Execs: Engaging inside; glorious customary infotainment tech; reasonably priced; good rear legroom
Cons: Gradual acceleration and base CVT doesn’t assist; boring driving dynamics; Chevy Trax is a greater worth
The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer is its model’s barely up to date tackle an reasonably priced small crossover with model. It’s aggressive for the more and more in style subcompact SUV section, but it surely’s additionally up in opposition to rivals which can be typically extra well-rounded, characterful and succesful in key areas the Trailblazer claims as advantages, particularly utility and adventure-seeking functionality. The Subaru Crosstrek, Kia Seltos, VW Taos and the admittedly pricier Ford Bronco Sport are higher bets.
Although the title is comparable, the Trailblazer doesn’t have its Blazer sibling’s deal with driving dynamics. Its three-cylinder engines received’t precisely get your pulse racing, and it’s not as partaking and even enjoyable to drive as others may be within the section. But it surely’s comfy sufficient with its roomy again seat, and it’s received lots of character. The so-so inside design will get an improve this yr with flashy new screens for the infotainment and driver show.
Whereas the Trailblazer is sensible, trendy and a good worth, there’s finally one main motive to think about one thing else, and also you don’t must go far at a Chevy dealership to seek out it. The all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax is a much more compelling and aggressive bundle, making higher use of its cargo and passenger area, boasting a extra partaking driving expertise and beginning at about $2,000 much less. We expect it seems higher, too. In fact, it doesn’t provide the Trailblazer’s greater engine improve, or extra importantly, all-wheel drive. Principally, we might not advocate the Trailblazer, however there’s a subcompact Chevrolet that does get an enormous thumbs up.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo Area | Efficiency & Gasoline Financial system
What it is wish to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Rankings & Security Options
What’s new for 2024?
The 2024 Chevy Trailblazer will get some exterior design updates, significantly up entrance, in addition to some new wheel designs for the varied trims and new paint colours. Inside, it will get a brand new double-screen interface customary, together with an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8-inch digital instrument panel.
What are the Trailblazer inside and in-car expertise like?
The Trailblazer’s inside design and styling resembles different Chevy crossovers, particularly because it’s been improved for the 2024 mannequin yr with greater new shows that modernize the sprint. There’s nonetheless loads of black plastic switchgear, but it surely doesn’t really feel low cost or particularly low-rent for the cash. The inside plastics are dressed up with fascinating textures, and colourful trim items assist preserve the inside from wanting boring or dreary. The Activ trim has some good touches like yellow stitching and customary heated entrance seats and steering wheel. The RS will get comparable consolation gear, a flat-bottom leather-based steering wheel and crimson inside accents for a sporty look. The out there eight-way energy driver seat permits for an extended vary of motion and could be appropriate for taller drivers.
The brand new digital shows are customary throughout the lineup, and embrace an 11-inch central infotainment touchscreen and an 8-in digital instrument panel in entrance of the motive force. Should you’ve seen what’s within the up to date 2024 Chevy Trax (or the 2024 Encore GX or the brand new Buick Envista, for that matter) you’ll be acquainted. It makes use of a easy, simple model of GM’s Android-based infotainment system, with crisp graphics and easy-to-navigate menus and controls. We like that the menu icons stay docked on the left facet of the display screen. We additionally recognize the usual inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A digital rearview mirror can also be customary gear in 2024.
How large is the Trailblazer?
On the surface, the Trailblazer is likely one of the bigger subcompact SUVs, though that doesn’t at all times translate to inside area, particularly within the cargo space. Sitting within the again seat of the Trailblazer is nice from a pure area perspective, with 39.4 inches of rear legroom (solely a half-inch lower than the compact Equinox), but it surely’s a step again in ambiance, as a lot of the intriguing trim and magnificence up entrance is deserted for the again seat. You also needs to assume twice in regards to the out there panoramic sunroof because it considerably reduces headroom.
Cargo area is formally measured at 25.3 cubic toes behind the second row and 54.3 cubic toes with the seats down. That’s simply behind the Equinox in most utility. We discovered that it isn’t fairly as spacious with the seats up as that official determine would point out, finally falling towards the underside of the section for precise stuff hauling. The Trax can really carry extra with the seats up. On the plus facet, the Trailblazer’s distinctive fold-flat entrance passenger seat grants it a level of versatility that its rivals can’t match (other than its mechanical cousin, the Buick Encore GX).
What are the Trailblazer gas economic system and efficiency specs?
The Trailblazer’s customary energy plant is a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine making 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired with a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT), and solely out there with front-wheel drive. As for gas economic system, it will get 29 miles per gallon metropolis, 31 mpg freeway and 30 mpg mixed.
