2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

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Rating6.3

Ranked #3 in 

Subcompact SUV
Write Review
$22,100 - $27,700
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on July 19, 2024

ProsConsWhat's New

Attractive design.

Lazy engine options

New paint options.

Sharp handling.

Average gas mileage.

Spacious cabin.

Poor CVT performance.

Specs & Features

$23,395

price

137 hp @ 5000 rpm

horsepower

162 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm

torque

1-Speed Continuously Variable

transmission

1.2L 4cyl FWD CVT

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a midsize SUV that is basically a smaller Chevy Blazer but despite the fact of being a smaller vehicle, the Trailblazer offers a spacious cabin. This combination makes the SUV easier to park and affordable for many. For 2023, Chevy wouldn’t be making any noticeable changes apart from the new color options that will now include Nitro Yellow Metallic, Fountain Blue, and Sterling Gray Metallic, as well as an optional Iridescent Pearl Tricoat roof color. The trim levels will remain the same and the Trailblazer will be offered in two powertrain options on all trims like that found on the outgoing model. Even though the design on the Trailblazer is sporty with a few hints of the Chevrolet Camaro, the performance doesn’t really blend well as the acceleration feels sluggish. The major contenders that the Trailblazer is up against are the Hyundai Kona, the Ford EcoSport, and the Honda HR-V. The tall stance and the high roofline on the Trailblazer allow tall occupants to be seated comfortably and the foldable front passenger seat helps maximize the utility of the Trailblazer.

Buying Advice

The fact that the price range on the Trailblazer is extensive gives the buyer a lot of options but the most value-for-money deal here has to be the LT variant with the RWD setup as the trims about it are mostly style upgrades and nothing to do with the performance of the car. However, if you aren’t a fan of how the car looks in the LT trim, you can opt for either the Activ or the RS trim based on your preference as both these vehicles target two completely different crowds.

Comparative Analysis against Competition

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer is expected to start at $22,995 for the base trim and go all the way up to almost $30,000. Users can also upgrade the standard 1.2-liter engine for a slightly more powerful 1.3-liter unit with an all-wheel drive system for an additional $2,000, which also brings in a 9-speed automatic transmission over the regular CVT unit.

Features
6.0/10

Chevrolet offers both FWD and AWD for the Trailblazer throughout the trim line and that only provides the buyers a wider option. The Trailblazer comes in LS, LT, RS, and Activ trims with the only difference between the RS and Activ being its styling and core functions. The RS gets sporty exterior touches with high-gloss black aluminum wheels while the Activ trim is focused on tough terrain with some off-road ability and gets chunkier bumpers and sport terrain tires. Some standard features that are offered in the base LS trim are a 6-speaker audio system, Digital compass, driver infotainment center, fold-flat front passenger seats, and cloth upholstery for the seats. Users can also choose optional packages like the Convenience package, Confidence II package, or the Driver confidence package, which brings in features like the Driver assist, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a rear armrest, larger touchscreen, and many more.

Trim

LS

LT

Activ

RS

MSRP (FWD)

$22,995

$25,195

$27,095

$27,095

MSRP (AWD)

$24,995

$27,195

$29,095

$29,095

Key Features

6-speaker audio system

LED fog lamps

LED taillights

18-inch high-gloss black machined aluminum wheels

17-inch silver painted aluminum wheels

Silver painted roof rails

Sport terrain tires

Heated steering wheel

Chevrolet infotainment 3 system with 7.0-inch display

Heated power-adjustable, manual-folding mirrors

Dual-outlet exhaust with trapezoidal polished tips

Dual-outlet exhaust with round polished tips

Cloth seat upholstery for seats

Heated front seats

   

Chevy safety assist

Remote vehicle start system

   

Both the RS and Activ trim are basically the same vehicles and offer the same features except for the fact that the Activ leans towards off-road and rugged character while the RS focuses on being sportier and sharper.

We Recommend

The fact that the price range on the Trailblazer is extensive gives the buyer a lot of options but the most value-for-money deal here has to be the LT variant with the RWD setup as the trims about it are mostly style upgrades and nothing to do with the performance of the car. However, if you aren’t a fan of how the car looks in the LT trim, you can opt for either the Activ or the RS trim based on your preference as both these vehicles target two completely different crowds.

