Chevrolet is giving U.S. consumers another crossover choice at the small end of the market with the 2021 Trailblazer. Larger than the Trax, which is too small for some buyers, the Trailblazer gives Chevy a roomier option with more conventional styling. And unlike the Trax, it was designed from the ground up with U.S. consumers top of mind. It is equipped with either a 1.2-liter or 1.3-liter turbo engine, delivering up to 155 hp. Both engines are mated to a continuously variable transmission with stop-start, though a nine-speed automatic is available on models equipped with the 1.3-liter engine and all-wheel drive. We’ve rounded up a few reviews from select media.

“Chevy’s 1.3-liter I3 is surprisingly perky. Sure, it only makes 155 horsepower, but it’s the 174 pound-feet of torque that really helps with acceleration. It comes on early at 1,600 rpm and stays flat until 4,000 rpm, making highway merging almost effortless. The nine-speed automatic transmission is tuned more for fuel economy than anything else, upshifting early to maximize efficiency. During my time with the car, I averaged 29.1 miles per gallon, which is on the better side of the EPA’s ratings of 26 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined for this engine.

“That’s not to say the Trailblazer is fun to drive, though. Get it on backroads and the soft suspension and generous body roll will make you think twice about making any quick directional changes, and it’s easy to upset the overall smoothness on uneven stretches of pavement. Then again, nothing in this small SUV class is all that rewarding to drive, save for the Mazda CX-3. I think most folks will find that the Trailblazer does an adequate job day to day, with lots of usable low-end power and easy-to-drive dynamics.”

— Emme Hall, Road Show by CNET

“The Trailblazer shines as a people mover and offers over five more cubic feet of interior space than the Trax. There’s plenty of space inside and good rear-seat legroom, and four adults fit comfortably under its high roof. The 25 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row is seven cubes larger than the Trax, and the cargo floor can be adjusted to create a flat surface when the rear seats are folded. The front passenger’s seatback can also fold forward, allowing the Trailblazer to accommodate longer items.

“The Trailblazer is one of the best-looking vehicles in its class. But while the design inside and out hits the mark, the three-cylinder engine lets down the driving experience.”

— Drew Dorian, Car and Driver

“The Trailblazer small SUV consistently had more value and content than I expected, wrapped in an attractive design reminiscent of Chevy’s bigger Blazer SUV.

“The Trailblazer competes with small SUVs like the Ford Ecosport, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Nissan Rogue Sport. It slots between the bigger Equinox and the smaller Trax in Chevy’s lineup.

“Value and attention to detail lift the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer subcompact SUV to unexpected heights, making it one of the most promising new vehicles launched this year. …

“The Trailblazer Activ’s 1.3L, three-cylinder engine is smaller than the competitors, but it gets the job done. That’s equally thanks to a turbocharger that boosts output to 174 pound-feet of torque at just 1,600 rpm and a quick-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission that keeps the engine in its power band while also achieving best-in-class fuel economy.
“The Trailblazer accelerated confidently on the highway and negotiated quick maneuvers in traffic with ease. Its steering is quick and precise. The suspension could be smoother over bumps, but ride is acceptable.”

— Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press

“Three-pot engines are inherently vibration-prone, and while Chevy’s 1.3-liter turbo is nowhere near as smooth as Ford’s 1.0 EcoBoost, idle vibration is minimal, no worse than some of the less-refined four-bangers we’ve driven.
“Chevrolet has gone to great lengths to unburden the 1.3-liter three-cylinder, using an electric water pump and an electro-hydraulic power brake system in place of the traditional vacuum booster, all to ensure that it can give its all to generating forward motion. And it works: Our test Trailblazer scooted away from traffic lights, merged onto fast-moving freeways without breaking a sweat, and had no problem keeping up with 75-mph traffic. Foot-to-the-floor acceleration shows the engine’s limitations, but we almost never had to put our foot to the floor.
“Much of the credit goes to the nine-speed automatic with which the 1.3-liter is paired. The transmission shifts smoothly and quickly and does its best to keep the engine in its powerband. There is a manual mode — that god-awful GM system that requires you to move the shifter to ‘L’ before the +/- toggle switch on the handle works — but we found that if we just left it in Drive, the transmission did a perfect job of managing the engine’s power. This involved some rather enthusiastic revving, but three-cylinders have a great sound, and we enjoyed the racy (if somewhat unrefined) snarl above 3,500 rpm.”

— Aaron Gold, Automobile

“Our Trailblazer handled twisty patches of road and held onto sharply curved highway on-ramps with authority, though handling is not as quick and precise as it is in the Mazda CX-3. We found the steering to feel a bit numb, though it stiffens up when the Trailblazer’s sport mode was engaged. The ride is pleasingly smooth over even worn railroad crossings and the rutted unpaved alley that runs behind our house. The ACTIV trim features a higher ground clearance, added underbody protection, and comes with specific tires and suspension tuning to help maximize performance and ride quality away from the pavement.

“Curiously, however, unlike most SUVs, the Trailblazer’s available all-wheel drive system (as in the Blazer) requires the driver to engage it manually via a center-console button. Chevy says it helps maintain slightly better fuel economy, but an automatic system can react far faster to quickly changing road conditions for an added element of safety.”

— Jim Gorzelany, Forbes