Chevy Blazer Sizzles During Summer Days As “Best Mid-Size SUV” in J.D. Powers APEAL Study

When the Blazer came roaring back onto the scene it was obvious to us right here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis that many were warming up to its aggressive stance, edgy personality, and still practical sense of functionality. Over the past week, we were able to celebrate another proud milestone of the product line: the 2020 model was the top-ranked mid-size SUV in the 2020 J.D. Power Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.

 

This medium serves as a complement to J.D. Power's Initial Quality Study and it goes deep to gauge the amounts of excitement and emotional attachment that owners get to their cars. There are 37 different qualities that the vehicles are measured on, ranging from the feeling they get when they accelerate to the sense of luxury they experience right when they climb in the driver's seat. We would agree that these are very important traits to measure a car by, and that it reflects on the appeal and influence a brand possesses. 87,000 responses directly from owners of new vehicles are the data that is studied to measure if the new purchase is a hit or miss.

 

The Blazer was #1 in the study for non-premium SUVs and easily stood out against the competition with its powerful 308 horsepower 3.6-Liter LGX V6 engine. It also had a strong sense of style and individuality with its available RS trim, and perfectly sporty exterior appearance. The Blazer also scored a segment award – a defining sign that the development of the Blazer saw all engineering and development teams hitting a home run! While you are comfortably settled during your next drive you'll also have access to the popular infotainment system that the Edmunds auto review staff claimed, “was very attractive and always easy to use.”

 

There's is no doubt that the modern-version Chevy Blazer is one of the most distinctive and unique SUVs on the market, and it is not just inspiration derived from our very own Camaro: it was one of this year's releases that developed its own unique persona once on the lot. The Edmunds staff also recommends the Convenience and Driver Confidence package, which sees the addition of the 3LT's features while only lacking the leather upholstery. Other great features on the Blazer include a 360-degree parking camera, wireless charging pad, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and forward collision alert with automatic braking and pedestrian detection. 

 

We just read a review of a satisfied customer who purchased the 3LT model and loves the HOMELINK garage door opener feature along with all of the other goodies that trim level has to offer. They had taken a long trip and had encountered roads much rougher than they expected in a rural area and claimed the very capable suspension and steering got them to their destination. For the customers we have talked to that care greatly about appearance, the RS trim is the way to go: sleek, stylish, and deviant tones are all stacked up to strengthen and spice up the look!

   

Autoblog.com Details Chevy Electric Full-Size Pickup Boasting 400-Mile Range

The many different cars and trucks that are being released during present times always have us beyond excited here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis: over the past few years, we have seen amazing development in autonomous driving elements, suspension technology, and raw power. As thrilling as many great models such as the Camaro, Blazer, and Silverado are, many car enthusiasts out there have firmly set their sights on the future, where battery power is a sure bet. This week GM confirmed that one of the 20 electric cars it plans to roll out by 2023 will be a full-size, ready to haul and dig-in-deep full-size pickup.

The 2019 sustainability report was where the first solid clues of this future project, where it was also claimed that it will offer 400 miles of driving range on a charge. It is not exactly certain whether or not this is a model that is to be constructed as a greener choice for those who love the Silverado or it could arrive as its own stand-alone model. There are plenty of other projects like this in the works for the coming years, and it is safe to assume that they will all share a few similar components underneath.

Most of the power in this large number of the coming electric fleet is derived from the Ultium® battery technology that General Motors is currently hard at work developing. This is a pretty large jump: in 2019 the only electric car in the entire Chevy lineup was the Bolt, and the times are coming quickly where there will be a lot more options. Earlier in the year, GM CEO Mary Barra claimed excitedly that “we want to put everyone in an EV and we have what it takes to do it.” Charging time will be better with nearly every model as it has been previously, and there is a flexible global plan for distribution in the works as well.

