Your charts and diagrams are how I wish car makers would do their commercials instead of showing people drive around town buying cupcakes. This is the info I want. thanks!
This is a very impressive traction system, hardly any wheel spin. This would work in Tahoes, Suburbans too. Also looks smoother than G80 unit in the pickups.
While it is an amazing system, I think it would take a lot of engineering to make it work in the bigger more powerful vehicles. This is especially true when you add in low range transfer cases that more than double the torque at the rear differential. It was designed for a front wheel drive vehicle that sends power to the rear when needed. It wasn't designed for heavy loads and towing in vehicles that are RWD. You are correct though, it is the best AWD system I've tested in a Chevy and on par with the best in the industry. Thanks for watching!
Engine Adventures that is true. That’s probably why they based the new electronically-controlled rear diff on the Tahoe and Yukon on the Camaro-Corvette eletric diff. It was used to the horsepower and torque. Great video, I will subscribe 👍
@@jarrodmcdaniel I'm not as familiar with that system, but my understanding of it is that it has an open rear differential. The ELSD has clutch packs on each side that are actuated the same way as the Blazer's, with a solenoid that applies hydraulic pressure to one or both sides in varying amounts. The main difference is that the Blazer relies solely on the clutch packs while the Corvette has a standard open differential and the clutch packs are only used when needed. The Corvette system makes more sense for body on frame trucks and SUVs.
Engine Adventures as the larger suvs move to an independent rear suspension, it does make more sense to have clutch packs engaging independently to reduce stress on the cv joints. It also can be “smarter” in the way it applies traction as not just to brake a spinning wheel off road, but to also help torque-vector it around a corner during on-road maneuvers as well. This makes a large suv drive smaller. Good idea by GM.
@@jarrodmcdaniel All of that is very true, the G80 can hit hard sometimes and it would take some really beefy CV's to handle the shock loads. I'm undecided on computers controlling everything though. I see the incredible benefits but I've had my troubles with them as well. The battery in this Blazer is a group 94R, it's roughly the same size battery as a 2nd gen Dodge Ram with the 8.0 liter V10 has.
Thank you for making this vdo, I really enjoy watching it and that I will help me to get one of this car. A lot of reviews only show exterior and interior design and they didn't do much test drive and tell us about how capable of the vehicle actually perform. Again thank you and keep making more vdo, I wonder how is the vehicle handdle good in snow ?
Thanks for watching and commenting! It actually snowed a little while I had this one and it does very well. I didn't have snow tires, and had no problems. It is definitely a vehicle I would consider for areas where it snows regularly.
I did try it out a few times and didn't notice a difference. I also used it to keep the rpms high when climbing a steep hill. I believe in the video I was in D every time. Thanks!
@@giolats8179 Yes, I often use the manual mode in trucks when towing as well as offroad. There are some vehicles where it makes a difference (Honda doesn't allow you to lock the VTM-4 unless you are in R, 1, or 2), but most of them its just for the driver to control what they want as far as rpms go.
Interested in knowing if there is any mode you can put this in where the clutch packs will spin together like a simple/weaker locker of sorts. I want to do sand driving which wants wheel spin and never any braking. Did you say off-road mode was just torque vectoring and limiting spin? It looked like the rear wheels were spinning together. Also, any comments on how turning off traction control interacts with or affects the vectoring of the clutch packs. Again, I would love a sand mode that lets the wheels spin at the same rate. I absolutely hate watching AWD slip tests where the system has to "Figure it out" and 10 seconds later it gets the vehicle moving. In thick sand this leaves AWD stuck. I like the idea of clutch packs over ABS but you cannot get any info from GM on how this behaves. Thanks for the technical video!
Disabling traction control helps a lot. I just tested another Blazer RS with the disk clutch rear and if I remember correctly I did the step hill climb in off road mode and the traction control off. The video on that one is probably 2-3 weeks out, but I will cover some off-roading with it.
A lot of people have that sentiment, but I'm sure GM has done their research on what's going to be the most profitable and gone that route. Maybe make a 2 door Tahoe again for the k5 and keep the s10 style Blazer?