Release Date

The release of the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer is likely going to be in the fall of 2022 and the car will be available to buy at Chevrolet dealerships throughout the United States.

Fuel Economy
4.0/10

For a vehicle with such low power and low power output, it is expected to push out great fuel economy numbers but the EPA for the 1.2L engine stands at a rather average 30 mpg. This number goes up by 1 mile with the 1.3L engine and FWD setup but decreases by 3 miles when configured with the AWD system. The Trailblazer is capable of holding a total of 13.2 gallons of fuel, which falls in the ballpark of what most vehicles in this category offer.

Model

2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

2023 Hyundai Kona

2023 Ford EcoSport

2023 Honda HR-V

MPG (city)

29

30

23

28

MPG (highway)

31

35

29

34

MPG (combined)

30

32

25

30

Fuel capacity (gallons)

13.2

13.2

13.8

13.2

Range (City, highway, combined, in miles)

382/409/396

396/462/422

317/400/345

369/448/396

The largest fuel tank here is offered by the Ford EcoSport but that doesn’t help the car a lot as the gas mileage is on the lower side. The Chevrolet Trailblazer isn’t the best here despite it carrying a smaller and less powerful engine. Hyundai offers the highest range and fuel economy with a total range of 422 miles with a single tank of fuel.

Interior
6.0/10

The cabin space that the Trailblazer holds is massive and truly one of its strengths. The seats can be finished in fabric upholstery or leatherette upholstery depending on the trim levels. However, regardless of the material, the cabin layout is well integrated with comfortable seats. The front seats receive a heating function along with 10-way driver seat power adjustability from the LT trim onwards. To further extend the convenience, users get a heated steering wheel on both Activ and RS trims and can optionally add features like automatic climate control, cabin humidity sensor, and much more. The Trailblazer also offers a good cargo space that can be extended by folding the rear seats but Chevrolet also lets the users fold the front passenger seats forwards in order to further maximize the cargo hold.

Model

2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

2023 Hyundai Kona

2023 Ford EcoSport

2023 Honda HR-V

Passenger Capacity

5

5

5

5

First Row (Head/shoulder/legroom)

40.0/55.4/40.9

39.6/55.5/41.5

39.6/53.3/42.9

39.5/56.8/41.2

Rear Row (Head/shoulder/legroom)

38.4/53.8/39.4

37.8/54.3/34.6

37.5/51.3/36.7

38.3/54.5/39.3

Cargo Capacity to rear row (cu.-ft)

25.3

19.2

20.9

24.3

Cargo Capacity to first row (cu.-ft)

54.4

45.8

50.0

58.8

The most spacious cars are the Trailblazer and the HR-V as they both offer a very similar space for both passengers as well as cargo. The Honda sure does have a slightly larger cargo space with the rear seats fed down but the difference isn’t a lot. 2023 Hyundai Kona takes the last spot here with the 2023 Ford EcoSport falling right in between the list.

Some standout interior features on the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer include

  • Heated front seats.
  • Heated steering wheel.
  • Fabric/Leatherette upholstery.
  • 10-way power adjustable driver seat.
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel.
  • Single zone front air-conditioning.

How intuitive is the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer infotainment system?

The Trailblazer is equipped with a 7.0-inch display for the infotainment unit as standard which runs on the latest Chevy infotainment 3 software that lets users connect mobile phones via Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, or Android Auto. The infotainment is connected to a 6-speaker audio system with an option to upgrade it to a 7-speaker system from Bose. Adding technology packs brings in additional connectivity and features.

Some of the standout infotainment features on the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer are

  • 3.5-inch digital instrument cluster.
  • 7.0-inch touchscreen.
  • Apply CarPlay and Android Auto.
  • Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system.
  • Navigation system.
  • 6-speaker or 7-speaker Bose audio system.

