When did the Chevy Blazer come out again?
The Chevy Blazer came back for the 2019 model year. It originally debuted in 1969, but the name was retired for a period before Chevrolet revived it in 2019 as a modern two-row SUV.
Origins: the 1969 debut and the long arc
The Blazer began life as a rugged body-on-frame SUV built on Chevrolet's truck chassis and evolved through multiple generations before GM retired the name in the mid-1990s. Here are the milestones you should know.
Key milestones in the Blazer's early life and eventual retirement are listed below.
- 1969: Chevrolet introduces the Blazer as the K5 Blazer, a full-size SUV built on the C/K pickup chassis.
- 1980s–early 1990s: The Blazer lineup expands and evolves with updates across generations.
- Mid-1990s: GM shifts its SUV lineup, and the traditional Blazer name is phased out as newer models like the Tahoe/TrailBlazer take the spotlight.
- 2019: Chevrolet revives the Blazer name with a modern, two-row midsize SUV designed for today’s crossover market.
That timeline shows the Blazer's journey from a 1969 debut to a modern revival.
The 2019 revival: what changed
When the Blazer reappeared in 2019, it moved away from a traditional body-on-frame design toward a unibody construction common to contemporary crossovers. It also introduced a two-row layout and a distinct, sport-oriented design language.
Major characteristics of the 2019 revival include:
- Unibody construction aligned with GM’s midsize crossovers for improved efficiency and interior space.
- Two-row seating with flexible cargo space tailored to everyday practicality.
- Distinct styling cues that set it apart from traditional trucks and from the larger TrailBlazer lineage, including sport-trim accents like RS.
- Available trims such as L, LT, RS and Premier to appeal to a range of buyers.
In short, the 2019 revival signaled Chevy's strategy to re-enter the midsize SUV segment with a modern, two-row Blazer that preserves the name’s rugged heritage while embracing contemporary crossover design.
Design and market positioning
The Blazer’s 2019 design balances sporty aesthetics with everyday practicality, targeting buyers who want a stylish two-row SUV without the bulk of a traditional large SUV. It situates itself against other two-row midsize crossovers in a crowded market while carrying the Blazer name’s rugged past into a new era.
Summary
The Chevy Blazer first launched in 1969 and, after years of evolution and eventual retirement in the mid-1990s, was reintroduced for the 2019 model year as a modern, two-row midsize SUV. This revival marked a renewed focus on sport-oriented styling and practical crossover versatility within Chevrolet’s lineup.
