© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
What Is It?
The Trailblazer is Chevrolet’s compact 5-passenger crossover that resides in the lineup between the Trax and Equinox. Taking a name from the brand’s past, the Trailblazer has come a long way since the last iteration was discontinued in 2008. The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer is available in a range of trim levels with front- or all-wheel drive, delivering the latest technology and safety features to one of the most competitive market segments in America.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Test Vehicle
Chevrolet provided us with a 2023 Trailblazer AWD RS painted in Sterling Gray Metallic. The RS is the top-level trim in the Trailblazer lineup, and the test vehicle had additional options including the Technology Package, Convenience Package and all-weather floormats for a total MSRP of $31,530. (Due to supply chain issues, this vehicle’s sticker listed a heated steering wheel, heated seats and rear park assist that were not installed.) Competitors to the Trailblazer are numerous and include the Nissan Rogue, Ford Escape, Honda HR-V, Jeep Renegade, Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
RS Styling
The RS stands out from the rest of the Trailblazer lineup with blacked-out exterior trim, a unique mesh grille, a black bowtie logo, LED taillamps and dual exhaust with chrome tips. The two-tone roof is also standard on RS variants, as are 18-inch high-gloss black aluminum wheels. The test vehicle also had a Thule basket mounted on the roof rails, adding to the vehicle’s rugged good looks.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Inner Space
The Trailblazer RS has a clean interior design with a sculpted dash centered around a nicely integrated large display screen. We like the red highlights on the vents and center console — small touches that add a bit of class. Climate controls are kept separate for quick, convenient access.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
High Tech
The large display screen is easy to read and offers user-friendly navigation as well as a physical button for Home that allows quick returns to the original screen from any feature. Up front in the center console are USB-A and USB-C ports as well as a cellphone charging pad. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay can be connected wirelessly — another convenient feature.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Front Seats
The front seats in the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer are a bit stiff yet still offer decent support and remain comfortable after long drives. We appreciated the contrasting fabric piping that contributes to the SUV’s premium styling.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Rear Seat
The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a great example of a vehicle that is small on the outside yet big on the inside. Case in point: the rear seat is surprisingly spacious with plenty of legroom and headroom; an optional panoramic sunroof adds to the open feeling. Unfortunately the seats themselves are stiff, which can be fatiguing for passengers during long rides. That said, rear-seat occupants will appreciate the USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as a standard 110-volt outlet.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Cargo Space
With a significant cargo area, the Trailblazer has plenty of room for multiple pieces of luggage or larger items. Rear seats easily fold flat to provide considerable additional space. As with many new SUVs, the Trailblazer’s hatch can be opened by sweeping a foot under the rear bumper. On many vehicles with this feature, finding the exact “swipe spot” below the bumper can be difficult. Chevrolet solves this issue by projecting the brand’s iconic bowtie logo on the ground to locate the sensor, making this function much more useful.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Under the Hood
Powering the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS is a 1.3-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine delivering 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, which comes in at a low 1600 rpm. Front-wheel driver variants get a CVT, but our test AWD Trailblazer arrived equipped with a 9-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. Fuel economy is rated at 26 mpg city / 30 mpg hwy / 28 mpg combined — respectable numbers for an AWD crossover.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
On the Road
Despite its small, turbocharged engine, the Trailblazer has commendable power with a quick-responding throttle — at times almost too quick. Without intending to, we discovered it’s easy to spin the front tires when accelerating from a stop. Selecting AWD takes care of this issue, but it results in a noticeable hit on fuel economy. With time we became better at modulating the throttle and were able to take advantage of the low-end torque without using AWD.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Smooth Ride
The overall ride of the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is smooth and relatively quiet, and the small crossover handles well on winding back roads of the Pacific Northwest. Steering is precise, and even while pushing this Chevy hard we were pleased with how well the Trailblazer performs.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Rating: 8.5
The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS has some tough competition with strong players from Honda, Toyota, Nissan and more in this incredibly competitive vehicle segment. However, the Trailblazer holds its own, offering a comfortable, roomy and attractive interior as well as an intuitive infotainment system. With a peppy engine and the latest in advanced driver-assistance systems, the Trailblazer is certainly worthy of consideration.