GM now holds nearly 3,000 patents related to vehicle electrification, and the advances in actual chemistry for new batteries and motor configurations are there to enable us to make a larger variety when it comes to the vehicle of the future. Decarbonizing an entire brand's fleet is what will show ultimate leadership in the future, due to the current state of the environment and rapid pace at which experts tell us we need to change our ways.

The Ultium® batteries now under development will boast 60% more capacity for power than the current batteries used in the Bolt. There are also large-format, pouch-style cells that can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack which allows them to fit in multiple design types and various other power sources. These batteries are American made at a plant near Lordstown, Ohio that is currently under construction and will take up the size of roughly 30 football fields!

2021 Chevy Malibu Sport Edition Package Showcased in Autoblog.com

As the heat and dazzling rays of summer continue, we recognize the vast popularity of SUVs and crossovers as the number one family choice. Trucks are of course enjoying immense popularity as well, but the solid connection you get to the road and the fun of a sedan is still one of the remaining joys of the pure and exciting thrill of the road. Autoblog had a great feature this week about the incoming Chevy Malibu, which will add another exciting appearance package to the two already offered on the LT Trim.

It is called the Sport Edition and sees the addition of black bow-tie emblems and Malibu badges, a blacked-out grille, and 19-inch painted aluminum wheels wrapped in 245/4- all-season tires. This awesome new feature set duplicates the Midnight Edition Package's add-ons that are offered on the current model Malibu but are instead just available on any color scheme but Mosaic Black Metallic. You can also opt for the Redline Edition Package, which stealthily blacks out the bow-tie badges, grilles, and logos, puts a red border around the Malibu script, affixes black mirror caps, and adds on a set of 19-inch black wheels with red hash marks.

Everyone here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis always enjoys referring to the GM Authority blog as a great point of reference for models coming soon and just what features they will offer. The 2021 model is expected to be based on the new GM VSS-F platform, which will deliver fresh underpinnings and engineering, as well as all-new both exterior and interior designs. You'll see improved packaging, yielding a larger-sized usable interior. A next-generation infotainment system is expected, as well as the potential addition of all-wheel-drive as an option.

 

The incoming Malibu is expected to offer the choice of 1.4-L or 1.5-L turbocharged I-4 engine, and a 2.0-l Displacement turbocharged I-4 engine. Proudly assembled in the USA, the hard-working men and women that make the Malibu a reality are located at the GM Kansas City factory. Familiar and popular, the Malibu has already made its debut this year at the New York Auto Show. This is expected to be a more luxurious and efficient model compared to the ones before it as well as the firm competition in the forms of the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, and Nissan Altima.

The new style on the exterior features new headlamps, front aprons, taillights, and split front grille that adds a heightened touch of luxury, and also will see a few more cues from the Impala than models before it. The new Malibu is 2.3 inches longer than its predecessor, and also now included a 7-inch color touch screen to control various commands, as well as storage slots for mobile phones and new leather seating covers. We believe the most important safety feature the Malibu boasts is Teen Driver: especially in times like these, it will give you a fully-scored “report card” describing whereabouts, speed limits, and whether seat belts are being used.

2020 Chevy Traverse Boasts Top-Rated and Tuned-In Infotainment System

If you are on the hunt for a new vehicle this summer, you have no doubt put in order what features are most important to you. As screens get bigger and bigger and scores of travelers are getting ready to embark cross-country for some summer fun, you will find yourself in a situation where you need cutting-edge navigation and entertainment options. Just like it was when Dolby THX and much higher offerings appeared in the movie theater arena, when the bar raises last year's goods simply don't hold their consumer appeal. Newswheel.com ran a great story about the new and innovative system you can find on the 2020 Traverse.

According to the experts at U.S. News and World Report, it is on the prominent list of one of the 12 Cars with the Best Infotainment Systems in 2020. Noting that you now do not have to spend big bucks to get your hands on a vehicle with a highly rated infotainment interface, it is actually true that many very high-priced luxury cars' high-tech systems receive more negative reviews than the practical and straightforward technology found in vehicles without the high price tag.

