The 2020 Chevrolet Blazer marked the reintroduction of this iconic nameplate, bringing a fresh SUV option to the market. For those prioritizing safety, understanding its crashworthiness and safety features is crucial. This article delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluations for the 2020 Chevy Blazer, providing a comprehensive overview of its safety performance.
The IIHS rigorously tests vehicles to assess their safety in various crash scenarios. The Chevy Blazer, model years 2019-2025, underwent several of these evaluations, providing valuable insights into its structural integrity and occupant protection. Let’s break down the results from each test.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object, like a tree or pole. This is a demanding test that focuses on the vehicle’s structural response at the front corner.
The 2020 Chevy Blazer earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest rating possible.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
During the test, key structural measurements were recorded to assess occupant compartment intrusion. In the lower occupant compartment, maximum intrusion was minimal: lower hinge pillar (1cm), footrest (1cm), left toepan (5cm), and brake pedal (2cm). Upper occupant compartment intrusion was also limited: steering column (0cm), upper hinge pillar (1cm), upper dash (1cm), and lower instrument panel (0cm).
Dummy injury measures were equally positive. Head injury criteria (HIC-15) was low at 90, with no head contact. Neck tension was 0.6 kN, extension bending moment 7 Nm, and maximum Nij 0.15. Chest compression was 19mm. Femur forces were minimal (Left: 0.2 kN, Right: 0.1 kN), and knee displacement was 0mm for both legs, resulting in a 0% risk of knee-thigh-hip injury. Tibia index and axial force were also low, indicating minimal lower leg injury risk. Foot acceleration was measured at 42g (Left) and 44g (Right).
These results indicate that in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash, the 2020 Chevy Blazer provides excellent protection, maintaining occupant space and minimizing injury risk.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2020 Chevy Blazer also achieved a “Good” overall rating in this evaluation.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Acceptable |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Passenger Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
While the overall rating was “Good”, the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, a slight step down from “Good”. Passenger-side lower occupant compartment intrusion measurements were: lower hinge pillar (11cm), footrest (3cm), right toepan (2cm), and center toepan (3cm). Upper occupant compartment intrusion included: center dash (5cm), upper hinge pillar (9cm), upper dash (9cm), and right lower dash (12cm). These intrusion measurements are higher than the driver-side test, indicating more structural deformation on the passenger side.
Despite the increased intrusion, passenger and driver injury measures remained “Good”. Passenger dummy HIC-15 was 90 with no head contact. Neck tension was 1.1 kN, extension bending moment 7 Nm, and maximum Nij 0.21. Chest compression was 18mm. Femur forces (Left: 1.5 kN, Right: 0.7 kN) and knee displacement (Left: 3mm, Right: 2mm) remained low, with 0% knee-thigh-hip injury risk. Tibia index and axial force were also low, and foot acceleration was 42g (Left) and 28g (Right). Driver injury measures were also minimal.
These results suggest that while the passenger-side structure experienced more intrusion, the 2020 Chevy Blazer still provided good occupant protection in a passenger-side small overlap frontal crash.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a deformable barrier. This test is designed to represent a common type of frontal collision. The 2020 Chevy Blazer earned a “Good” overall rating in this test as well.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Left | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Right | Acceptable |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
Footwell intrusion measurements were: footrest (3cm), left (6cm), center (8cm), and right (11cm). Brake pedal intrusion was 3cm. Instrument panel and steering column movement were minimal.
Driver injury measures were generally “Good”, except for the right leg/foot, which was rated “Acceptable”. HIC-15 was 136 with no head contact. Neck tension was 1.1 kN, extension bending moment 6 Nm, and maximum Nij 0.17. Chest compression was 23mm. Left femur force was 0.4 kN, right femur force was 1.9 kN. Left knee displacement was 0mm, right knee displacement was 1mm. Tibia index and axial forces were moderate, and foot acceleration was 40g (Left) and 69g (Right).
The “Acceptable” rating for the right leg/foot indicates a slightly higher risk of injury to the right lower extremities in a moderate overlap frontal crash, but overall, the 2020 Chevy Blazer performed well in this test.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
The side crash test evaluates how well a vehicle protects occupants in a side impact scenario. The 2020 Chevy Blazer received a “Good” rating in the side crash test, demonstrating strong side impact protection.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Driver Head Protection | Good |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
Occupant compartment intrusion was minimal at -19.5 cm (negative value indicates crush stopped short of the seat centerline).
