Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A man with a backpack is shown approaching a yellow 2023 Chevy Trailblazer parked by a lake in the woods.

Blaze Some Trails in the Chevy Trailblazer

When looking for a multifunctional and fun compact SUV or crossover, the Chevy Trailblazer stands out from the crowd. Its small stature allows you to navigate small roads, tight spaces, or narrow off-road trails. This crossover provides great AWD and off-roading capabilities when equipped with the appropriate options—case in point, the Chevy Trailblazer ACTIV. If you’re searching for something a bit more on the luxury end of SUVs, the Chevy Trailblazer RS provides some comfortable heated seats, great tech options, and much more.

Finding a good deal on a Chevy Trailblazer for sale should be pretty easy, given that these vehicles are very affordable despite all their capabilities. Chevy has packed a ton of great safety features, custom paint colors, and high-quality parts into this small but capable package. These great vehicles are sure to remain roadworthy for years thanks to Chevy’s reputation for high-quality manufacturing. Let’s spend a little time getting to know this quality crossover.

Interior Form and Function

These fun little SUVs come equipped with a ton of great functionality. With 54.4 cu.ft. of max cargo volume, you’re sure to have enough room for whatever you need to carry; camping gear, sports equipment, groceries, and more will fit easily in the back of this surprisingly roomy SUV. With the front passenger seat down, you can even fit items up to 8.5 ft long. So that kayak you’re sick of throwing onto the roof to get to and from the lake? Now you can fit it inside the Trailblazer. It does all this while getting 29 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway.

Now, if you are more interested in carrying your family around, the roof rack is handy. Whether you’re hauling a family canoe or a load of camping gear, the Chevy Trailblazer’s roof rack comes with tons of great ways to secure your load. This SUV also has five spacious seats, including three seats in the rear with 39.4 in of legroom—only about one inch less than the front seats. With the extra space, you’ll have to endure fewer debates about who gets the front seat. All you’ll have to do is enjoy the ride.

The 7.0-inch diagonal infotainment center provides quick and easy access to your podcasts, musical artists, radio stations, and car info. With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity included, you’ll have a quick and easy means of syncing your smartphone and controlling your entertainment from a sharable, portable device, should your passengers wish to play deejay or you don’t want the music to stop once your car turns off. The Trailblazer even includes access to the myChevrolet Mobile App, enabling you to start your vehicle, do remote diagnostics, and locate your vehicle when you’ve forgotten where you parked. You’ll be able to quickly hop into your crossover, get connected, turn on navigation, throw on your favorite tunes, and get on the road.

The Trailblazer’s super comfortable seats are available in cloth, leatherette, and leatherette with cloth options. Heated seats are available on most models, so you can stay warm on those cold winter days; the ACTIV and RS even provide the option for a heated steering wheel.

The tremendous cargo space of a 2023 Chevy Trailblazer for sale is shown with the seats folded down.

Trim Comparison

The Chevrolet Trailblazer comes in four main trim options: the LS, LT, ACTIV, and RS. Each model is designed for different use case scenarios. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, the LS or LT may be right for you. If you are hoping for a bit more of an off-roading capable vehicle, the ACTIV will be the model for you. If you are looking for a sporty and sleek Trailblazer, the RS will be the best fit.

The LS may be the most affordable option, but don’t think that it can’t offer a ton of value. This model has the option for either the 1.2L Turbo with FWD or a 1.3L Turbo capable of AWD. The LS has a great Jet Black cloth interior design, six speaker audio system, and capable air conditioning. Not to mention this model has a ton of amazing safety features, wireless connectivity, and a great infotainment system.

The LT takes the comfort up a notch with heated front seats, remote start, keyless open and start, and even an eight-way power driver seat with two-way lumbar control. Its small increase in cost gives you the option to stretch your dollar for great rewards.

The ACTIV is designed for those who enjoy taking their SUV off the beaten track. With the EcoTec 1.3L Turbo engine, specially designed shocks, skid plates, and sport terrain tires, your Trailblazer can live up to its name. The leatherette seats are also easy to clean, should your off-roading lead you to getting muddy or dirty. (As it should!) You’ll be surprised how far this little SUV can confidently wander into the wilderness.

The RS was built to be the sporty big brother to the LS and LT. With larger wheels, tons of paint options, a decked-out interior of leatherette with cloth accents, a heated steering wheel, a leather-wrapped shift knob, and much more, the RS will definitely feel like a luxury when you step into it. Plus, there are tons of great exterior options for tailoring your perfect Trailblazer.

All the Great Chevy Safety Features You’ve Come to Expect

The Chevy Safety Assist package comes standard on every Trailblazer, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, IntelliBeam, and Following Distance Indicator. These safety features make driving safer than ever before. Each feature helps make sure your vehicle avoids collisions, drives predictably, and keeps other vehicles safe as well.

The automatic emergency braking will slow down your Trailblazer when a suspected collision is imminent. The lane keep assist helps nudge your steering when you’re drifting out of your lane. Sometimes pedestrians don’t look before they cross the street, and sometimes a driver is distracted for a second; front pedestrian braking will sense when a pedestrian crosses in front of you and stop the vehicle to avoid hitting them. IntelliBeam automatically dims your brights when oncoming vehicles are approaching to prevent blinding other drivers. Finally, the following distance indicator helps keep you at a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.

While these features do not allow self-driving capabilities, they do their best to help prevent a moment of indecision or distraction from resulting in serious harm. Drivers are always responsible for what their vehicles do, but something unexpected can cause even the best drivers to miss something. The Chevy safety features on the Trailblazer help keep everyone safe when the unexpected happens.

A red 2023 Chevy Trailblazer RS drives down an alleyway.

Bigger on the Inside?

The Chevy Trailblazer is a great vehicle when you want an SUV but don’t want to sacrifice good fuel economy or maneuverability. This small SUV provides an amazing combo of a compact body and a roomy interior. Didn’t think that was possible? You’ll see what I mean when you check out one for yourself.

Truly a remarkable vehicle for any region, capable of SUV abilities while maintaining great fuel efficiency. There are so many options for great exterior aesthetics as well, including a number of two-tone options. Whatever you’re looking for in a small SUV or crossover, the Chevy Trailblazer most likely fits the bill.