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1995 CHEVROLET BLAZER LT 4-WHEEL DRIVE SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE

by: BILL RUSS

SEE ALSO:Chevrolet Buyer's Guide

The new 1995 Blazer is the second generation of Chevrolet's popular compact sport-utility vehicle. First introduced is 1983 as a two door all-purpose people and cargo hauler, it has been improved and embellished along the way. In the early nineties the first four-door made its way to dealerships and by 1994 over 1,800,000 S-Blazers had been sold. The sport-utility field is one of the fastest growing and most competitive segments of today's truck market. To improve its position in this market Chevrolet listened to what its customers wanted, and then established product teams to coordinate the design, procurement, and production to meet these requirements. The result is a completely new Blazer. Last years optional V-6 engine is now standard. Two- or four-wheel drive powertrains are available, each with several suspension systems to meet the owner's driving needs.

To test the capabilities of the 1995 Blazer I drove it on interstates, in cities, on back roads, and in true off-road conditions in the canyon country of eastern Utah around Moab, as well as in New Mexico's Indian Country. On pavement, dirt, or rock I encountered everything from hot sunshine to rain, drizzle, and snow. The LT four-door, four-wheel drive Blazer with Touring Suspension handled all of these weather and road conditions admirably, and here are by recollections:

APPEARANCE: The grille and frontal styling of the 1975 Blazer shows its S-10 truck heritage. The large cabin is well-rounded with a top luggage-rack, near-flush deep-tinted glass, and stainless steel trim from bumper to bumper including the wheel wells and side rub strip. Michelin all-season tires mounted on stylish alloy wheels state the purposeful potential of the LT Blazer. It large rear window and tailgate provide easy access to the generous rear storage area. The tailgate lowers gently and the rear window is equipped with a defogger and washer/wiper. The spare tire is stowed under the rear body.

COMFORT: The LT is fitted with all the amenities of a luxury passenger car. Items include leather- faced upholstery, 6-way powered driver's seat, full analog instruments, power windows, mirrors and locks, plus remote lock/unlock. Also there's an overhead console with a compass and outside temperature guage, dual front visors, several beverage holders, and two 12-volt accessory outlets. The AM/FM/CD radio is easy to tune and set stations, and provides good fidelity and sensitivity. The rotary switch-controlled heater and air conditioner keep the temperature at a comfortable level in various kinds of weather. Interior storage is very good with map pockets and flat storage with a cargo net and tie downs behind the rear seats. When more area is needed the rear seats fold down 60/40, or the roof rack can be used in fair weather. Its comfortable for all day touring either on- or off-road.

SAFETY: A driver's airbag and three point safety belts are visible aids to occupant safety. Unseen safety features are a rigid body structure and ladder-type frame plus a reinforced safety cage, front and rear crush zones and an energy absorbing steering column. Standard anti-lock brakes assist the driver by preventing wheel lock-up during hard braking in hazardous driving circumstance.

ROADABILITY: Our Blazer was equipped with the Z85 Touring package, one of four available on four-door models. Each package consists of matched springs, shock absorbers, stabilizer bars and tires and is designed to provide the right equipment and ride quality that the owner desires. The Z85 components insure a firm but supple ride that performs well in most two- or four-wheel driving conditions. Chevrolet's Insta-Trac system allows the driver to "shift on the fly" into four-wheel drive while driving. For those who only use 4WD occasionally, a dash-mounted push-button arrangement is available. The LT has a very car-like ride in the city and on the highway and is quite comfortable on dirt and gravel back roads. On the road the Blazer is very quiet, and all-around vision is excellent.

PERFORMANCE: The 4.3 liter V-6 that now powers all Blazers has been refined to produce 200 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque at low rpms. This gives all models the ability to perform normal or heavy-duty chores with ease. Hydra-Matic's proven 4L60-E overdrive automatic transmission is controlled by powertrain control module to assure smooth shifts in 2- or 4 wheel drive. Whether cruising down the highway or climbing over rocks the 1995 Blazer will get you to your destination.

CONCLUSIONS: The newly redesigned and refined Blazer is much improved over its earlier models. It is larger, more powerful, and is available with a host of comfort and convenience items.

SPECIFICATIONS:
1995 CHEVROLET BLAZER LT 4-WHEEL DRIVE SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLE

	   
	   Base Price              $ 21,953
	   Price As Tested         $ 26,969   
	   Engine Type             V-6, ohv - pushrod, cpi*
	   Engine Size             4.3 liter/262 cid   
	   Horsepower              200 @ 4500
	   Torque (ft/lbs)         260 @ 3600
	   Wheelbase/Length        107"/181"  
	   Transmission            4-speed EC** auto w/od
	   Curb Weight             4200
	   Pounds per Horsepower   21
	   Fuel Capacity           19
	   Fuel Requirement        Unleaded regular (87 octane)
	   Tire                    Michelin XW4 P/70R 15, all season
	   Brake                   anti-lock standard     disc/drum
	   Drive Train             front engine, rear drive - on demand 4WD
	   
	    *  cpi = Central point fuel injection
	   ** EC auto = Electronically Controlled automatic transmission
	   
			 PERFORMANCE    
	   
	   EPA Economy - miles per gallon,        
	     city/highway/observed      16/22/18.3  
	   0 to 60 mph                  10.1 sec
	   1/4 mi (E.T.)                17.5 sec           
	   Coefficient of drag (cd)     .42