Driver and rear passenger injury measures were all “Good”. Driver dummy HIC-15 was 152. Neck tension was 1.0 kN and compression was 0.3 kN. Shoulder lateral deflection was 26mm and lateral force was 1.4 kN. Torso maximum deflection was 31mm and average deflection 30mm. Pelvis iliac force was 1.2 kN and acetabulum force was 1.0 kN. Left femur forces and moments were also measured. Rear passenger injury measures were similarly low.
The 2020 Chevy Blazer excels in side impact protection, offering “Good” protection for both front and rear occupants.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The 2020 Chevy Blazer achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Curb Weight | 4,300 lbs |
| Peak Force | 20,696 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 4.81 |
With a strength-to-weight ratio of 4.81, the 2020 Chevy Blazer’s roof demonstrates significant strength, exceeding the IIHS requirement for a “Good” rating, providing enhanced protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection is evaluated through head restraint and seat design. The 2020 Chevy Blazer with power leatherette seats received a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Dynamic Rating | Good |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good |
Technical measurements confirmed good geometry and dynamic performance, indicating effective whiplash protection in rear-end collisions.
Headlights
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The IIHS evaluates headlight systems and assigns ratings based on visibility and glare. The 2020 Chevy Blazer has three different headlight variations, with varying ratings.
- LED Projector Headlights (on RS & Premier trims with specific packages): Rated “Marginal” (M). While low beams offered good straightaway visibility, curve visibility was fair, and some glare was noted. High beams were better on straightaways but inadequate on sharp right curves.
- HID Projector Headlights with High-Beam Assist (on RS & Premier trims with specific packages): Rated “Poor” (P). Low beams had good straightaway visibility but excessive glare. High beams were inadequate in most scenarios. High-beam assist offered some compensation.
- HID Projector Headlights without High-Beam Assist (on L, 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, RS, & Premier trims): Rated “Poor” (P). Similar to the previous HID system, these headlights also produced excessive glare and inadequate high beam performance.
Headlight ratings for the 2020 Chevy Blazer are mixed, with the LED projector system achieving a “Marginal” rating, while both HID systems are rated “Poor” due to glare and inadequate high beam performance. Choosing trims and packages with LED headlights is advisable for better visibility.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
Front crash prevention systems aim to mitigate or prevent frontal collisions. The 2020 Chevy Blazer offers optional Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Alert.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention: With optional equipment, the 2020 Chevy Blazer earned a “Superior” rating. The system meets forward collision warning requirements and avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Daytime): With optional Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking/Front Pedestrian Braking, the 2020 Chevy Blazer achieved an “Advanced” rating. It avoided collisions with crossing children and adults at 12 mph. In 25 mph tests, it avoided crossing adults and significantly reduced impact speed in crossing child and parallel adult scenarios.
The 2020 Chevy Blazer’s optional front crash prevention systems are effective in mitigating both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian collisions, earning “Superior” and “Advanced” ratings respectively.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is crucial for proper child restraint installation. The 2020 Chevy Blazer received an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH system ease of use.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Acceptable |
| Vehicle Trim | RS |
| Seat Type | Leather |
The Blazer has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and one additional position with a tether anchor. While generally rated “Acceptable,” specific details reveal some limitations. Some lower anchors are not easily accessible, and some hardware might be confused for anchors.
Conclusion
The 2020 Chevy Blazer demonstrates strong safety performance in IIHS crash tests, earning “Good” ratings in small overlap front (driver and passenger side), moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints & seats evaluations. Front crash prevention systems are rated “Superior” (vehicle-to-vehicle) and “Advanced” (pedestrian) when equipped with optional features. Headlight ratings are mixed, and LATCH system ease of use is rated “Acceptable.”
Overall, the 2020 Chevy Blazer is a safe SUV choice, particularly when equipped with optional safety features and LED headlights. Potential buyers looking for a family-friendly SUV with robust safety should consider the 2020 Chevy Blazer and explore available safety packages to maximize protection.