I bought a 2023 Blazer RS AWD a month ago with the twin clutch system and did some off-roading today and noticed AWD and Off-road modes, you can feel front wheel slip for a second or two and off-road mode just dumbs down the throttle response. I notice you said tow/haul mode keeps it in AWD mode. Do the AWD and off-road modes just keep AWD in standby/slip and grip system?
Thanks for sharing your experience! For AWD mode it primarily operates in FWD but has the system prepped to engage AWD quickly. There are 2 disconnects for the AWD system, one up front which is essentially the transfer case and one at the rear axle using the single clutch (most trims) or dual clutch (RS) systems. Setting it into AWD engages the front clutch system so the driveshaft is already up to speed (at the cost of a little bit of efficiency). Then when it needs AWD, all it has to do is engage the rear clutch(es). I thought Off-road mode engaged the rear clutches as well, but only a little bit so that it doesn't scrub when turning. Maybe it is engaged slightly but it allows slip before fully engaging? I'm guessing Tow/Haul mode is similar but with a more aggressive throttle. I did have a conversation with Chevy engineers about this back in 2019, but I don't remember all the details anymore.
I wish you didn’t have to manually shift into AWD, yeah it’s ok for gas mileage but competitors don’t do that and unless you’re in snow and expect it, most wheel slip is somewhat unexpected/not convenient to wait and shift then go
I believe they actually changed it as well so that only the RS has the dual clutch system now. Other trims use the single clutch rear or are fwd only. That was a surprising change for me.
Engine Adventures...do you have footage of it going up that steep incline road? The same road where you took the new Pilot and you said that it was able to climb it but the old pilot couldnt?
I'm a little mad at myself, but I didn't take it up that hill. This was one of the first times I went to this area and didn't go to that hill thinking the articulation test was enough. I learned later that the big hill is the true test.
Engine Adventures I can’t tell you how excited I am for your videos and especially these off road challenges. You are the absolute first TH-cam’r to test a GM awd crossover off road and post it’s results! Keep it up!
@@EngineAdventures between watching your review and others it's safe to say GM just put the Trailblazer logo on it so they can make money off the name instead of giving an actual quality product
@@michaelnapier566 it's still a quality product, just not a K5 blazer. Think of it as the next iteration of the S10 Blazer and it makes more sense. I do however agree that GM should make a Wrangler/Bronco competitor and name it the Blazer. At least it isn't the Ram Charger which is what Ram calls the wireless phone charging system.
I have the Honda Ridgeline it has a torque vectoring AWD setup same as the Acuras Shawd has had for a while now and it is a pretty good AWD system for light and medium off-roading.
Looks like every other AWD 'SUV' . Have you seen what Ford is going to be doing with the new Broncos? Even the AWD one looks like it has more Bronco DNA than this nondescript thing has Blazer DNA.
@@Nigriff It's three years later and I completely agree with you but the new 'Broncos' at least bigger one looks like Bronco. That thing they're calling a Blazer looks nothing like the Blazer of the 70's and 80's.
Had the Bronco never gone away, what would it have looked like today? I honestly think Ford did a great job with the new Bronco. Same for the Blazer? The last Blazer was the S10 Blazer right? It was evolving to what it is now anyway. I do have to say I much prefer how the Blazer drives compared many other vehicles at the airport car rental lots (including Audi and other "high end" vehicles).
That depends, if you trailer the vehicle to and from the trailhead, maybe leave the spare on the trailer to keep weight down. If you're an overlander going long term off pavement maybe you probably carry 2 spares and a tire repair kit.
Kind of, Quattro and Haldex was based on transferring power between the front and rear differentials. This one has individual clutch packs for each axle in the rear diff that transfer power side to side as well as front to back. It allows for more torque to be applied to the outside wheel while cornering, or to the wheel that has more traction when offroad or in slippery conditions.
My next two videos are on the Blazer RS, interestingly enough it might outperform your Blazer in some very specific offroad situations. That is if you haven't added differential locks to yours. For the other 97% of offroad situations the K5 wins hands down.