 

The Traverse snagged itself a very high spot in the U.S. News' ranking with a USN Overall score of 8.0 out of 10. One of the things that drew praise from critics was its Chevy Infotainment 3 system with standard 7-inch touch screen, which boasts smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and available built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Anywhere you are on the go in all of the beautiful areas close to us at Chuck Hutton of Memphis, the Traverse offers seamless connectivity. There is also the option to upgrade to an 8-inch touchscreen and Navigation assistance is available on the Chevy Infotainment 3 Premium System.

Every row in the Chevy Traverse offers USB ports, which means when the gaming gets ready to go down on long journeys, passengers have a chance to connect all of their compatible devices. As the road stretches on and some in the back may tend to get impatient, the available rear-seat entertainment system features two pairs of wireless headphones and dual 8-inch diagonal screens.

The available Chevy Infotainment System syncs directly with your mobile device and puts your music selection, phone calls, and more right at your fingertips. Everyone is seeming to eat up podcasts and other streaming content like hotcakes lately, and Sirius XM with 360L brings you a simple-to-use experience with over 200 channels including ad-free music, sports, comedy, talk and news right to your interior. This year for the first time you also have access to thousands of hours of On Demand shows, live interviews, and electric performances. 

2020 Chevy Silverado Trail Boss Custom Praised for “Road Manners, Glorious 6.2-Liter V8”

Business2Community.com ran a great feature last week taking a close-up look at the Chevy Silverado Trail Boss, which is our favorite off-road-ready and trail-climbing item here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis. A few of the items that make it so capable for the task are skid plates, a mechanical locking rear differential, hill descent control, a two-inch factory suspension lift over the Z71, Rancho shocks, and high gloss black painted Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires. Outside you get to enjoy the black grille minus the Chevy bowtie, black bumpers, red tow hooks, and “Trail Boss” decals on the rear fenders.

There are 3 exciting and aggressively-stanced engine choices for the Trail Boss: a 4.3-liter V6 that cranks out 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque, a 5.3-liter V8 that makes 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft, and the optional 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. The 6.2 – liter is what the testing team from Business2community.com deemed as “glorious” and is also the largest engine offered in a half-ton pickup, period. It is paired with the excellent 10-speed transmission and lets you lurch forward fantastically with a sixty-mph speed in 5.4 seconds!

 

When writer Nigel Atkinson took the truck out for normal everyday driving, he deemed it “well-mannered and easy to maneuver” and is able to move at a quick pace very easily if needed. The suspension on the stiffer side is a huge advantage since the Trail Boss doesn't tend to roll much in corners, and there does happen to be a limiter for the 98 mpg threshold in case you really start to “feel the thunder” of excitement when barreling down the highway, (which we can't officially recommend)! The steering was ranked as precise and responsive, and when the Trail Boss was taken off the beaten path, it's where it definitely excelled.

They headed to Sheep Mountain Road, which provided obstacles in the form of water bars, ruts, and roots, and the suspension offered great body control with no bottoming out or traction problems. The group negotiated a couple of tight hairpin turns with ease, and commended the truck on a standout job while in hill descent mode. They also made the valuable point that if you’re planning on getting super technical, Chevy’s own Colorado ZR2 could be the best choice to lean in and really seriously navigate the strewn boulders of your most dangerous dirt playground. We were not at all surprised to see another glowing review of this rugged and capable off-roading machine, and we hope to see you here this summer checking it out on a thorough test drive!

Autoblog Offers up 2021 Chevy Colorado Preview + Entry-Level Trim Talk

It was back in October when the 2021 Chevy Colorado off-road ZR2 model saw its reveal, and everyone who had waited patiently got a glimpse of its aggressive front end a bit reminiscent of the Camaro SS. At that time many of us here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis were left wondering about the rest of the lineup, and what form and features to expect. Last week the staff on duty at Autoblog ran a feature that provided more information about the LT and Z71 trim levels.

