The Chevrolet Blazer nameplate spans three completely different products: a beloved vintage 4x4 (1970s-1990s), a current gas-powered midsize crossover (2019+), and a new electric SUV (2024+). The gas Blazer suffers from systematic oil leak issues at very low mileage and underwhelming fuel economy, making it hard to recommend despite decent ride quality. The Blazer EV shows much stronger owner enthusiasm, praised for striking looks, strong performance, and spacious interior, but faces quality control problems and a shortage of EV-trained service techs. If you're considering a Blazer today, the EV version is the clear choice despite teething issues, while the gas model carries too much early-failure risk.
Nissan's plush two-row crossover rides like a luxury SUV but carries a ticking time bomb under the hood: the CVT transmission grenades itself between 60k-120k miles with alarming regularity, even when religiously maintained. The 2015-2024 models charm owners with their V6 power and living-room comfort until that $4k-8k replacement bill arrives. The all-new 2025 ditched the V6 for a turbo-4 nobody wanted, added buggy tech, and promptly sat unsold on dealer lots with massive incentives. If you're buying used, budget for a CVT replacement as a when-not-if expense. If you're considering the redesign, you're beta-testing Nissan's desperation play. Skip this unless you're leasing short-term or love gambling on transmissions.