@@EngineAdventures im game right now I have a stock lift I also have body on frame solid axle heavier sway bars better transmition and the lost goes on iv had this one off road and it preformed very well on all season tires and no ground clearance on soft ground it barely spun a tire out there Grant it I was not doing anything heavy with it but it still should of spun more then it did
@@EngineAdventures just a standard 03 trail blazer I have plans of a 3 inch lift 31 inch duratracks for it ots my Daly driver /work vehicle 300k miles on it on an a i6 I looked under one of them new blazers once I'm not impressed
@@jjlawnservice5229 that inline 6 is a pretty solid engine. The new ones have basically no protection underneath besides plastics to keep water and road debris out.
I'll be testing another one of these in the next couple of months if all goes as planned. I agree that Ford did well with the Bronco, bringing out basically a slightly more capable cross over with the Bronco Sport, and then a true offroader with the full size Bronco.
Thanks for the input, my newer videos address this by splitting each vehicle into 2 videos. One for an overview and short on road review, and the other for an offroad review.
@@EngineAdventures - I like that change you made. What I watch is the testing; I’m not so interested in the “presentation” content (sales video). Your testing videos are VERY good.
I wish I had taken this up my other test hill, since I didn't I don't have a great comparison with the other vehicles I've tested. It appears from the testing I did that the Blazer would out perform the RAV4 TRD Off-Road, but like I said, I can't be sure of that.
It's actually quite good for what it is. When I get a rental car, if a Blazer is available I usually grab that or a Mazda CX something, as they have better on road driving dynamics than most other vehicles available at the rental car lots. Off Pavement it's no K5 but still did better than most crossovers. The dual clutch rear end performs quite well.
Your charts and diagrams are how I wish car makers would do their commercials instead of showing people drive around town buying cupcakes. This is the info I want. thanks!
Glad you liked them. I will try to implement those into more videos if that's what people are interested in. Thanks for the input!
I wish chevy would have a trim package for the Blazer with some improved off road capability in mind.
I agree, I think they are missing out on the Bronco stuff by sticking closer to the last generation of blazer rather than the early ones.
This is a very impressive traction system, hardly any wheel spin. This would work in Tahoes, Suburbans too. Also looks smoother than G80 unit in the pickups.
While it is an amazing system, I think it would take a lot of engineering to make it work in the bigger more powerful vehicles. This is especially true when you add in low range transfer cases that more than double the torque at the rear differential. It was designed for a front wheel drive vehicle that sends power to the rear when needed. It wasn't designed for heavy loads and towing in vehicles that are RWD. You are correct though, it is the best AWD system I've tested in a Chevy and on par with the best in the industry. Thanks for watching!
Engine Adventures that is true. That’s probably why they based the new electronically-controlled rear diff on the Tahoe and Yukon on the Camaro-Corvette eletric diff. It was used to the horsepower and torque. Great video, I will subscribe 👍
@@jarrodmcdaniel I'm not as familiar with that system, but my understanding of it is that it has an open rear differential. The ELSD has clutch packs on each side that are actuated the same way as the Blazer's, with a solenoid that applies hydraulic pressure to one or both sides in varying amounts. The main difference is that the Blazer relies solely on the clutch packs while the Corvette has a standard open differential and the clutch packs are only used when needed. The Corvette system makes more sense for body on frame trucks and SUVs.
Engine Adventures as the larger suvs move to an independent rear suspension, it does make more sense to have clutch packs engaging independently to reduce stress on the cv joints. It also can be “smarter” in the way it applies traction as not just to brake a spinning wheel off road, but to also help torque-vector it around a corner during on-road maneuvers as well. This makes a large suv drive smaller. Good idea by GM.
@@jarrodmcdaniel All of that is very true, the G80 can hit hard sometimes and it would take some really beefy CV's to handle the shock loads. I'm undecided on computers controlling everything though. I see the incredible benefits but I've had my troubles with them as well. The battery in this Blazer is a group 94R, it's roughly the same size battery as a 2nd gen Dodge Ram with the 8.0 liter V10 has.
