Bob Seger once famously sang that you can come back baby, rock and roll never forgets. Bob also knew something about cars and he famously let Chevy use his song “Like a Rock” as part of an iconic advertising campaign. And Bob would probably be the first to tell you that automobiles can come back too. I am sure the auto world never forgets, especially a pioneering SUV like the Chevy Trailblazer. Even though it hasn’t been built since the 2009 model year, the Trailblazer is sure to bring back great memories for so many drivers.
This two-row SUV blazed a trail for so many other small but rugged crossovers that it makes sense for it to be making a comeback for the 2021 model year. Fortunately for those of us who love classic cars, Chevrolet has brought back the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer, and this new model may be the best one yet. Blazing trails with amazing new looks for a new generation of Trailblazers, the original Chevy Trailblazer was noted for some great looks, combining a rugged stance with sporty, aerodynamic styling. The 2021 Chevy Trailblazer carries on this tradition with a look that immediately sets apart from other SUVs in its crossover class.
The new SUV’s good looks start with a very sleek hood, grille, and headlights that seem to be giving you a sly grin, like the Trailblazer knows something that other cars don’t know. It continues with a set of five-spoke wheels that give the Trailblazer a very sporty, modern look. The sleek lines of the Trailblazer continue through the roofline and side panels all the way to its rear. Finally, they are completed with its hatchback trunk that will be easy for you to load and unload your Trailblazer.
One of my favorite features of the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer is the opportunity to choose a unique two-tone paint job on the top three trim levels. That means that your Trailblazer can have a roof and side mirros in a different color than the body. You can choose from eight different combinations of blue, black, copper, bronze, silver, and white. But whichever colors you choose, you are sure to stand out from the crowd and turn heads when you zip by in your Trailblazer.
Blazing Trails With a Choice of Two Turbocharged Engines
The all-new 2021 Chevy Trailblazer offers a great choice of engines. The standard engine is a 1.2-liter EcoTec turbo engine that is paired with a continuous variable transmission (CVT). Instead of having set gear ratios, a CVT can adapt its gear ration to better suit driving conditions, increasing overall performance and efficiency. Despite its relatively small size, the 1.2-liter engine uses its turbocharger to produce 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The models with the 1.2-liter engine are front-wheel drive only, but this provides an exceptional fuel economy of 28 mpg in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway.
The other engine is a 1.3-liter EcoTec engine. This comes with a standard CVT transmission but also has an available 9-speed automatic transmission. It provides a surprisingly strong 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. 2021 Chevy Trailblazer models with this larger engine are also front-wheel drive standard, but have an available all-wheel drive option. The front-wheel drive Trailblazer with the 1.3-liter engine provides 29 mpg in city driving and 33 mpg on the highway, while all-wheel drive models get 26 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. As you can see, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer provides amazing fuel efficiency so you can spend more time blazing trails and less time at the gas pump.
Blazing Trails With Standard Safety Equipment
Chevrolet is to be commended for loading up the all-new 2021 Trailblazer with an amazing array of standard safety features. While most other automakers put a premium on safety, requiring you to pay more for a higher trim or optional packages, Chevy includes all the most important systems standard on even the base model Trailblazer. This includes such features as a rear vision camera, a rear-seat reminder, and Teen Driver Technology. The latter is especially helpful if you have a young driver in your family. The system acts as a chaperone, limiting the volume on the infotainment system, preventing your young driver from disabling safety features, and providing you with a report on the young one’s driving so that you can make sure your teen driver didn’t speed or drive recklessly.
The standard safety equipment on the Trailblazer continues from there. The following distance indicator provides you with a real-time indication of your following gap time measured in seconds. This helps you to determine if you are too close to the car in front of you. Forward collision alert warns you if there is a potential front-end collision. If you are traveling slower than 50 miles per hour, the automatic emergency braking system will work with the forward collision alert to provide hard braking to avoid or minimize the impact of a front-end collision. Front pedestrian braking works in a similar fashion, but instead of other vehicles, it is pedestrians that are detected.
One of the most useful systems is lane keep assist with lane departure warning. The system detects if you are drifting out of your lane and will alert you as well as provide assistance by automatically steering you back into your lane. Finally, Intellibeam headlights complete the package. These automatically turn your Trailblazer’s high beams on or off depending on the amount of light and any oncoming traffic.
Trailblazing Roominess
The 2021 Chevy Trailblazer is incredibly roomy for an SUV of its size. With a wheelbase of only 103.9 inches, you would expect the Trailblazer would be cramped. But you and your four passengers are in for a very pleasant surprise. The front row passengers will enjoy 40 inches of headroom and 40.9 inches of legroom, while your three rear row passengers are going to be blown away with 38.4 inches of headroom and 39.4 inches of legroom. That means you will never have to suffer through passenger fights over who gets to ride shotgun.
There is also a great deal of cargo space as well. With 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, you won’t have to choose between passengers and cargo transport like so many other crossovers. Nevertheless, if you do need extra cargo space, the rear seats easily fold down to provide you with a full 54.4 cubic feet of space for your stuff.
Trailblazing Affordability
With a base MSRP of only $19,000, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer is one of the most affordable crossovers on the market. Just like all Trailblazers, the base L trim comes equipped with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system on a 7-inch diagonal color touchscreen with Bluetooth audio streaming as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Trailblazer LS adds a 6-speaker audio system, 17-inch aluminum wheels, fold-flat front passenger seat, and a digital compass for an MSRP of $21,600.
The LT trim has an MSRP of $23,700 and comes with LED fog lamps, a remote vehicle starter, and heated side mirrors. The Trailblazer Activ is one of two models with the larger engine and the two-tone exterior paint, and with sport terrain tires, it is ready for off-road adventure. The Trailblazer RS also has the larger engine and the two-tone exterior appearance paint, but with 18-inch high-gloss black machined wheels, it is better suited for highway cruising. Both the Activ and RS have an MSRP of $25,500.
So get those old records off the shelf, put on some old time rock and roll, and get behind the wheel of an all-new 2021 Chevy Trailblazer. The trails you blaze will be all your own, as you and your friends ride in style.
