Chevrolet’s new Trailblazer brings style, economy to a small crossover

The caller Trailblazer, with the “B” present lower-cased, is simply a tiny crossover – present car-based – with a three-cylinder motor and country for up to 5 people. 

It’s situated successful the Chevy crossover lineup betwixt the subcompact Trax and the compact Equinox. Next up the enactment are the midsize Blazer and full-size Traverse.

For 2022, trim levels see the LS ($21,600 positive $1,195 freight), with the basal 1.2-liter turbocharged Ecotec three-cylinder engine; and the LT ($23,800), ACTIV ($25,700), and RS (also $25,700), which each travel with a 1.3-liter motor turbocharged Ecotec three-cylinder engine.

Those prices are for front-wheel-drive versions, which each travel with a continuously adaptable automatic transmission. 

But all-wheel thrust whitethorn beryllium added to immoderate trim level, which automatically upgrades it to a accepted nine-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the basal LS exemplary besides gets the 1.3-liter motor upgrade with the summation of all-wheel drive.

The all-wheel-drive enactment adds $2,000 to the LS and LT models, oregon $1,500 to the ACTIV and RS versions.

Our tester for this study was the all-wheel-drive ACTIV model, with its basal terms of $27,200, which included the nine-speed automatic and the 1.3-liter engine.

The 1.3-liter is rated astatine 155 horsepower and 174 foot-pounds of torque. That compares with 137 horsepower and 162 foot-pounds of torque for the 1.2-liter engine, which is lone disposable connected the basal Trailblazer LS.

Chevy says the ACTIV exemplary “features exclusive contented designed to heighten show and thrust comfortableness connected gravel terrain.” That means, of course, that this is not a conveyance intended for immoderate utmost off-road driving, but is equipped to grip well-maintained gravel national- and state-park roads, for example. There is nary two-speed transportation lawsuit for low-range gearing, either.

Standard connected our ACTIVE AWD was a achromatic extortion rack with broadside rails, but connected apical of that was a achromatic cargo handbasket that looked to beryllium susceptible of hauling a clump of camping instrumentality oregon sporting gear. While the cargo handbasket was not listed connected the model sticker connected our tester, I did cheque the Chevrolet “build your own” website for the Trailblazer and recovered this extortion handbasket to beryllium listed arsenic a $369 accessory.

Fuel system for our all-wheel-drive exemplary was an estimated 26 mpg city/30 highway/28 combined. With front-wheel drive, the 1.3-liter motor (with CVT) is EPA rated astatine 29 city/33 highway/31 combined. Oddly, the 1.2-liter motor with the CVT is rated somewhat lower: 29 city/31 highway/30 combined.

The bold styling is 1 of the Trailblazer’s strongest attributes, with immoderate achromatic exterior trim, tons of assemblage creases and bends, an assertive grille and beforehand end, and a sloped extortion that drops disconnected astatine the rear. It reminds maine of the Nissan Juke, but not rather arsenic radical.
Our car came with the premium Iridescent Pearl TriCoat exterior colour ($645) and a Jet Black interior with copper-colored “Arizona accents.” The two-tone exterior included a bronze extortion and matching little rear-end assemblage trim.

Trailblazer’s 1.3-liter motor has adaptable valve timing and nonstop injection, and brought amazingly capable powerfulness to our ACTIV exemplary – though we did not ever load it down with radical and/or cargo. There was plentifulness of powerfulness for mundane driving, adjacent connected immoderate hilly roads.

The Trailblazer tin tow trailers weighing up to 1,000 pounds – specified arsenic a inferior trailer oregon tiny vessel – and has modular trailering instrumentality including a hitch receiver and four-pin trailer airy connector. Add your ain hitch and you’re acceptable to go.
Standard connected our tester were 17-inch high-gloss achromatic machined-aluminum wheels. There was a signature Chevy dual-port grille with similarities to the grille of the bigger Blazer. 

LED daytime moving lights are modular connected the ACTIV model, on with heated/power-adjustable manual-fold extracurricular mirrors, LED taillights and beforehand fog lights, deep-tinted glass, sport-terrain tires, and an underbody skid plate. 

Infotainment and connectivity features included OnStar Services, Wi-Fi Hotspot with 4G LTE data, and aggregate USB information ports. 

