Used 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer slots in that crossover-SUV category between subcompact and compact with the Mazda CX-30 and Nissan Rogue Sport. The familiar name belies the Trailblazer’s true function. This is not the rugged 4×4 SUV it once was.

Two ample engine and transmission options are available, and while the interior won’t win any luxury awards, with its sporty exterior good looks, an impressive suite of standard safety features and compelling starting price, this Chevy crossover SUV looks poised for some solid urban trailblazing.

Driving the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer stuffed with the 1.3-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine doesn’t feel insufficient. Thanks to its turbo, it’s got some pep and energy.

While this may be “just” a 3-cylinder, it feels more powerful than its size and cylinder count would lead you to believe. If you didn’t know better, you’d think it was a small turbo-4. Its 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque provide decent acceleration and passing power, and the turbo whoosh even grants a bit of pizzazz without lag.

Most surprising is the CVT. Such a transmission connected to such a small engine might seem like a bad combination, but here again, the CVT behaved better than expected. There isn’t much of that rubber-band effect, and it mimics a traditional geared automatic quite well.

If you do want a traditional automatic transmission, a 9-speed is available, but only with all-wheel-drive (AWD) versions and the 1.3-liter turbo.

The ride quality suits just fine in the comfort arena, but you can expect the requisite amount of body roll in a crossover SUV of this pedigree. Add steering that’s effective, if a bit light and overly electronic feeling, and you’ve got a driving experience that more than adequately does what it’s supposed to do, meaning: get you places.

Drive modes include Normal, Sport, and Snow. To be honest, we didn’t really feel much difference in Sport mode, though it claims to modify shifting and steering for quicker response. Ours was not an AWD model, but those do exist and provide extra rear-wheel torque for more traction in inclement weather. It’s the same system in both the Blazer and Traverse and it works well in those applications, especially in the sportier Blazer if you’re looking for enhanced grip.

In the interior, the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer’s center stack is simply designed but intuitively laid out. Materials feel on the bargain side, even on the sporty RS trim, but Chevy is marketing this as a youthful and inexpensive car, so cutting costs here makes sense. The front seats feel moderately comfortable, though on the firm side. We found them to be a bit small in the bottom-seat-cushion area, so are not sure how a larger driver would fare on a longer road trip.

Room in the rear quarters is about what you would expect. Seating for five means only for short hops and only with folks on the smaller side if you want them to remain friends. The rear seats split 60/40 for cargo storage, and the Trailblazer can accommodate large objects up to 8.5 feet long. Not bad for a little guy. Total cargo with the second row folded down clocks in at 54.4 cubic feet.

Like its big cousin the Chevrolet Blazer, the 2021 Trailblazer steals its clothes from Chevy’s big kahuna Camaro. Wearing the signature Chevy dual-port grille with integrated squinting headlights, the front fascia of the Trailblazer brings some sharp personality to the blob-like small-crossover-SUV party.

The Activ trim puts on a more rugged mien with a more open grille, some body cladding, 17-inch wheels and what the automaker calls “simulated skidplates.” These aren’t to be tested on the Rubicon trail. The Trailblazer RS trim hypes up the performance angle with a sporty-looking mesh grille, a specific front splitter and a blacked-out bow-tie badge.

TWO-TONE ROOF
For an entry-level-priced vehicle, the personality of the 2-tone roof does wonders for its appeal. Both the Activ and RS trim levels receive this feature standard, and we think it affords the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer more of an upscale and youthful personality.

SAFETY FEATURES
Standard safety features across all trim levels in the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer include forward-collision alerts, automatic braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warnings, a teen-driver system as well as rear-seat reminder.

Some of the standout standard features on the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer include an impressive suite of safety features such as forward-collision warnings and lane-keep assist and departure warnings. Chevrolet’s Infotainment 3 system with a 7-inch touch screen and Bluetooth audio streaming for two devices, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come on the base L Trailblazer. Other standard goodies include two USB ports (A and C) and 16-inch wheels.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer can also be outfitted with some solid extras including AWD, which features an active noise-canceling system, an 8-inch touch screen, keyless open and remote start, body-colored mirrors, LED taillights and 18-inch gloss-black wheels. Dynamic safety upgrades like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring are also options. Leather seats, shift knob and steering wheel, a Bose premium audio system and wireless phone charging can also be purchased.

Powering the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer are two engine options; the first, a 1.2-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine that makes 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a CVT (not historically an enthusiast transmission choice), this engine comes with a turbocharger, so it possesses a bit of spunk — however, the loud and droning CVT doesn’t do it any favors. The CVT feels ever concerned with fuel efficiency, so both this engine and the 1.3-liter turbo lose much of the fun performance you might otherwise look forward to.

That 1.3-liter engine does its best to make up for the CVT, however, and with its 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque offers up a spirited and peppy punch. The 9-speed automatic transmission that buyers get with optional AWD models should do a much better job of milking the fun out of that upgrade engine.

1.2-liter turbocharged inline-3
137 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
162 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 28/31 mpg

1.3-liter turbocharged inline-3
155 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
174 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 29/33 mpg (FWD), 26/30 mpg (AWD)