Thank you for making this vdo, I really enjoy watching it and that I will help me to get one of this car. A lot of reviews only show exterior and interior design and they didn't do much test drive and tell us about how capable of the vehicle actually perform. Again thank you and keep making more vdo, I wonder how is the vehicle handdle good in snow ?
Thanks for watching and commenting! It actually snowed a little while I had this one and it does very well. I didn't have snow tires, and had no problems. It is definitely a vehicle I would consider for areas where it snows regularly.
I put a rental with this system to the test in SD and WY this past week, in the snow and ice, Custer State Park...performed well. I'm buying one.
Glad you enjoyed it. That's a beautiful place to visit, but I bet it can be pretty rough in the winter.
But the price 40 to 50 thousand way over priced
Nah,its starting at 30,850 ranging to 50k depending on the model amd the add ons.
Brand new 34k for RS AWD with incentives at my local Chevy dealer
Great traction systems demonstration! Did you made any use of the L transmission setting when crossing axles or just in D?
I did try it out a few times and didn't notice a difference. I also used it to keep the rpms high when climbing a steep hill. I believe in the video I was in D every time. Thanks!
@@EngineAdventures Thanks too! So to assume the same applies on your truck off-road tests as well?
@@giolats8179 Yes, I often use the manual mode in trucks when towing as well as offroad. There are some vehicles where it makes a difference (Honda doesn't allow you to lock the VTM-4 unless you are in R, 1, or 2), but most of them its just for the driver to control what they want as far as rpms go.
@@EngineAdventures but the standard mode for your traction testing is mostly D. isn't it?
@@giolats8179 Yes in general that is true for my traction testing where I'm going slow and showing how power transfers between the wheels.
Interested in knowing if there is any mode you can put this in where the clutch packs will spin together like a simple/weaker locker of sorts. I want to do sand driving which wants wheel spin and never any braking. Did you say off-road mode was just torque vectoring and limiting spin? It looked like the rear wheels were spinning together. Also, any comments on how turning off traction control interacts with or affects the vectoring of the clutch packs. Again, I would love a sand mode that lets the wheels spin at the same rate. I absolutely hate watching AWD slip tests where the system has to "Figure it out" and 10 seconds later it gets the vehicle moving. In thick sand this leaves AWD stuck. I like the idea of clutch packs over ABS but you cannot get any info from GM on how this behaves. Thanks for the technical video!
Disabling traction control helps a lot. I just tested another Blazer RS with the disk clutch rear and if I remember correctly I did the step hill climb in off road mode and the traction control off. The video on that one is probably 2-3 weeks out, but I will cover some off-roading with it.
Could you make a off-road reviwe of the all new TRAILBLAZER 1.3T AWD ? Activ or Rs trim. Plis 👍🏻
I will see what is in the press fleet!
I just wish it this Blazer was more related to the K5 instead of the S10
A lot of people have that sentiment, but I'm sure GM has done their research on what's going to be the most profitable and gone that route. Maybe make a 2 door Tahoe again for the k5 and keep the s10 style Blazer?
@@EngineAdventures Id be happy with that, I just wish it wasn't called the blazer
It's not related to the s10 or it would be built on colorado platform
It’s basically an expensive ass traverse. Intended for young-middle aged soccer moms and dads that wipe before they poop.
I bought a 2023 Blazer RS AWD a month ago with the twin clutch system and did some off-roading today and noticed AWD and Off-road modes, you can feel front wheel slip for a second or two and off-road mode just dumbs down the throttle response. I notice you said tow/haul mode keeps it in AWD mode. Do the AWD and off-road modes just keep AWD in standby/slip and grip system?
Thanks for sharing your experience! For AWD mode it primarily operates in FWD but has the system prepped to engage AWD quickly. There are 2 disconnects for the AWD system, one up front which is essentially the transfer case and one at the rear axle using the single clutch (most trims) or dual clutch (RS) systems. Setting it into AWD engages the front clutch system so the driveshaft is already up to speed (at the cost of a little bit of efficiency). Then when it needs AWD, all it has to do is engage the rear clutch(es).