Our conveyance came with the Technology Package ($1,620), which brought an HD rear-vision camera, driver-information center, Bose premium seven-speaker audio strategy with HD radio, Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3-plus strategy with eight-inch colour interaction screen, LED headlights, wireless telephone charger, adaptive cruise control, and a memory-card slot.

We besides had the Convenience Package ($520), which included single-zone automatic clime control, rear charging-only USB ports (one A and 1 C connected the backmost of the halfway console), 120-volt outlet (rear of halfway console), auto-dimming rearview mirror, and sliding prima visors with illuminated vanity mirrors with covers.

The dual-cockpit plan includes an integrated halfway stack and halfway console with respective retention areas, specified arsenic an armrest bin with a removable tray, and an unfastened bin nether the dash with the wireless charger. There are dual cupholders (with a phone-size abstraction betwixt them) successful the halfway console. The doorway pockets see vessel holders. 

The divided second-row seatback folds level 60/40 to grow the 25.3-cubic ft cargo country to 54.4 cubic feet. The beforehand rider seatback besides could beryllium folded level to accommodate longer items. 

The Trailblazer besides features General Motors’ Teen Driver technology, which allows parents to acceptable controls specified arsenic velocity alert, measurement limit, Buckle to Drive, and more, and to reappraisal their kids’ driving habits. 

A “Smart Driver” diagnostic tracks driving benignant to assistance maximize the vehicle’s performance, trim deterioration and tear, and amended substance efficiency. 

Chevy Safety Assist is standard, and includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Distance Indicator, and IntelliBeam automatic headlights. 

The Rear Seat Reminder strategy helps support drivers from forgetting small ones oregon pets successful the backmost spot aft parking the vehicle. Air bags see genu and beforehand seat-mounted side-impact, and full-length head-curtain. 

The Driver Confidence Package ($345) included connected our tester brought Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Lane-Change Alert with Side Blind-Zone Alert.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer ACTIV exemplary comes with "leatherette" seats, country for up to 5 people, and a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel.

G. CHAMBERS WILLIAMS III

While the thrust is mostly comfortable, the interior of the Trailblazer is simply a spot noisy, particularly astatine road speeds oregon connected gravel roads.
Both beforehand seats were comparatively comfortable, arsenic were the 2 outboard positions successful the rear. The mediate presumption is champion near unfastened oregon utilized for children successful their information seats. Knee country tin beryllium a occupation erstwhile determination are larger adults up front.

Other extras connected our tester included the Winter/Summer Floor Mat Package ($350) and a cargo mat ($125).

Total sticker terms of our 2022 Trailblazer ACTIV exemplary with all-wheel thrust was $32,369 with freight and options (including the rooftop cargo basket).

The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III person appeared regularly successful the Express-News since 2000. Contact him astatine chambers@auto-writer.com oregon connected Twitter @gchambers3.

2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The package: Small, five-passenger, five-door, front- oregon all-wheel-drive, turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline-powered crossover inferior vehicle.
Highlights: All caller for 2021, this is the revival of Chevrolet’s Trailblazer nameplate, but this clip connected a tiny crossover inferior vehicle. All-wheel thrust is disposable connected each models, and the engines supply fantabulous substance economy.
Negatives: Noisy wrong astatine road speeds; second-row mediate seating presumption choky for adults.
Engine: 1.2-liter turbocharged inline three-cylinder gasoline (LS front-drive model); 1.3-liter turbocharged inline three-cylinder gasoline (all different trims and LS AWD).
Transmission: Continuously adaptable automatic (all front-drive models); nine-speed automatic (all models with all-wheel drive).
Power/torque: 137 HP./162 foot-pounds (1.2-liter); 155 HP./174 foot-pounds (1.3-liter).
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.
Length: 173.5 inches.
Base curb weight: Not available.
Cargo volume: 25.3 cubic feet (behind rear seat); 54.4 cubic feet (rear spot folded).
Towing capacity: 1,000 pounds.
EPA substance economy: 29 mpg city/31 highway/30 combined (1.2-liter, 2WD); 29/33/31 (1.3-liter, beforehand drive); 26/30/28 (1.3-liter, AWD).
Fuel capacity/type: 13.2 gallons, regular unleaded.
Base terms range: $21,600-$27,200, positive $1,195 freight and options.
Price arsenic tested: $32,369, including freight and options (ACTIV AWD).
On the Road rating: 8.7 (of a imaginable 10).

Prices shown are manufactur