Chevrolet Trailblazer: Expert Review

Watch First Drive of Chevrolet Trailblazer

Americans are known for their obsession with buffed up things. Let it be their decked up ‘beef’ burgers or their vehicles, size has always been their top most priority. I have grown up watching American daily soaps and due to my innate love for automobiles, I always researched the cars used in them. The Escalade was a popular one - that brute was all about pure SIZE, it still is.

Chevrolet has carried the same legacy in their new SUV, the Trailblazer. But is it all about presence? Or is there more to this car than meets the eye? We find out.

Design

If size is the first thing that comes into your mind when you think of an SUV, you’ll find the Trailblazer very appealing. Defining its front end is Chevy’s traditional split grille which houses Chevrolet’s bowtie logo in the middle. Headlamps come equipped with projectors which is almost a standard in premium vehicles these days. It also gets projector fog lamps which is a segment first feature. However, the headlamps look a bit soft in comparison to the other design elements like the scooped-up bonnet design.

Side profile has a very simple design and unlike its competitors, it doesn’t get any cladding. It does have flared wheel arches and roof rails along with a rising window line that makes things a bit interesting. Trailblazer rides on massive 265/60 R18 tyres and there is a generous amount of space between the wheel arches and tyres.  

Split LED tail lamps along with a massive chrome strip is what highlights the rear end of this car. Although it looks a lot like the current generation Toyota Fortuner, this is the best angle to admire this SUV’s design.

This brute looks massive in flesh and to justify the same point on paper, we have compared its dimensions with the segment leader- Toyota Fortuner below-

Interiors

Due to its 241mm ground clearance, you need to use the side-step to get inside the cabin which can get a bit tiring over a period of time. As soon as you get inside, the first thing you’ll notice is the towering view of the things that lay ahead. Driver gets a six-way adjustable power seat (no lumbar support) with a very commanding seating position carrying out the massive SUV feel into the cabin which is mainly beige in color except for the dashboard that gets two shades of black with matte and glossy piano black inserts.

The centerpiece/highlight of the dashboard is a 7-inch touch screen unit called My Link featuring Bluetooth/USB/ AUX connectivity. However, it strangely misses out on Navigation which should have been standard in a 25 Lakh + vehicle. Chevrolet will be using the same My Link touchscreen unit into its other models soon.

Trailblazer is rich on space and the interiors have also been designed intelligently. It gets sliding cup holders on both sides of the AC vents. The AC control cluster is very curvy in shape and gets a circular display screen in the middle which displays temperature, fan speed and other relevant parameters.

The middle row seats are comfortable enough for three people and there is sufficient legroom and headroom. Getting into the last seat is still a task like in any other 7/8 seater. In order to get in the back, you have to fold the middle seat that tumbles down with a 60:40 split. Third row seats offer good space as well, however due to a higher floor, there is no under thigh support. Still, most people should not feel any difficulty positioned in the last row for short trips. By folding the second and third row seats together, the boot volume can be extended to a maximum of 1830 litres, which is very impressive.There are four 12V sockets throughout the cabin making life easy for the rear passengers.

Engine and Performance

Powering this mammoth Chevy is a 2.8-litre Duramax diesel engine which is made out of cast iron block. This turbocharged oil burner produces class-leading 200 PS of power and 500 NM of torque which is around 30 PS/157 NM more than the it’s Japanese counterpart, Toyota Fortuner.

Caressing all of that torque is a 6-speed automatic transmission and we do not get the option of a manual transmission or a 4-wheel drive option.

As soon as you start driving the car, the first impression that you will get is that it that is a very rev happy engine. In fact it’s quite torquey and there’s very good punch at lower rpm’s as well. In city traffic conditions, despite it being huge and heavy (about 2 tonne), it is very agile and you can make a quick cut or overtake with ease.  It drives better than most of its competition and this is a very big USP of the vehicle. Though in heavy traffic, the steering does require a lot of input which might be a problem for some drivers.        

Only a 4X2 automatic variant spoils a lot of things as the Trailblazer comes with class leading 241 mm of ground clearance along with monstrous 18" wheels.

If Chevrolet adds a 4X4 variant later into this SUV, this can be one of the best off roaders in our market.

Suspension on the Trailblazer isn't extremely comfortable too. Though the front passengers still don't feel a large portion of the inconsistencies in tarmac, the back seat passengers will have a tough time bearing with majority of the jerks and bumps. Same goes for the third row passengers.  

The 6-speed gearbox is responsive enough, and matches the driver’s throttle inputs. There is the choice of changing gears manually too. NVH (Noise Vibrations Harshness) levels have been keep well in control. At high speeds, this car might make you a bit nervous which is not very confidence inspiring.  The steering does get heavier as you speed- up, but it doesn’t offer you the feedback that you expect to handle all that power.

In terms of safety, Trailblazer comes equipped with front dual airbags, ABS-EBD, panic-braking assist, traction control with stability programme and hill descent control which make it fairly safe car to be in.

Verdict

To sum it up, Trailblazer replaces the Captiva and will surely keep Chevrolet’s mark in the premium SUV category alive. Priced at Rs. 26.4 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi), it is costlier than the Fortuner’s 4X2 variant which is a good enough excuse for a lot of buyers to ditch the Chevrolet. Also, this vehicle will be only available as a CBU which will lead to higher maintenance costs. No 4X4 option and no manual transmission will also effect the sales in non-metro cities.

However, if you align with the ‘Size for Price’ mindset and are looking for a spacious 7- seater to do daily urban commuting along with the occasional outstation trips, then you can consider the all new offering from Chevrolet.

Pricing - Rs. 26,40,000 (ex-showroom Delhi)