The improve engine is one other turbocharged three-cylinder, this one displacing 1.3 liters and offering 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. That engine is mated to a nine-speed automated. With front-wheel drive, it will get 29 miles per gallon metropolis, 33 mpg freeway and 31 mpg mixed. The out there all-wheel-drive Trailblazer’s effectivity suffers a tad, rated at 26/29/27 mpg.
What is the Trailblazer wish to drive?
You could be bored by the Trailblazer’s driving traits, but it surely’s essentially sound. The muted three-cylinders sadly don’t sound like a lot from the motive force’s seat and it’s pretty blah off the road. That’s very true with the bottom engine and its droning CVT (the Trax has the identical engine however a standard automated), however even the larger 1.3-liter, nine-speed auto and all-wheel drive combo aren’t a considerable efficiency improve. A 0-60 time of round 9 seconds appears seemingly, which is sluggish, however commonplace for the subcompact section (then once more, the Mazda CX-30 and turbocharged Kia Seltos do buck that development). A major quantity of lag between foot down and ahead thrust is accountable for a few of its laziness.
We will’t communicate to the dealing with and journey traits of something however the Activ (all different trims have completely different damper tuning), however this one errs towards consolation over the whole lot else. The steering is sluggish and numb, and the Trailblazer’s physique motions do not encourage backroad enjoyable. It’s not cumbersome, however the Trax and different non-Chevy rivals just like the Mazda CX-30 are sharper and interesting autos to drive.
These comfort-tuned (or, as Chevy claims, off-road-tuned) dampers do a swell job of constructing the Trailblazer journey higher than anticipated, although. Tough metropolis streets are dealt with with aplomb, and it does a bang-up job ensuring harsh impacts don’t intrude into the cabin. We despatched it down some grime roads with comparable outcomes, noting that it was a lot comfy and sopped up imperfections higher than we’d count on from a automotive with its measurement and wheelbase. If this seems like what you are anticipating out of your small crossover, the Activ might be your greatest wager, however you’d even be clever to take a look at the Subaru Crosstrek. It has the identical comfort-and-off-road mission and does a greater, extra credible job of it.
What different Chevy Trailblazer opinions can I learn?
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer First Drive | After which there have been two
Our first drive of the completely new Chevrolet Trailblazer. We go over its engineering and all the small print of this new, little crossover.
2021 Chevy Trailblazer Baggage Take a look at | Iffy area, good versatility
We discover that the cargo space is not as massive as its official specs would point out, however its fold-flat entrance passenger seat gives utility past merely how a lot can match behind the again seats.
What’s the 2024 Trailblazer value?
The 2024 Chevy Trailblazer begins at $24,395 (together with $1,295 in vacation spot costs) for the bottom LS FWD trim, which comes with the 1.2-liter engine and CVT. The LS FWD with the 1.3-liter prices $24,790, and the LS AWD (which has the 1.3-liter and a nine-speed automated transmission) begins at $26,345. The bottom LS’s customary gear consists of an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument show, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite tv for pc radio with a three-month subscription, Wi-Fi hotspot, keyless begin, automated LED headlights, 17-inch wheels, HD rear-view digital camera mirror, cruise management, flat-folding entrance passenger seat, single-zone handbook local weather management, six-way handbook driver’s seat and fabric seating materials.
The 2024 Trailblazer value breakdown by trim is as follows:
- LS FWD (1.2): $24,395
- LS FWD (1.3): $24,790
- LS AWD (1.3): $26,395
- LT FWD (1.2): $25,595
- LT FWD (1.3): $25,990
- LT AWD (1.3): $27,595
- Activ FWD (1.3): 28,395
- Activ AWD (1.3): 29,995
- RS FWD (1.3): $28,395
- RS AWD (1.3): $29,995
What are the Trailblazer security rankings and driver help options?
Along with the standard airbags and restraints, customary security gear within the Trailblazer consists of automated emergency braking, ahead collision warning, following distance indicator, lane-keeping help, lane-departure warning and a teen driver system. Additionally out there are blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, and rear parking sensors.
The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) hasn’t up to date its crash check scores for the 2024 mannequin as of this writing, however we don’t count on it to alter from 2023. The IIHS gave the 2023 Trailblazer its Prime Security Choose+ designation. It earned high scores for all crashworthiness classes, and its high “Good” score or second-best “Acceptable” for headlights relying on trim. It’s rated the highest “Superior” for vehicle-to-vehicle crash avoidance, and second-best “Advanced” for daytime vehicle-to-pedestrian crash avoidance. It received an “Acceptable” score for LATCH ease of use.
The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2024 Trailblazer its greatest five-star general crash score, whereas it scored 5 stars for frontal and facet crash classes, and a four-star rollover score.