Exterior
6.0/10

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a complete carryover model, making it identical to the previous model both mechanically as well as in terms of design. The Trailblazer has sharp lines and angular design elements all over it, making it one of the best-looking midsize SUVs and for 2023, Chevrolet introduces new colors to give it a refreshed look. The LED fog lamps and taillight give the exterior appearance a much-polished look. Buyers looking for different design elements on their Trailblazers can opt for either Activ or RS trims as one focuses on rugged styling with chunkier bumpers with integrated bash plate design with thick treaded tires while the other is more of a sportier-looking Trailblazer with a massive grille and sharper bumper styling, making it look aggressive. The standard wheel size for the Terrain stands at 17-inches with the Activ trim getting the Sport terrain tires while the RS variant sits on 18-inch wheels which gives it the sporty stance that it intends to provide.

Model

2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

2023 Hyundai Kona

2023 Ford EcoSport

2023 Honda HR-V

Curb Weight (lbs)

3,323

2,890

3,300

2,959

Length (in.)

173.5

164.0

161.3

170.4

Width (in.)

71.2

70.9

69.5

69.8

Height (in.)

65.2

61.6

64.8

63.2

Ground Clearance (in.)

7.5

6.7

7.8

7.3

Wheelbase (in.)

103.9

102.4

99.2

102.8

The dimensions on the Chevrolet Trailblazer is the largest and hence, makes it a very spacious vehicle compared to its rivals but the long length of this car makes it difficult to maneuver the Chevy in tight spaces. The ground clearance on the Chevy and Ford are the highest and both these cars also happen to be the heaviest.

Some of the standout exterior features include

  • 17/18-inch wheels.
  • Dual-outlet exhaust
  • LED fog light and taillights.
  • Two-tone paint scheme for Activ trim.
  • Optional panoramic sunroof.
  • All-season tires.

Safety
8.0/10

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer hasn’t undergone any crash tests so far but the outgoing 2022 model has managed to bag a 5-star rating from NHTSA and an overall “GOOD” from IIHS with the Top Safety Pick + badge. The same can be expected for the 2023 model as it is basically the same car. Chevrolet has put keen attention on safety and provides the users with various safety tech and driver assist features.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer are

  • Automatic emergency braking.
  • Lane keep assist and lane departure warning.
  • Front pedestrian braking.
  • IntelliBeam auto high beams.
  • Forward collision alert.
  • Rearview camera.

Competition

2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Hyundai Kona

There really isn’t much of a difference between the Chevy and Kona in terms of the power and fuel economy even though the numbers are slightly higher on the Kona. However, the overall cabin room offered by the Trailblazer is better and much more comfortable, making it the ideal family hauler under a budget. The Hyundai should be your choice only if fuel economy is a deciding factor for you but if space is what you’re looking for, the Chevy is the answer.

2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Ford EcoSport

The only place where the Ford EcoSport goes past the Chevy is in terms of the power but talk about practicality and the Trailblazer pushes the Ford down with ease. The legroom on the Chevy is more than what offers on the Ford and similar is the case with the cargo space. The major lead for the Chevy against the EcoSport is in terms of the fuel economy, making it the right pick for a budget-oriented segment.

2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Honda HR-V

Even though both these cars make the same power, the Honda HR-V drives much better than the Chevy as the steering response and power delivery are precise. The Honda also pushes out better fuel efficiency and similar cargo space, making it the better vehicle in almost all aspects. The only place where the Chevy has an advantage is in terms of the braking performance and the lower price but it definitely is worth paying the extra cost for the Honda over the Chevy.

Final Verdict

Since the Trailblazer for 2023 is a carryover model and has nothing unchanged, it would drive and feel exactly like the 2022 model but it still is worth buying it in 2023 as the car holds enough components and features for the money it asks for. The Chevrolet Trailblazer holds itself very well against its rivals and the fact that it comes in two different engine configurations and drivetrain setup gives the users a much more extensive customization option than what the rivals offer. The Chevrolet definitely isn’t the most fun car to drive in the segment but as a whole, the car is very practical and offers great cabin and cargo room compared to the other cars.

