Auto N Sider | 2021 Chevy Trailblazer AWD RS
Chevy’s new-for-’21 trailblazer is the latest addition to their utility family.
60 or so years ago you could have picked up a copy of Popular Mechanics. That’s a magazine. You know…made of paper with pages that you actually have to turn by hand.
Anyhow…Almost every year there’d be a cover story titled something like: “Someday all cars will look like this”.
And they’d usually show a picture of swoopy, finned flying cars that looked like they escaped from the old Jetsons TV show.
But never did they imagine a future where “cars” were almost extinct…replaced in large part by CUVs, SUVs and Pickups.
Welcome to 2020…or 2021 as is the case with our test Chevy Trailblazer.
You might have noticed…or actually if you’re like most buyers, you maybe haven’t really noticed…that Chevy’s Impala, Cruze, Volt and Sonic are going out of production…and more may soon follow.
That leaves their Malibu, Spark and Bolt as their only remaining sedans. Then you’ve got their Corvette and Camaro…and a huge handful of SUV’s and trucks for every occasion. And Chevy’s new-for-’21 trailblazer is the latest addition to their utility family.
Larger than their Trax…and smaller than their Equinox, Chevy’s new two-row Trailblazer can easily seat five or carry over 54 cu. ft. of luggage with the rear seats folded…and maybe even tote a boat.
But more about the boat in a minute.
Chevy’s new Trailblazers start with a window-sticker just under $20,000. And for that base entry-price you still get auto emergency braking, forward collision alerts and pedestrian detection and auto intelligent headlights.
You’ll have a 1.2 liter turbo three-cylinder and a continuously variable transmission.
Yes…three cylinders are here…and apparently here to say for a while, as they’re now standard on quite a few of today’s vehicles. And please...do not fear three cylinders!
While I can’t vouch for the 1.2, we had an upscale AWD “RS” version which came with a 1.3 Turbo and a nine-speed automatic. Acceleration was brisk.
Freeway on-ramps are nothing to worry about with this setup. And as a bonus, the EPA rates this version at 26 City and 30 Hwy MPG…altho’ we got over 30 on the road running right along with today’s “10-over-the-limit” flow of traffic.
In “RS” trim, our Trailblazer was priced at $30,580 including destination fees, and included popular features like 18’ alloys, roof rack rails, heated power mirrors, power lumbar, and for you parents, GM’s Teen Driver controls.
Various packages added wireless Apple and Android + charging, HD radio, adaptive cruise, Bose speakers, 120 volt power, and most of today’s safety alerts like rear cross-traffic, parking assist, lane change alerts et al.
In other words, for just a hair over 30K, you get a new 5-seat CUV that’s equally at home in town or on the road…and has most of the features and options that we all seem to want these days. And it can even tote a boat.
As for the boat? Chevy designed extra “Utility” into its new CUV.
In addition to our Trailblazers’ 1,000 lb towing capability, Chevy gave us a fold-flat front seat which, with the rears folded, allows you to carry things like 8’ kayaks or surf boards, fishing poles, lumber, etc.
Not many vehicles have that ability…and if you’ve ever driven down the road with 8’ objects sticking out of your half-open rear hatch, you’ll sure appreciate being able to carry them inside instead.
And this, in a nutshell, is why sedans are falling out of favor these days.
Room for five…30 MPG…throw and go utility…slightly elevated drivers’ position…comfortable ride. Heck, Chevy…you had me at “Boat”!
