2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer Review and Test Drive
A peppy, practical, and popular choice in a small SUV.
Perry Stern
Review QuickTakes:
Chevrolet introduced the current rendition of the Trailblazer for the 2021 model year, taking the name from a larger SUV that the automaker discontinued in 2008. (The Traverse replaced that model.) The Trailblazer has remained primarily unchanged since it was reintroduced and is currently the lowest-priced crossover in Chevrolet's SUV lineup.
The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer comes in LS, LT, Activ, and RS trim levels with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Front-drivers have a choice between a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder and a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, each paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Get AWD and you get the larger of the two engines, which also swaps the CVT for a nine-speed automatic transmission. Another benefit of choosing AWD is that Chevrolet swaps in an independent rear suspension that should improve the ride and handling.
With a starting price around the low $20,000s and a long list of standard features, the Trailblazer is a good option for a small family or empty nester. Chevrolet markets the Activ trim for the adventurous buyer, while the RS I drove is the sporty option in the Trailblazer lineup.
Chevrolet provided me with a 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS AWD, painted in Sterling Gray Metallic. The RS is the top-level trim, however, my test vehicle had several options, including the Technology package, Convenience package, Driver Confidence package, and Winter/Summer floor mats for a total manufacturer's suggested retail price of $31,955.
Chevrolet
2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer: The Design
As the "sporty" offering in the Trailblazer lineup, the RS stands out with a unique mesh grille — Chevrolet claims the Camaro inspired the grille — with red RS badging, blacked-out exterior trim, and a black Chevrolet bow tie up front. Slim LED running lights give the Trailblazer a unique look, with the main headlights positioned below, flanking the grille. At the rear are LED taillights and dual exhaust with chrome tips integrated into the rear bumper. The RS also gets a two-tone treatment with a black roof, completing the sporty look with 18-inch high-gloss black aluminum wheels.
Inside, the Trailblazer RS features a large touchscreen display that Chevrolet nicely integrates into the dashboard. Chevrolet places the climate controls below the main display and positions the buttons for Sport mode, AWD, and traction control ahead of the gear selector.
Metallic red highlights on the vents, gear selector, and center console are specific to the RS and add a nice splash of color to the interior. Dual cupholders and a large cubby provide good space for storing small items, but the covered storage is somewhat limited.
The seats look stylish with contrasting piping, but there's not much in the way of bolstering. The 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat initially felt rather stiff, though it offered decent support and didn't cause any fatigue or soreness, even after a long drive.
Christian Wardlaw
The rear seat is surprisingly spacious, with good headroom and legroom. Like other vehicles of this size, the middle seat is tight for an adult, but you could use it in a pinch. Chevrolet further enhances the roomy atmosphere with the available panoramic sunroof. I like that there are USB-A and USB-C ports for rear-seat passengers and a standard 110-volt household outlet.
While it may look small on the outside, the Trailblazer offers a spacious cargo area capable of carrying multiple pieces of luggage or efficiently taking in a week's worth of groceries. When the rear seats are not in use, you can easily fold them flat to accommodate larger items, with 54.4 cu-ft of cargo space.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer performs a neat trick to improve functionality and add cargo capacity. You can fold the front passenger's seat flat to create enough space to load items as long as 8.5 ft and close the hatch. As an added convenience, you can open the rear liftgate without using your hands. Simply swipe a foot over the Chevrolet bow-tie logo projected onto the ground, and it magically powers open.
Perry Stern
2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer: The Technology
The Trailblazer comes standard with a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. Chevrolet equipped the Trailblazer RS I drove with the optional 8.0-inch display as part of the Convenience package. The display is easy to read and navigate, with large icons and shortcuts for audio, communications, and navigation that remain at the bottom of the screen for quick access. A 4.2-inch driver information display sits between the tachometer and speedometer. This configurable screen can show fuel economy, tire pressure, oil life, and vehicle messages.
Smartphone connectivity is easy. I paired my Galaxy S21 via Bluetooth with no issues. In addition to wireless Apple CarPlay compatibility, the wireless Android Auto app seamlessly reconnected to my device every time I started the Trailblazer. Android Auto utilizes the entire screen, but Chevrolet makes it easy to return to the main menu via a hard home button below the screen, rather than navigating multiple menus. The Trailblazer also includes satellite radio and connected services with access to a Wi-Fi hotspot, but the service costs extra.
The automatic climate controls are separate, so there's no need to dig into menus to adjust airflow or fan speed. The center console features USB-A and USB-C charge ports, and Chevrolet equipped my test vehicle with a wireless charging pad – the perfect accompaniment to wireless phone integration.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet equips all 2023 Trailblazers with Chevrolet Safety Assist, which includes safety features such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Trailblazer also gets a following-distance indicator that shows how many seconds ahead the next vehicle is, taking into account distance and speed. That's helpful information to avoid following too closely behind the car in front. Additional safety features on my test vehicle included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.
