2003 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2003 Chevrolet Blazer was the sport utility wagon that time forgot.  Left behind by the higher-tech, jazzier TrailBlazer spinoff, and outsold in the marketplace by bigger SUVs and by trucks, the '03 Blazer nonetheless had a core group of faithful buyers who remembered the sturdy midsize utility's long history.

Two trims were offered for the 2003 Chevy Blazer: the LS and the Xtreme.  The Xtreme was available in a 2-door bodystyle, with a choice of 2WD and 4WD drivetrains.  The LS came as both a 2-door and 4-door wagon, with 2WD and 4WD choices.  With a curbweight of around 4,000 pounds, the '03 Chevrolet Blazer was smaller than many other offerings in the mid-size SUV class; its stiff suspension (thanks to a platform adapted from the GM truck chassis) made it a bit more roadworthy as well.

Its engine, the 4.3 liter V6 Vortec 4300, wasn�??t the powerhouse that came standard with the TrailBlazer (an 4.2 liter inline-6 with a hearty 250-horsepower output).  Still, with 190 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2003 Blazer had enough oomph to get around suburban streets and even off the highway.  Its high clearance made it a good choice for some off-road uses, even if it didn't have the punch for extreme four-wheeling.