I thought Off-road mode engaged the rear clutches as well, but only a little bit so that it doesn't scrub when turning. Maybe it is engaged slightly but it allows slip before fully engaging? I'm guessing Tow/Haul mode is similar but with a more aggressive throttle. I did have a conversation with Chevy engineers about this back in 2019, but I don't remember all the details anymore.
@@EngineAdventures thanks a lot for your reply and clarification!
I wish you didn’t have to manually shift into AWD, yeah it’s ok for gas mileage but competitors don’t do that and unless you’re in snow and expect it, most wheel slip is somewhat unexpected/not convenient to wait and shift then go
I'm currently driving a Blazer RS and it's the same way. Everytime you start the vehicle it defaults to 2wd.
@@EngineAdventures I know both Premier and RS have it. Not sure if it’s the same on the lower trims/with 2.0
I believe they actually changed it as well so that only the RS has the dual clutch system now. Other trims use the single clutch rear or are fwd only. That was a surprising change for me.
Engine Adventures...do you have footage of it going up that steep incline road? The same road where you took the new Pilot and you said that it was able to climb it but the old pilot couldnt?
I'm a little mad at myself, but I didn't take it up that hill. This was one of the first times I went to this area and didn't go to that hill thinking the articulation test was enough. I learned later that the big hill is the true test.
Engine Adventures I can’t tell you how excited I am for your videos and especially these off road challenges. You are the absolute first TH-cam’r to test a GM awd crossover off road and post it’s results! Keep it up!
Thanks!
Lmao that's where I sit when I'm driving. O that's where I sit when u drive too
Is it compatible to put lift kit, 33 inch tyres, and offroad it as much as bronco does?
Certainly not, it wasn't designed for that.
So it's a crossover for going off road and we can't get a full size spare tire
It's more of a street oriented design, but does have some offroad capability.
@@EngineAdventures between watching your review and others it's safe to say GM just put the Trailblazer logo on it so they can make money off the name instead of giving an actual quality product
@@michaelnapier566 it's still a quality product, just not a K5 blazer. Think of it as the next iteration of the S10 Blazer and it makes more sense. I do however agree that GM should make a Wrangler/Bronco competitor and name it the Blazer. At least it isn't the Ram Charger which is what Ram calls the wireless phone charging system.
I have the Honda Ridgeline it has a torque vectoring AWD setup same as the Acuras Shawd has had for a while now and it is a pretty good AWD system for light and medium off-roading.
I wish I had done a better job of testing this Blazer. I did do a video on the new Ridgeline and it's very capable off-road!
Looks like every other AWD 'SUV' . Have you seen what Ford is going to be doing with the new Broncos? Even the AWD one looks like it has more Bronco DNA than this nondescript thing has Blazer DNA.
New Bronco is nothing like the old broncos
@@Nigriff It's three years later and I completely agree with you but the new 'Broncos' at least bigger one looks like Bronco. That thing they're calling a Blazer looks nothing like the Blazer of the 70's and 80's.
Had the Bronco never gone away, what would it have looked like today? I honestly think Ford did a great job with the new Bronco.
Same for the Blazer? The last Blazer was the S10 Blazer right? It was evolving to what it is now anyway.
I do have to say I much prefer how the Blazer drives compared many other vehicles at the airport car rental lots (including Audi and other "high end" vehicles).
That drivetrain sounds a lot like a 10 year old Acura setup 🤔
It's actually very similar and a lot of manufacturers are using these systems now.
Acura was 3.5 and 3.7 with outdated 5 and 6 speeds so hows it similar?
@@zero2sixty244 I think what the great bender meant was drivetrain with the overdriven dual clutch rear axle and torque vectoring.
Engine Adventures oh ok. She should’ve said drivetrain instead of powertrain
@@zero2sixty244 correct
Never go off-roading without a full size spare
That depends, if you trailer the vehicle to and from the trailhead, maybe leave the spare on the trailer to keep weight down. If you're an overlander going long term off pavement maybe you probably carry 2 spares and a tire repair kit.
