Chevrolet · 1983–2005

Chevrolet S-10 Blazer

The Chevrolet (S-10) Blazer and its rebadged GMC (S-15) Jimmy counterpart are compact/mid-size SUVs manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet and GMC from the 1983 through 2005 model years, over two generations – until the early 1990s alongside these brands' full-size SUVs with near identical nameplates, but lacking removable hardtops. From the 1992 model year, GMC's full-size Jimmy had become the "Yukon", and so, the S-15 prefix was dropped on the smaller GMC Jimmy. Starting with the 1995 second generation, the large Blazer was rebranded as the Chevrolet Tahoe, and these mid-size SUVs were simply launched as the "all-new Chevrolet Blazer". Upon launch, these models were 14.5 in (37 cm) shorter and 14.9 in (38 cm) narrower than the full-size K5 Blazer, sometimes leading to the nickname of "baby Blazer". Like their full-sized counterparts, the S-series Blazer and Jimmy were originally offered only in a two-door body style. In 1991, four-door versions were added, with a 6.5 in (17 cm) longer wagon body. The S-10 Blazer and S-15 Jimmy were based on the Chevrolet S-10 and GMC S-15/Sonoma pickup trucks and were manufactured in Pontiac, Michigan; Linden, New Jersey; Moraine, Ohio; Shreveport, Louisiana; and São José dos Campos, Brazil. In the United States, retail sales of four-door Blazer models ended in 2004, though production of two- and four-door models for fleet sales continued into 2005. In the Canadian market, four-door models of the Blazer and Jimmy were sold until the 2004 model year and until the 2005 model year for the two-door models of both. The Brazilian variant, based on the second-generation S-series, continued in production in Brazil through 2012 with its own sheetmetal stampings which were also used on the Chinese, Indonesian, and Russian versions. In North America, the Moraine, Ohio, plant produced only 4-door vehicles, with both 2- and 4-door models being produced at Linden, which was the main assembly plant after the switch (for the 1995 model year) from Pontiac West Assembly in Pontiac, Michigan, which closed in 1994.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Successor: Chevrolet Trailblazer|GMC Envoy|Chevrolet Equinox

All Chevrolet S-10 Blazer data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

First generation (1983–1994)

In 1982, General Motors introduced the Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, and its rebadged GMC S-15 Jimmy variant, as 1983 models. They were based on, and co-developed, with the 1982 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck, introduced one year prior, to replace the Isuzu-based Chevrolet LUV truck. Similar to the pickup models, these versions are sometimes internally referred to as the S/T series to denote two- and four-wheel-drive models respectively (similar to the full-size Chevrolet C/K trucks) despite all versions being badged with "S" nomenclature. Unlike their full-size K5 counterparts, the S-series Blazer and Jimmy did not feature removable hardtops. For their first eight model years, they were only offered in a two-door bodystyle; only in March 1990 were four-door versions of the S-10 Blazer and Jimmy introduced as 1991 models, with a 6.5 in (17 cm) greater wheelbase and length. While significantly smaller in all dimensions than the K5 Blazer, interior space was comparable or larger thanks to better packaging – the luggage area, for instance, was 21.0 cu ft (595 L) rather than the 20.1 cu ft (569 L) of the older, larger model. Base power was provided by GM's 2.0-liter OHV gasoline inline four-cylinder engine, producing up to 83 horsepower (62 kW). A 2.8-liter 110 hp (82 kW) V6 was offered as an option (coincidentally, this engine was also used in Jeep's competing Cherokee until 1987). Due to emissions laws, a 1.9-liter gasoline inline-four built by Isuzu was offered as the base model engine in California in place of the 2.0-liter engine, while an Isuzu 2.2-liter diesel engine (also used in the S-10/S-15 pickups) producing 58 hp (43 kW) was offered as an option. The 1.9 L, 2.0 L gasoline, and 2.2 L diesel engines were dropped after 1984, replaced by the larger 2.5 L Iron Duke engine. T

Second generation (1995–2005)

The all-new Blazer was introduced in 1994 as a 1995 model year. This time, it lost the S prefix for simpler identification, as the full-size Blazer was discontinued and renamed the Tahoe. (The Tahoe package, which was a trim for past S-10s, was redesignated as the LS.) Exterior and interior size were increased, bumping it up to a mid-sized SUV. The Blazer was Playboy Magazine's Truck of the Year for 1995 and was also the unanimous winner of the Motor Trend 1995 Truck of the Year. The 1995 Blazer was also awarded North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The second-generation Blazer was available with the 4.3 L V6 engine only, and most models featured four-wheel drive via an electronic transfer case; 1997 was the last year a manual transfer case (with floor-shifter) for four-wheel drive was offered. A driver-side airbag came, but a passenger-side airbag was not immediately introduced. In 1998, the interior and exterior received some cosmetic changes. The makeover offered a new dashboard with larger buttons and more ergonomically correct driving controls, as well as larger door handles, and headrests for the rear bench. A passenger airbag is now standard. A front grille similar to the Chevrolet C/K pickup line's stacked-headlight system replaced the older single-headlight system, similar to the full-size GMT400 trucks. Four-wheel disc brakes became standard equipment, fitted with aluminum dual-piston calipers: the front disc brakes were redesigned with the dual-piston calipers and 11" diameter brake rotors (steering knuckles now have sealed hub assemblies), while the truck models continued to use single-piston disc brakes. The folding mirrors received a refresh for 1999, while 2000 saw new front bumpers and the trim running

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Chevrolet (S-10) Blazer, GMC (S-15) Jimmy
Manufacturer: General Motors
Model years: 1983–2005 (North America)
Class: Compact SUV, Mid-size SUV
Body style: 2-door SUV, 4-door SUV
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive / four-wheel-drive
Transmission: 4-speed automatic, 5-speed NV3500 manual
Wheelbase: 2-door: 100.5 in, 4-door: 107 in
Successor: Chevrolet Equinox (compact), GMC Envoy (Jimmy), Chevrolet TrailBlazer (mid-size)

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1071078CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_S-10_BlazerCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1364914103 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:98-05_Chevrolet_S-10_Blazer_2door.jpgPublic domain · Photo: IFCAR · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.