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Driving Impressions
Performance is the S-Blazer's strong suit. It has a substantial 107-inch wheelbase-surprisingly, 1. 1 inches longer than jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. The ride, even in off-road situations, is smooth and without the choppiness often associated with mid-size sport utility vehicles.Our S-Blazer had the enhanced engine package-a $1,390 option. Mated with a four-speed automatic transmission, this increases the power of the 4.3 V6 Vortec engine from 165 to 200 horsepower. It also adds extra capacity engine and transmission cooling and increases trailer towing capacity from 4000 to 5000 pounds. We feel this is a very worthwhile option, especially for towing or off-road use. With this enhancement, S-Blazer has 10 more horses than the Ford Explorer Limited and only 20 less than the V8poweredjeep Grand Cherokee. The independent suspension provided a smooth, stable car-like ride for street use. Off-road, the suspension travel was up to handling steep ruts, rocks and potholes. There was little body roll or lean when cornering. The power steering provided good feedback yet quick, smooth operation. The front disc/rear drum brakes had a standard anti-lock system and performed well with little or none of the shudder sometimes felt with these systems. The Insta-Trac 4WD system is a breeze to use. You shift the transfer case from 2WD to 4WD high while on the move. To shift into or out of 4WD low, you must slow to less than 3 mph. Diving the S-Blazer after recent rains, we went through some really deep mud in 4WD low and had no problem. We also negotiated a rain-slick grade with some fishtailing, but we never felt out of control.
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