You did the foot kick wrong. Straight in and out. No hokey pokey.
Which part are you talking about?
AWD or 4x4?
AWD
@@EngineAdventures yes ik
Vw audi has been doing this for years it's called haldex and Quattro
Kind of, Quattro and Haldex was based on transferring power between the front and rear differentials. This one has individual clutch packs for each axle in the rear diff that transfer power side to side as well as front to back. It allows for more torque to be applied to the outside wheel while cornering, or to the wheel that has more traction when offroad or in slippery conditions.
Love it
....Great video....
Thanks for the support!
Pretty cute for a grocery geter I have a real blazer body on frame blazer not a rebadged Korean made rehashed equinox
My next two videos are on the Blazer RS, interestingly enough it might outperform your Blazer in some very specific offroad situations. That is if you haven't added differential locks to yours. For the other 97% of offroad situations the K5 wins hands down.
@@EngineAdventures im game right now I have a stock lift I also have body on frame solid axle heavier sway bars better transmition and the lost goes on iv had this one off road and it preformed very well on all season tires and no ground clearance on soft ground it barely spun a tire out there Grant it I was not doing anything heavy with it but it still should of spun more then it did
Sounds like an awesome setup, I'm definitely a little jealous!
@@EngineAdventures just a standard 03 trail blazer I have plans of a 3 inch lift 31 inch duratracks for it ots my Daly driver /work vehicle 300k miles on it on an a i6 I looked under one of them new blazers once I'm not impressed
@@jjlawnservice5229 that inline 6 is a pretty solid engine. The new ones have basically no protection underneath besides plastics to keep water and road debris out.
Chevy really missed out on this design. its really not a Blazer
I'll be testing another one of these in the next couple of months if all goes as planned. I agree that Ford did well with the Bronco, bringing out basically a slightly more capable cross over with the Bronco Sport, and then a true offroader with the full size Bronco.
This tub isn't an off road vehicle.
In fact that is what they should have named it - The Chevy Tub.
10 minutes in and still no movement. Waste of time.
Thanks for the input, my newer videos address this by splitting each vehicle into 2 videos. One for an overview and short on road review, and the other for an offroad review.
@@EngineAdventures - I like that change you made. What I watch is the testing; I’m not so interested in the “presentation” content (sales video).
Your testing videos are VERY good.
Thanks for the support and thoughts!
Malo muestra las capacidades
Gracias por sus comentarios, aye que ver mo Nuevo video sobre el Blazer para tender mas pruebas
The Bronco will kill this is sales. An over priced grandpa car.
Grandma you mean, grandpas actually have pretty decent taste in vehicles from what I know.
Very much so
Decent but never as good at off roading like a landrover, suburu, rav4, or jeep cherokee.
Rav 4 and Subaru are about the same as the blazer in my testing, but the Cherokee and Land rover are much better with low range transfercases.
Subaru is overrated. Lot at more test drive on TH-cam. Lots of people fooled
Chevrolet the Best
They are simply not lol
Incredible off road experience? Where is it in this video? It’s a fucking GM. I’ll stick to my Subaru.
I wish I had taken this up my other test hill, since I didn't I don't have a great comparison with the other vehicles I've tested. It appears from the testing I did that the Blazer would out perform the RAV4 TRD Off-Road, but like I said, I can't be sure of that.
lol this thing sucks
It's actually quite good for what it is. When I get a rental car, if a Blazer is available I usually grab that or a Mazda CX something, as they have better on road driving dynamics than most other vehicles available at the rental car lots. Off Pavement it's no K5 but still did better than most crossovers. The dual clutch rear end performs quite well.
It’s dirty. Wash it before you present it.
Rainy days make that difficult.
Entitled much?
It's an "SUV" 😂
@@EngineAdventures weird. Rainy days normally make most cars look cleaner.
Haha, I guess it depends on how dirty the car is!
It is not AWD it is 4x4