As you can see here, these versions of the Colorado have front fascias that are a bit more restrained, but still more aggressive than the outgoing 2020 model. The grille is now larger with the lower section flaring outward, a bit reminiscent of what you see on the Chevy Blazer. The crossbar has a very distinguishable split in the middle, and the grille insert sports more detailed mesh. The bumper has more creases and detailing, and evokes a bit more of an off-road vibe than before. The center part of the air dam under the bumper now rises upward for a better approach angle, and the entire air dam is easier to remove, which is a big help for off-road activity.

 

Most of the rest of the truck looks like the outgoing Colorado, as this was a mid-cycle refresh instead of complete revamping. The tailgate has the Chevy logo stamped in the back as it appears on the new Chevy Silverado. Proud production of the model will begin at the end of this month at the factory in Missouri, and the fine details on pricing still have not been officially announced. Along with red tow hooks, the ZR2 and Z71 now gain a Sand Dune metallic paint color, and we'd have to agree that the ZR2 trim is really where the action-packed thrills and add-ons become a reality!

It includes exotic spool-valve shocks, electronic locking diffs on both axles, and one of the wilder front ends ever spotted on a modern truck. The crew cab has a bigger back seat and cool look and practicality of the bed-mounted spare-tire carrier. With the Trailering Equipment package, the base Colorado with the 4-cylinder engine can lug 3500 pounds, and we are all excited about the fact that Trailer-sway control- which applies the truck and trailer brakes if the system senses sway – now comes standard on all Colorados.

As far as tire offerings, there are the brand-new 17-inch x 8-inch Ultra Silver Metallic steel wheels, as well as the 17-inch x 8-inch Bright machined aluminum wheels. For the new model, the addition of the Chrome Appearance Package on LT models includes a chrome grille, outside heated power-adjustable, manual-folding mirrors with chrome caps, chrome door handles, chrome rear bumper, and chrome beltline molding.

2021 Chevy Tahoe Post Edmunds Review: “Refined, Versatile, and Feature-Rich”

The Tahoe is one of the few truck-based SUV's that is still around, and the 2021 model addressed many of the issues that customers right here at Chuck Hutton Chevy of Memphis and nationwide had on their minds. The staff on duty at Edmunds.com picked the Tahoe for their review of the week and immediately were impressed with the additional 3 inches of legroom in the second row and more than 10 inches of added legroom in the third row.

Max cargo room sees a boost from 94.7 cubic feet last year to 122.9 cubic feet after both second and third rows are folded. One amazing trait about the incoming Tahoe is that it boasts even more space than the previous-generation Suburban, seeing aid from a lower load floor that makes loading large items easier. Engine options are a standard 5.3-liter V8 or an optional 6.2-liter V8, and you can also go with Chevy's new turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel inline-six, which is recommended if towing duties are stacking up on your to-do list. All three engines are mated to a ten-speed transmission, and this is the first year that the Tahoe sees the benefits of the amazing independent rear suspension.

When the Edmunds.com team took a close-up look at how the redesigned Tahoe stacks up against the competition, it has more interior space, greater cargo capacity, and a significantly improved ride as well as optional diesel engine that is not seen in the sworn rival in the form of the Ford Expedition. Our very own Chevy Traverse could be of interest if the 7-passenger SUV is what makes the most sense for the family, but the Edmunds staff thought the interior quality fares much better after first sitting down in the Tahoe.

The Edmunds Experts' favorite safety features on the 2021 Tahoe are Lane Keep Assist, Safety Alert Seat, and Forward Collision Alert. As the daytime hours fade into evening, the Safety Alert Seat can be very useful: it vibrates the driver's seat cushion when the crash avoidance tech detects a situation that may need immediate attention. For trim level selection, the Edmunds staff likes the LT for its lower starting price and a decent list of standard equipment but also for its various available option packages for increased personalization. It can be easy to feel a bit overwhelmed when trying to spec out a new Tahoe, with six trim levels to choose from, and that's why we were here to guide you through the process. The extra space, awesome interior, and sense of practicality are what we predict you'll love most!