Monday, December 2, 2019

2021 Chevy Trailblazer First Look in Motor Trend: “Great Looks, Impressive Feature Content”


The small crossover segment is one that has lately seen rabid competition, and all of us here at Jim Butler Chevy of St Louis were excited to hear the results after a few major media outlets gave the Trailblazer a spin. Frank Markus of Motor Trend came right out of the gate claiming that it possesses a high level of charm and “impressive feature content”, as it drives onto lots  touting the first 3-cylinder engine offered in North America since the discontinuation of the Geo Metro.
The 1.3-liter is expected to produce 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and all Trailblazers come with the similar suite of safety and driver assistance gear to what is found on the Equinox. This included forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, IntelliBeam headlamps, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, rear vision camera, teen driver safety tech, rear seat reminder, and OnStar. The options list does include an assortment of upper-segment features such as adaptive cruise control, rear park assist, lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert, and rear cross-traffic alert.
At the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show were the sporty RS and off-road-oriented Activ trim levels. The RS brandishes a gloss-black grille like those on the Camaro RS and Blazer, 18-inch wheels wrapped in sport-tuned 225/55 rubber, RS branded cluster graphics, a flat-bottom steering wheel, contrast piping and red stitching, and a large number of accents to add to the edgy vibe. The Activ trim also gets a choice of two-tone roof/body coloring, a matte gray grille and unique front fascia that improves approach angle,  standard roof rails, and gray rocker panels that span nicely between the wheel arches. All-terrain prepared 225/60 series tires on 17-inch rims offer better control and grip, and the shocks are specially-tuned to perform on gravel.

The cargo floor sits exactly level with the rear hatch opening, and can also be lowered for added cargo height with the seats up. As technology has changed so aggressively over the past few years, some of the coolest features ever have evolved: on the 2021 Trailblazer, the liftgate can now be opened by waving your foot over a projected logo on the ground. One of the most attractive things about the Trailblazer will most definitely be its price tag: all of the cool things you are getting begin at one of the lowest entry points cost wise that exists. This is one vehicle that would be the ultimate choice for the new grad or junior executive, and we fully stand behind it as a holiday surprise for anyone on your gift list that is staking their claim to a new life in a brand new metro!