Many of you are familiar with the Chevy Trailblazer, the mid-sized SUV discontinued in 2008. The name has been brought back to life but this is a completely new offering from Chevy and quite the formidable vehicle in the crowded crossover class. Starting at just $19,000 MSRP the 2021 Trailblazer has several trims and upgrades. I tested the ACTIV AWD for a week and overall it left a good impression.
Highlights
The Exterior looks bold, seats up to 5 and has 54.4 cubic ft of space. I thought the acceleration was good considering the engine size and fuel efficiency is on point. The interior trim of the ACTIV makes the Chevy Trailblazer an all around great competitor in its class.
Driver Experience
The Trailblazer comes with a 1.3L Turbo 9-Speed Automatic. I was surprised by the acceleration and steering response. The AWD version rides nice and you feel confident behind the wheel. It’s extremely easy to park because of its size and turning radius but has been designed nicely for space. You can expect 26 City MPG and 30 HWY MPG and Combined is 28MPG.
Interior
The first thing I noticed was the amount of space in the cabin. It is a generous amount for a vehicle this size. Passengers have plenty of room as well. The traction control, lane tracking, AWD and sport mode buttons are easy to reach at the bottom of the center console. There is also a charging plate in the Activ model. The Panoramic Sunroof is a nice addition as an option. The Trailblazer comes standard with a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8-inch is optional. Both feature wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. My test version had the option HD Rear Camera which was really clear and easy to see even at night. Overall I found The interior to be no nonsense and functional.
Exterior
The list of smaller crossovers is continuing to grow with demand. I think the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer exterior is charming but also bold and has a distinct style that gives it an All American look. The front reminds me of the Camaro a little and I think this gives it an edgy look. There are several trims to choose. I like ACTIV which is more of an outdoors type look and the RS is more sporty.
Safety
A suite of driver assistance features is standard on every 2021 Trailblazer. Chevy calls the package Chevy Safety Assist, and it includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, a following distance indicator, automatic high beams and a rear seat reminder. You can add other features via options including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, and rear parking sensors.
Conclusion
Overall the 2021 Trailblazer ACTIV AWD is a very affordable tiny crossover with lots of room. If cargo capacity, tech features and comfort are important then this is definitely up for consideration especially considering the price.
Click here to check out all the specs, versions and more for the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer ACTIV AWD
https://www.chevrolet.com/suvs/trailblazer
MSRP $26,900
As Tested $33,035
