This week we are taking a look at one of the hottest-selling subcompact SUVs in America, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer. Size-wise, it slots between the Chevy Trax and the Equinox.
Exterior
My review vehicle is the sporty RS version, which is the top-of-the-line. It has sharp looking body lines, a front fascia reminiscent of the new Blazer, beautiful 18” wheels, and I love the two-tone paint.
Powertrain
Under the hood, it has a 1.3-liter 3-cylinder engine putting out 155-horses and 175-pound feet of torque. It has a 9-speed automatic. There is a smaller 3-cylinder available, but it comes with the CVT.
Interior
Inside the Trailblazer RS has nice cloth heated and cooled seats, limited stitching around, red accents, and a surprising amount of headroom.
There are easy-to-read gauges with a configurable driver info center in the middle. I love the flat bottom steering wheel with controls.
The center console has USB and power ports, a wireless phone charger, a button to turn off the start/stop system, and you can turn on Sport mode.
Above that is the touchscreen that operates the Bose stereo, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and a host of apps.
Moving to the back seat, there is decent legroom and good headroom, and it has a USB port and a 110 volt power outlet for charging your devices.
Utility
Cargo area is good, the two back seats fold down easily from the cargo area, and if you have something long to carry, the front passenger seat will fold flat also. With the back seats down, there is an impressive 54.4 cubic feet of cargo room.
Standard Equipment and Options
Standard equipment includes keyless entry, power seat, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist, front collision alert, the Teen Driver system, and rear seat reminder.
My review vehicle has $4,400 in options, most notable are power dual pane moonroof, power liftgate, adaptive cruise control, HD rear camera with cross traffic alert, rear park assist, lane change alert, and blind spot monitoring.
There is storage in the rear compartment, which also includes a compact temporary spare tire, which is somewhat of a rarity these days. Most have nothing, just a repair kit.
Ride and Drive
The Trailblazer surprised me with good acceleration, a good ride, and responsive steering. There is a little more road noise than I like, but this is common in subcompact SUVs.
Fuel economy is terrific at 26 in town and 30 on the highway. MSRP on this top-of-the-line, super loaded SUV is $32,350, but they start at $19,000.
Verdict
It is easy to see why this SUV is one of the fastest selling vehicles in America.
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS Review
- What I liked most: Interior & exterior appearance, fuel economy.
- What I would change: A little too much interior noise.
- MSRP: Base price $26,900, as equipped $32,350 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: Rated at 26 city, 30 highway, and 28 combined.
- Official Color: Scarlet Red Metallic.
- Odometer reading when tested: 8,100 miles.
- Weight: 4,409 pounds.
- Spare Tire: Compact temporary.
- Length-Width-Height: 173.5” long/71.2” wide/65.7” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.2 gallons with the filler on the driver’s side.
- Towing Capacity: 1,000 pounds.
- 2021 Trailblazer in a few words: A very nice subcompact SUV nice room and a lot of amenities.
- Warranty: 3-year/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000 miles on the power train with roadside assistance, courtesy transportation, and a free first maintenance visit.
- Final Assembly Location: Bupyeong Gu. IN Korea.
- Manufacturers website: www.Chevrolet.com
- Up next: 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUV
Credit: Chevrolet
