The Chevrolet Blazer made a comeback in 2019, and the 2022 model year continues to offer a blend of style and safety. For those prioritizing safety in their next SUV, understanding the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer’s safety ratings is essential. This comprehensive guide breaks down the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluations for the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer, providing detailed insights into its crashworthiness and safety features.
The IIHS rigorously tests vehicles to assess their safety performance in various crash scenarios. The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer has undergone several of these evaluations, and this article compiles the results to give you a clear picture of its safety strengths and areas for potential improvement. We’ll delve into the specifics of each test, from small overlap front crashes to roof strength and headlight effectiveness.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Performance
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end hits another vehicle or a rigid object. This test is particularly demanding as it focuses the crash forces on the vehicle’s outer edges, bypassing the main structural components designed to absorb impact.
Driver-Side Evaluation
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test, the highest rating possible. This indicates robust protection for the driver in this challenging scenario.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The table above summarizes the “Good” ratings across all critical aspects of the driver-side small overlap test, including structural integrity, safety cage performance, injury measures for the head, neck, chest, hip/thigh, lower leg/foot, and the effectiveness of driver restraints.
Action shot from the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer, demonstrating vehicle deformation.
The structural performance of the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer in this test was commendable. Key measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver side highlight minimal deformation:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 1 |
| Footrest (cm) | 1 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 5 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 2 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 1 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 1 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 1 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 0 |
These measurements, in centimeters, reveal the maximum intrusion into the occupant compartment at various points. The low intrusion values indicate that the Blazer’s structure effectively resisted crash forces, maintaining crucial survival space for the driver.
Post-crash dummy position inside the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer after the driver-side small overlap test, indicating excellent maintenance of driver survival space.
The dummy kinematics and injury measures further reinforce the “Good” rating. Low injury measurements were recorded across all body regions:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 90 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 7 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.15 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur (kN) Left | 0.2 |
| Femur (kN) Right | 0.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) Left | 0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) Left | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index Left | 0.68 |
| Maximum tibia index Right | 0.58 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) Left | 0.9 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) Right | 1.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Left | 42 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Right | 44 |
These technical measurements demonstrate a low risk of significant injuries in a driver-side small overlap frontal crash for the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer.
Driver’s side footwell area of the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer after the small overlap test, showing minimal intrusion and low risk of leg and foot injuries.
Effective deployment of frontal and side curtain airbags in the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer during the driver-side small overlap test, providing comprehensive head protection.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Performance
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger.
Passenger-Side Evaluation
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer also achieved an “Good” overall rating for passenger-side small overlap protection. While the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, injury measures and restraints were rated “Good,” resulting in a top overall score.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | A |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Technical measurements reveal more intrusion on the passenger side compared to the driver side:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 11 |
| Footrest (cm) | 3 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 2 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 3 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 9 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 9 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 12 |
These higher intrusion values, particularly in the upper and lower occupant compartment areas on the passenger side, explain the “Acceptable” rating for structure and safety cage.
Despite the structural rating, passenger injury measures remained low, similar to the driver-side results:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 90 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 7 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.21 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 18 |
| Femur (kN) Left | 1.5 |
| Femur (kN) Right | 0.7 |
| Knee displacement (mm) Left | 3 |
| Knee displacement (mm) Right | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) Left | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index Left | 0.59 |
| Maximum tibia index Right | 0.59 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) Left | 1.0 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) Right | 1.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Left | 42 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Right | 28 |
Interestingly, driver-side injury measures are also reported in the passenger-side small overlap test, and these also show low risk:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 50 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 46 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.45 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 16 |
| Femur (kN) Left | 0.5 |
| Femur (kN) Right | 0.3 |
| Knee displacement (mm) Left | 1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) Right | 2 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) Left | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index Left | 0.31 |
| Maximum tibia index Right | 0.27 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) Left | 1.0 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) Right | 0.6 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Left | 22 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Right | 39 |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
The moderate overlap front crash test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end hitting a deformable barrier. This test is more traditional and represents a significant portion of real-world frontal collisions.
Moderate Overlap Performance
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer earned a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front crash test, demonstrating solid overall frontal crash protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | A |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
While most aspects received “Good” ratings, the “Acceptable” rating for right leg/foot injury measures indicates a slightly higher risk in this area compared to others.
Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver side were minimal:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footrest (cm) | 3 |
| Left (cm) | 6 |
| Center (cm) | 8 |
| Right (cm) | 11 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 3 |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Upward (cm) | -1 |
| Rearward (cm) | -7 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures were generally low, although slightly higher than in the small overlap test in some categories:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 136 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 6 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.17 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 23 |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 0.4 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 1.9 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.47 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.48 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 2.4 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 4.1 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Left | 40 |
| Foot acceleration (g) Right | 69 |
Side Impact Crash Test
The side impact test simulates a collision with another vehicle or object striking the side of the vehicle.
Side Impact Performance
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer achieved a “Good” rating in the side impact test, indicating strong protection in side collisions.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
The “Good” rating extends across all measured categories for both driver and rear passenger, demonstrating comprehensive side impact protection.
Measurements of occupant compartment intrusion on the driver side show minimal intrusion:
| Test ID | VTS1908 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -19.5 |
Driver and passenger injury measures were also low:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 152 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.0 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.25 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.47 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Combined force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 1.2 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 16 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 176 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 197 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.6 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.7 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 25 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.96 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.51 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Combined force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 28 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 55 |
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash.
Roof Strength Performance
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer achieved a “Good” rating for roof strength, indicating a strong roof structure capable of protecting occupants in a rollover.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,300 lbs |
| Peak force | 20,696 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 4.81 |
The strength-to-weight ratio of 4.81 significantly exceeds the IIHS requirement for a “Good” rating, demonstrating substantial roof crush resistance.
Head Restraints and Seats
Whiplash protection is crucial in rear-end collisions. The IIHS evaluates head restraints and seats to assess their effectiveness in preventing whiplash injuries.
Head Restraints & Seats Performance
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer earned a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats, both for dynamic performance and geometric design.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Technical measurements further detail the performance:
| Seat type | Power leatherette seat |
|---|---|
| Backset (mm) | 16 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 47 |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 12.5 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 55 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 39 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 549 |
Headlight Evaluation
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime safety. The IIHS rates headlights based on visibility and glare.
Headlight Ratings
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer has two different headlight variations, with varying ratings.
LED Projector Headlights (on RS and Premier trims with Driver Confidence II package):
These headlights received a “Marginal” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | M |
Low beam performance was rated as fair, with good visibility on straightaways but only fair visibility on curves. Glare was noted as “some.” High beam performance was better on straightaways and gradual curves but inadequate on sharp right curves.
HID Projector Headlights (on 3LT, 2LT, RS, and Premier trims):
These headlights received a “Poor” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | P |
Low beams provided good straightaway visibility but fair curve visibility, with “excessive” glare. High beams were inadequate in all scenarios.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems can significantly reduce or prevent collisions. The IIHS tests vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention systems at 12 mph and 25 mph.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer earns a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention with both its optional and standard systems.
Optional Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking (with Driver Confidence II package):
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
Standard Automatic Emergency Braking:
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
Both systems avoided collisions in both the 12 mph and 25 mph tests and meet forward collision warning requirements.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian detection systems are increasingly important for urban safety. The IIHS tests pedestrian front crash prevention systems in daylight conditions.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer achieves an “Advanced” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention with both its optional and standard systems.
Optional Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking/Front Pedestrian Braking (on RS and Premier trims with Enhanced Convenience and Driver Confidence II package):
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
Standard Automatic Emergency Braking:
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
Both systems demonstrated good performance in avoiding collisions with crossing children and adults at lower speeds and significantly reduced impact speeds in higher-speed scenarios and parallel adult scenarios.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Ease of use for child seat anchors is important for proper child passenger safety. The IIHS evaluates LATCH systems for their usability.
Child Seat Anchor Rating
The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer received an “Acceptable” rating for child seat anchors (LATCH).
| Overall evaluation | A |
The Blazer has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor. While rated “Acceptable,” the system is functional, but there are aspects that prevent it from achieving a “Good” rating, such as the location and potential confusion with other hardware.
Conclusion: 2022 Chevrolet Blazer Safety Performance
Overall, the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer demonstrates strong safety performance, particularly in crashworthiness. It earned “Good” ratings in most crash tests, including driver-side small overlap, moderate overlap, side impact, roof strength, and head restraints. Passenger-side small overlap was also “Good” overall, with “Acceptable” structure rating. Front crash prevention systems are “Superior” for vehicle-to-vehicle and “Advanced” for pedestrian detection.
The main area for improvement appears to be headlight performance, with “Marginal” and “Poor” ratings depending on the headlight type. The “Acceptable” rating for LATCH systems also indicates room for enhancement in child seat anchor usability.
For car buyers prioritizing safety, the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offers a reassuring level of protection based on IIHS testing, especially in crash scenarios. However, considering headlight options and carefully evaluating LATCH system usability are recommended.
