Small SUVs started out as off-road-capable beach cruisers. But as the smallest cars die out, the little SUV has taken on the entry-level role in many showrooms. Since they are replacing cars, it makes sense that they drive, handle, and act more like cars and less like, say, a Geo Tracker.
Perhaps you’re wondering where the $19,995 Trailblazer will fit in a Chevrolet showroom that already has the Trax. Good question. The Trailblazer is slightly larger than the Trax but has a lower base price. Still confused? Well, as the smallest-SUV class grows, brands have started to double dip in the segment, effectively splitting it. Buick has the Encore and Encore GX, Hyundai sells the Venue and the Kona, and Mazda throws the CX-3 and the CX-30 at the same segment.
We drove the top two trim levels: the Activ and RS, and both examples carried identical $30,580 price tags that are far beyond the very basic base Trailblazer. They’re also far more stylish than the base version and its wheel covers. Activ is intended to convey a rugged vibe, and the RS is supposed to be the sportier alternative. Both come standard with 17- or 18-inch aluminum wheels and an 8.0-inch infotainment display. Both of our test vehicles came equipped with the $1720 Technology package, which adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an inductive smartphone charging pad, adaptive cruise control, and LED headlights.
Upgrade to a Three
Under the hood of every Trailblazer is a turbocharged three-cylinder engine. There must be some shame in a three-banger since Chevy has gone to great lengths to scrub all mentions of the phrase “three-cylinder” from its press and marketing materials. Buyers won’t even find that phrase on the Trailblazer’s dealership window sticker. Base versions get a turbocharged 1.2-liter that makes a meager 137 horsepower, while a 155-hp turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder serves as the upgrade. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) comes standard with both engines. Opting for all-wheel drive means stepping up to the 1.3-liter, and that combination swaps in a nine-speed automatic for the CVT.
We tested an all-wheel-drive RS model and can both subjectively and objectively conclude that the Trailblazer is slow. The turbo-three offers a decent amount of low-end grunt, but it quickly gives up as revs climb and speeds increase. The 50-to-70-mph merge onto a freeway is a 7.0-second affair, plenty of time to gesture to your fellow motorists to please let you in.
Hitting 60 mph takes a leisurely 9.4 seconds, and the quarter mile passes in a yawn-inducing 17.1 seconds. These numbers aren’t the worst we’ve recorded in the subcompact-SUV segment—that dishonor belongs to the Toyota C-HR and its 10.9-second zero-to-60-mph time—but they’re disappointing. At the other end of the performance spectrum, the similarly sized Kia Seltos’s turbocharged four-cylinder motivated it to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds. And don’t forget: The 1.3-liter is the upgrade engine.
A downsized three-cylinder engine theoretically improves fuel economy, but the Trailblazer’s mpg ratings aren’t much better than many four-cylinder rivals. The Trailblazer managed a thrifty 31 mpg in our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test, but the Seltos returned 30 mpg, and the Subaru Crosstrek achieved 32 mpg.
The Trailblazer RS’s exterior might be inspired by the Camaro and its big brother, the Blazer, but its moves are anything but. Quick steering gives it an agile feeling around town, but the RS and Activ models we drove were darty at highway speeds. It takes some getting used to, particularly on the highway when attempting minor course corrections to keep the Chevy on track. The quick steering is more appreciated on a twisty road, but the Trailblazer doesn’t impart a feeling of eagerness in the same way that the sportier-feeling Mazda CX-30 does. What’s more, the Trailblazer RS’s 18-inch wheels lead to a rough ride. And we didn’t find the Activ’s 17-inch wheels and taller tire sidewalls to provide much more compliance.
Comfort and Space
The Trailblazer shines as a people mover and offers over five more cubic feet of interior space than the Trax. There’s plenty of space inside and good rear-seat legroom, and four adults fit comfortably under its high roof. The 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row is seven cubes larger than the Trax, and the cargo floor can be adjusted to create a flat surface when the rear seats are folded. The front passenger’s seatback can also fold forward, allowing the Trailblazer to accommodate longer items.
The Trailblazer is one of the best-looking vehicles in its class. But while the design inside and out hits the mark, the three-cylinder engine lets down the driving experience. We can see why Chevy appears to want to keep quiet about it. There’s also the matter of the high as-tested prices of the Activ and RS trim levels. A more powerful engine would certainly make us more forgiving of the high as-tested price. Rivals like the CX-30 and Hyundai Kona offer a superior driving experience and better value.
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Source: Reviews - aranddriver.com