Trims

    LS
    $22,100 onwards
    • Engine: 1.2L 4cyl FWD CVT
    • Horsepower: 137 hp @ 5000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 162 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 9.3 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 30 mpg
    LT
    $24,300 onwards
    • Engine: 1.2L 3cyl FWD CVT
    • Horsepower: 137 hp @ 5000 rpm hp
    • Torque: 162 lb.-ft. @ 2500 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 9.3 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 30 mpg
    ACTIV
    $26,200 onwards
    • Engine: 1.3L 3cyl FWD CVT
    • Horsepower: 155 hp @ 5600 rpm hp
    • Torque: 174 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 9 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 31 mpg
    RS
    $26,200 onwards
    • Engine: 1.3L 3cyl FWD CVT
    • Horsepower: 155 hp @ 5600 rpm hp
    • Torque: 174 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 8.9 sec
    • Top Speed: TBD mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 31 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$22,100- $27,700

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

6.29

Horsepower

155 hp @ 5600 rpm

Torque

174 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$34,095- $80,580

Gasoline

6.9

300 hp @ 5700 rpm

325 lb.-ft. @ 3400 rpm

4

Read Review

$35,405- $51,425

Gasoline

7.15

265 hp @ 6000 rpm

310 lb.-ft. @ 1700 rpm

8

Read Review

$36,960- $48,460

Gasoline

7.1

227 hp @ 5000 rpm

310 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

6

Read Review

$33,860- $47,410

Gasoline

7.1

260 hp @ 6000 rpm

240 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

$37,945- $46,485

Gasoline

7.24

250 hp @ 5500 rpm

280 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

5

Read Review

$39,000- $77,075

Gasoline

7.93

293 hp @ 6400 rpm

257 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

5

Read Review

$41,100- $47,855

Gasoline

6.75

280 hp @ 6000 rpm

262 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm

5

Read Review

$36,760- $56,220

Gasoline

7.09

300 hp @ 5500 rpm

310 lb.-ft. @ 3500 rpm

7

Read Review

$30,090- $44,885

Gasoline

7.88

191 hp @ 6100 rpm

181 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm

7

Read Review

2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    9.3 sec17.1 sec-
    6.1 sec14.6 sec113 mph
    6.3 sec14.8 sec112 mph
    6.5 sec15.1 sec99 mph
    6.8 sec15.1 sec130 mph
    6.9 sec15.2 sec135 mph

    2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      29 mpg31 mpg30 mpg13.2 gal.382.80/409.20 mi.
      26 mpg32 mpg28 mpg18.5 gal.481/592 mi.
      24 mpg29 mpg26 mpg17.7 gal.424.8/513.3 mi.
      22 mpg29 mpg25 mpg19.4 gal.426.8/562.6 mi.
      22 mpg29 mpg25 mpg17.9 gal.393.8/519.1 mi.
      22 mpg29 mpg25 mpg19.4 gal.477.40/585.90 mi.

      2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        173.5 in.71.2 in.65.2 in.7.5 in.103.9 in.

        2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

        Ranked #1

        204.9 in.84.6 in.71.5 in.-121.7 in. -
        199.9 in.78.5 in.71 in.7.3 in.113.8 in. -
        199.4 in.77.5 in.67.6 in.8.8 in.115.3 in. -
        198.8 in.78.9 in.69.9 in.7.9 in.119.1 in.
        197.7 in.77.9 in.70.9 in.7.1 in.114.2 in. -

        2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          25.3 cu.ft.98.2 cu.ft.54.4 cu.ft.
          41.2 cu.ft.114.9 cu.ft.100.8 cu.ft.
          47.2 cu.ft.-89.7 cu.ft.
          18.2 cu.ft.152.7 cu.ft.87.8 cu.ft.
          59.5 cu.ft.158.4 cu.ft.87 cu.ft. -
          21 cu.ft.157.1 cu.ft.87 cu.ft.

          2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            SourceCompare
            54.4 cu.ft.25.3 cu.ft.54.4 cu.ft.
            73.4 cu.ft.39.2 cu.ft.73.4 cu.ft.
            87.8 cu.ft.18.2 cu.ft.87.8 cu.ft.
            80.5 cu.ft.16.6 cu.ft.80.5 cu.ft.
            75.5 cu.ft.12.6 cu.ft.75.5 cu.ft.
            52.3 cu.ft.22.4 cu.ft.52.3 cu.ft.

            2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              1000 lbs.1175 lbs.-
              5300 lbs.1425 lbs.4345 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1664 lbs.4134 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1055 lbs.4236 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1685 lbs.4155 lbs.
              5000 lbs.1561 lbs.4171 lbs.

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