As is usually the case, I was able to avoid testing the emergency braking system. However, the rear cross-traffic alert system worked quite well. When backing out of a tight parking space, the system alerted me to a vehicle approaching from the passenger's side that was impossible to see. This system can take away much of the stress of backing into a busy lane.
The adaptive cruise control worked as expected. Although I didn't have the opportunity to test the system's ability to bring the Trailblazer to a complete stop, Chevrolet says it can recognize the vehicle in front coming to a full stop and then automatically accelerate, keeping the same following distance as before. Lane-keeping assist also worked well on the highway without bouncing from one lane marker to the other.
The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer earned the highest-possible Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Crashworthiness for the 2023 Trailblazer, as rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is excellent. The small crossover earned an overall rating of five stars. The Trailblazer received top scores in the NHTSA's front and side crash testing, although it scored four stars in the rollover resistance test. As the 2023 model is virtually unchanged from 2022, one can expect the 2023 model to earn similar ratings from both agencies, though the IIHS and NHTSA could change their rating parameters at any time.
Chevrolet
2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer: The Drive
Chevrolet offers the 2023 Trailblazer with one of two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter with 137 horsepower and a 1.3-liter with 155 horses. The RS I drove comes standard with the more powerful 1.3-liter variant producing 173 lb-ft of torque. And since it had AWD, it sent power to all four wheels via a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission.
In a country where V6 and V8 engines have ruled for years, it's easy to dismiss a turbo three-cylinder as too weak to power a vehicle. That's not the case with the Chevrolet Trailblazer. Despite its small size and modest specs, the turbocharged engine delivers good power with a quick-responding throttle. With peak torque available at a low 1,600 rpm, sometimes the response was too quick. Without intending to, I found it relatively easy to spin the front tires when accelerating from a stop, even when the road was dry. After some time with the Trailblazer, I became better at modulating the throttle to take advantage of the low-end torque that makes the small crossover surprisingly quick off the line.
The spinning tires indicate another feature unique to the Chevrolet. The all-wheel drive does not engage automatically. A button on the center console activates the AWD system, and that does eliminate the spinning front tires. It also has a noticeable negative effect on fuel economy. The systems in some competitive models automatically engage all-wheel drive when they detect wheel slip, then disengage the rear or front axle when AWD is not needed. Chevrolet requires the driver to execute this action manually.
Chevrolet
One primary advantage of a small turbocharged engine is fuel economy. The EPA rates the Chevrolet Trailblazer AWD at 28 mpg. During my time with the Trailblazer, the trip computer indicated about 27 mpg in mostly city driving, so the government mileage ratings seem realistic.
Overall, the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer has a smooth and relatively quiet ride. There is a bit of road noise when cruising at highway speeds, but it's not bothersome. Rough roads are noticeable, as the Trailblazer doesn't do much to absorb the big bumps. Still, generally speaking, the ride is good.
Taking the Trailblazer on my favorite winding backroads in the Pacific Northwest, the small crossover performed quite well. I have driven other variants of the Trailblazer on the same roads, and while the RS may look sportier, the actual driving experience is about the same as other Trailblazer trims with the same powertrain.
That said, I find the steering precise with good feedback, and the small crossover feels confident even when pushed hard. There's not too much body lean in faster turns, and the brakes provide a solid response. Ultimately, the Trailblazer offers handling that will likely surpass the needs of most buyers. However, my experience shows that this Chevrolet would perform well if a driver needs to swerve suddenly to avoid an object in the road or an impending collision.
Most owners won't venture off the pavement in the Chevrolet Trailblazer, but I did some light off-roading and found the AWD system perfectly capable of handling some rougher terrain. Driving up into some loose dirt and rocks at an angle that brought a wheel off the ground, the AWD system was able to keep the power flowing to the wheels with traction, and I was able to proceed with little difficulty. A dirt track or snowy road should be no problem for the Trailblazer.
Perry Stern
Is the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer a Good SUV?
The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS has some tough competition, with strong players from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen playing in this very competitive vehicle segment of small two-row crossovers. However, the Trailblazer holds its own, with standout styling further enhanced by the added touches of the RS trim.
Offering a comfortable, roomy, and attractive interior with an intuitive infotainment system, the Trailblazer brings the utility expected of a crossover. With a peppy and fuel-efficient engine and the latest in advanced driver assistance systems, a new Trailblazer is undoubtedly worth a look for the subcompact SUV shopper.
