
• Compact models: When a smaller, compact S-10 Blazer was introduced, GMC also offered a version of it, initially called the S-15 Jimmy. 

Is there a GMC equivalent to the Blazer?

The GMC Terrain is often considered the closest modern GMC equivalent to the Chevy Blazer in terms of being a compact SUV, though the GMC Acadia is larger and more similar to the Blazer in size and power-oriented performance. Historically, the GMC Jimmy was the badge-engineered counterpart to the Chevrolet Blazer.
 
Modern GMC models

• GMC Terrain: The Terrain is a compact SUV that shares some platform similarities with the Blazer and offers a more rounded, subtly sporty design. It is smaller than the Blazer, with a shorter body and less cargo space. 
• GMC Acadia: The Acadia is larger than the Blazer and is often compared to it, but it is a three-row SUV designed to be more rugged and versatile. The Acadia also offers more powerful engine options and more cargo space than the Blazer. 

Historical GMC models

• GMC Jimmy: The GMC Jimmy was the direct, badge-engineered counterpart to the Chevrolet Blazer for many years, particularly during the compact and mid-size S-series era. 

You can watch this video to learn about the history of the Chevrolet Blazer and its relationship with the GMC Jimmy: 59sD&E In The GarageYouTube · Mar 8, 2025

What was the GMC Blazer called in 1970?

GMC Jimmy
Alongside the longer-wheelbase Chevrolet/GMC Suburban wagon-style SUV (offered with three rows of seating and second-row doors), the K5 Blazer was marketed by GMC from 1970 to 1991 as the GMC Jimmy (reflecting a shorthand nickname for the brand).

When did they change the name from Blazer to Tahoe?

Full-size Chevrolet K5 Blazer, based on the C/K pickup chassis and built from 1969 to 1995 (renamed Blazer in 1992 and renamed Tahoe in 1995 for the 2-door and 4-door model)