General Motors is revising a nameplate with the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. Unlike the old Trailblazer, which was a pickup truck-based midsize SUV, the new Trailblazer is a subcompact SUV that will start at less than $20,000. Chevy hasn’t announced full official pricing for the Trailblazer yet, but the sub-$20,000 figure will make it the most affordable SUV in the automaker’s lineup, undercutting the Trax.
For the record, the Trax costs $22,295 including destination. While the Trailblazer will cost less, it will sit above the model in Chevrolet’s lineup of SUVs. The new subcompact SUV will sit between the Trax and the Equinox, which is a compact SUV. Depending on exactly how much the Trailblazer will cost, the subcompact SUV is shaping up to be the value option in the brand’s roster.
The Trailblazer is a twin to the Encore GX, which reveals some more information on the subcompact SUV. Chevy will offer two powertrains for the SUV, including a turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder that makes 137 horsepower. A more powerful turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder is also available that generates 155 hp. A continuously variable transmission is standard, as is front-wheel drive, while a nine-speed automatic is available on Trailblazers that are equipped with the 1.3-liter engine and all-wheel drive.
The 1.3-liter four-cylinder is more powerful than the Trax’s sole turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, which is rated at 138 hp. So the Trailblazer may be larger, but it will pack more grunt. It will also have more cargo space, as Chevrolet’s claiming a total of 55.4 cubic feet, 7 cubic feet more than what you get with the Trax.
There’s also a large difference between the two trims when it comes to the way they look.
The Trailblazer borrows a lot of design elements from the midsize Blazer SUV. The front end is nearly identical to the Blazer, as the Trailblazer features the same two-grille blueprint with a horizontal bar separating the two. Large fog lights sit below the slim headlights, while a “simulated,” whatever that means, front skidplate, heavy body cladding throughout the body, and a two-tone roof bring rugged cues to the sporty design.
The Trailblazer’s design is much sportier and more modern than the Trax, which was never a handsome vehicle. On lower trims, the Trax looked cheap, but that doesn’t look like it will be an issue with the Trailblazer – at least not with the trims Chevy showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Plus, Chevrolet is offering the Trailblazer in Activ and RS trim levels that will bring different appearance packages – rugged with the Activ and sporty with the RS.
Safety is available in another area where the Trailblazer outmatches the Trax. Standard safety features on the Trailblazer include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, automatic high beam assist, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning. The only standard safety feature the Trax comes with is a rearview camera.
Consumers will be able to purchase the new Trailblazer by spring 2020. More details on trims and pricing will be available closer to the SUV’s sale date. With more safety features, more power, modern styling, more space, and a lower price tag, the Trailblazer will be a much better value proposition than the Trax. The real question is, why would anyone buy a Trax over the new Trailblazer?