Chevy Trailblazer

As an auto manufacturer with more than 110 years in existence, Chevrolet knows its vehicles. They have tousled with model names back and forth, tweaking and releasing different versions each year.

For example, take the Chevy Trailblazer. The Trailblazer was released in 1999 as an upscale Blazer. It quickly morphed into an SUV in 2002, then was discontinued in 2009.

Fast forward to 2021 and the Trailblazer returns, this time as a new subcompact SUV.

Today, Chevy currently has six SUVs in its lineup. The Trailblazer is second smallest SUV behind the Trax and the test drive for this month’s Cars in the City.

The 2026 Trailblazer ACTIV with front wheel drive has a 1.3 liter turbo engine. The base model starts at $27,600; the model test driven was $33,270. Comparatively, the Trax base price is approximately $23,000.

The Trailblazer is a straightforward model. It is small to get in yet has enough leg and head room for even taller folks. As an average-height woman, I try to imagine how my larger friends would fit in this vehicle and, yes, they would fit.

The exterior color is unique. The “white sand” is a two-tone color with white on the top roof area and a khaki-like color on the rest of the vehicle. Maybe they are getting their color cues from people’s home décor? Take the gray paint with white trim phase. After the trending new home color of gray, suddenly 10 shades of gray vehicles became popular. Matching homes and cars might be the latest trend.

The interior color is jet black, and the seats are made with Evotex, a synthetic leather-like material that is durable and easy to clean. The seats are trimmed with a bright yellow stitching. The contrasting yellow resembled a safety seating, which seemed out of place in the vehicle. Or, perhaps, it looked too much like a Hawkeye color combination.

There are a lot of extras for the price. The 10-way power driver’s seat offers a lumbar control setting. An 11-inch touchscreen infotainment offers up connection, hands free driving and heated seats. Chevy’s Safety Assist package is a must-have for keeping drivers safe. 

Driving around town and on the interstate, acceleration was easy. Some SUVs seem clunky, yet the Trailblazer’s ride felt zippy, taking corners with ease and changing lanes. Pulling into a parking spot, I didn’t worry about car door dings since the Trailblazer doesn’t take up a lot of room.

This model has front-wheel drive as opposed to all-wheel drive. What’s the difference? All-wheel drive handles a little better in uneven terrain or slippery conditions. Yet, front-wheel-drive vehicles often get better gas mileage. It is a fuel efficient SUV, as the Trailblazer gets 31 mpg average on city and highway. 

Cargo space is average and can be expanded by folding the seats down; however, you lose out on passenger space. 

The Trailblazer is a solid ride for its price, fuel efficiency and that trendy color combination. ♦