What is the best year for a Chevrolet Blazer?

The 2022 and 2023 Blazer are the standout used picks — 39 and 35 complaints respectively, both with 10/10 NHTSA safety scores and only 4 severe issues each. After a rougher launch window in 2019-2020 (181 and 204 complaints), the Blazer stabilized quickly. The 2022-2025 window is consistently clean.

How much does Chevrolet Blazer insurance cost?

Blazer insurance averages around $2,570/year — roughly $214/month. On the higher end for midsize SUVs, despite favorable maintenance costs.

Is the Chevrolet Blazer or Ford Edge cheaper to maintain?

The Blazer is cheaper to maintain by $90/year — $521 versus $611 for the Ford Edge. The Blazer also has a higher reliability score (8 vs. 7), lower major repair probability (11% vs. 13%), and lower repair frequency (28% vs. 33%). The Blazer is the better value across all maintenance metrics.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Chevrolet Blazer?

Major repair probability of 11% and repair frequency of 28% are both well below the midsize segment averages. Extended warranty isn't warranted for most buyers — the data supports self-insuring.

Is the Mazda CX-5 expensive to maintain?

The CX-5 averages $447/year in maintenance — $74 below the compact segment average of $521. Its 9/10 reliability score is above the class average, major repair probability of 8% is well below the 11% norm, and repair frequency of 28% is below the 30% class average. One of the strongest ownership-cost profiles in the compact class.

What is the best year for a Mazda CX-5?

From available data, 2024 (38 complaints, 10/10 safety, 4 severe) and 2025 (22 complaints, 10/10 safety, 5 severe) are the cleanest years on record. Complaint data for 2015-2022 isn't available in our dataset, so those years can't be assessed directly. Early years 2013-2014 had higher complaint counts and are best avoided.

How much does Mazda CX-5 insurance cost?

CX-5 insurance averages about $1,947/year — roughly $162/month — the most affordable among compact SUVs with full data.

Is the Mazda CX-5 or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is $18/year cheaper — $429 versus $447 for the CX-5. The CX-5 has higher reliability (9 vs. 8) and a lower major repair probability (8% vs. 10%). The RAV4 costs slightly less per year; the CX-5 carries a better long-term reliability profile.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Mazda CX-5?

Major repair probability of 8% — well below the class average of 11% — and a 9/10 reliability score make extended warranty unnecessary for most buyers. Self-insuring is the better financial decision.

Chevrolet Blazer vs Mazda CX-5

Two midsize SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Chevrolet Blazer if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

Buy the Mazda CX-5 — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Chevrolet Blazer	Mazda CX-5
Annual maintenance	$521	$447winner
5-year total cost	$2,605	$2,235winner
Reliability score	8 / 10	9 / 10winner
Major repair risk (5yr)	11%	8%winner
Cargo space	—	—
Starting price (new)	$37,095	$29,990winner
Best years to buy	—	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Chevrolet Blazer	Mazda CX-5
RepairPal score	8 / 10	9 / 10winner
NHTSA complaints / 100k	135.2	106.6winner
Years to avoid	2019, 2020, 2021	2014, 2025
Value retained · 3 yr	71.6%	78.5%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	52.8%	62.1%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	40.5%	53.2%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Chevrolet Blazer	Mazda CX-5
Engine	24.3%	12.8%winner
Electrical	15.8%winner	23.1%
ADAS	9.0%	8.5%winner
Brakes	6.7%winner	7.6%
Suspension	1.1%	—winner
Steering	7.7%	2.0%winner
Fuel system	2.3%	1.6%winner
Tires/Wheels	3.8%	1.3%winner
Glass/Windows	0.8%winner	14.4%
Airbags	1.5%winner	1.6%
Lighting	—winner	2.5%

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Chevrolet Blazer	Mazda CX-5
Avg annual premium	$2,570	$1,947winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Chevrolet Blazer

$521/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Mazda CX-5

$447/yr maint · 9 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Blazer costs $521/year to maintain — $52 below the midsize segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 28% is well below the class average of 40%, and major repair probability of 11% is well below the 13% norm. Combined with a reliability score of 8 above the class average of 7, it's one of the stronger ownership-cost profiles in the midsize segment.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →