The 2021 Chevy Trailblazer starts at $19,995

"LJ909" (lj909)
03/11/2020 at 21:20 • Filed to: 2021 chevy trailblazer

The Trailblazer is back for ‘21. But its not what we thought it would be. Instead of the Colorado based SUV that other parts of the world get, we get yet another small crossover from a brand that already has 6 other SUV’s/Crossovers. The Trailblazer sits below the Trax in the lineup, at least that’ s how Chevy presents it.

The Trailblazer lineup is spread across 5 trims: L, LS, LT, Activ and RS; 2 engines: a 1.2 liter turbo with 137 horses and a 1.3 liter turbo engine with 155 horses;2 transmissions: a standard CVT and an optional 9 speed auto; and front or awd.

The Trailblazer L starts at the aforementioned $19,995. With it being the base trim, you can guarantee this is the rental trim. It comes standard with the 1.2 liter engine and the CVT. The Trailblazer comes with some impressive standard features. And when I say impressive, I mean impressive for GM/Chevy. Other automakers have been having base models with great standard features for awhile. GM is just now coming around. Standard features include:

Chevy infotainment system with 7” touchscreen

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Compatibility

Forward Collision Warning

Front Pedestrian Braking

Auto Emergency Braking

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning

10 standard airbags

Also keep in mind you cant get awd or the 1.3 liter engine on this trim. This trim is unique in that other than its standard features, its spartan as hell color wise. Like it almost shouldn’ t be sold to the public. The only color available on the L is GM’s favorite base color, Summit White. And that’ s paired with jet black cloth interior. Standard wheels on this trim are 16” steelies. With no options to speak of besides accessories , the Trailblazer L rings in at $20k give or take tax title and licensing fees. I don’ t think dealers will even stock this trim.

The next trim up is the LS. Starting at $22,495, it builds on the L by coming standard with 17” wheels, a digital compass, front and rear carpeted floor mats, fold flat front passenger seat and a 6 speaker audio system. You can also choose optional awd and the 1.3 liter engine on this trim as well.

Spending a little more money gets you options, as evidenced here by the availability of 8 exterior color choices and 2 interior cloth color choices. All exterior colors are no charge save for $695 Iridescent Pearl Coat. There is one option package on this trim, a $495 Driver Confidence and Cruise package that bundles cruise control (which weirdly isn’ t standard), rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert and lane change alert with side blind zone alert in a package of safety features that should’ ve been standard. I selected it. With no other options and no accessories selected, a Trailblazer LS rings in at $22,990; $24,990 with the 1.3 and awd.

The next trim up is the LT, which like most Chevy models, should be the volume trim. Its split into 2 with it starting at $24,595 with the 1.2 and CVT and $25,955 with the 1.3 and the CVT. It builds on the LS by coming standard with things like LED foglamps, deep tinted rear windows and liftgate, heated power folding body color mirrors, remote start, heated front seats, and 17” black painted aluminum wheels.

Exterior and interior color choices are the same, though the LT gets the option of leatherette seating in black or gray and black. You want leatherette seating? Its not free or cheap as it requires adding on $1,810 in additional options and packages (more in that in a bit).

The LT trim gets real options that should make the Trailblazer easier to live with on a daily basis and not feel as..cheap. There are 5 options packages to choose from. 3 of these were already selected when choosing leatherette seating: $345 Driver Confidence Package, $620 Convenience Package (includes a larger 8” touchscreen, 2 rear usb ports, auto dimming mirror, auto climate control, sat radio with trial subscription, front illuminated vanity mirrors), $845 Premium Seating Package (this one is another strange options and shows how GM wants to charge customers. The leatherette seating is in its own package which includes the leatherette seating and then also includes a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and a rear center armrest, but the package itself requires the addition of 2 other packages? That doesn’ t make sense to me.). The 2 other packages are a $1,770 Sun and Liftgate package that comes with a pano power sunroof and a hands free power liftgate, and a $475 Adaptive Cruise Control Package that comes with adaptive cruise control, leather wrapped steering wheel and a drivers information center with a 4.2” LCD color display.

Trying to choose the Sun and Liftgate package you will see that you have to spend more money, as this package weirdly requires the 1.3 liter engine (if its not already equipped), bringing the total price of this package to $2,165. I added this along with all the other packages. At this point, the Trailblazer, outside of the accessories is loaded. A Traiblazer LT with all options rings in at the same price with both the 1.2 and 1.3 liter engines and fwd $29,045; $30,650 with the 1.3 and AWD.

The next trim is $26,395 poser offroad ACTIV trim (they even spelled it funky). Only available with the 1.3 liter engine with either front or awd. This trim gets a trim specific exterior called Zeus Bronze Metallic which is like a root beer brown. You can also get contrasting roof colors but only in either Zeus Bronze or Summit White. And whatever color the roof is the mirror caps are the same color as well. So I choose a handsome looking Black with the Zeus Bronze contrasting roof. Interior leatherette choices are also different with choices being either Jet Black/Almond Butter or Jet Black / Arizona accents which is a lighter almost beige brown. Both are no extra cost.

This trim gets only 4 option packages, 3 of which are the same as the LT trim ( Driver Confidence, Convenience and Sun & Liftgate Packages). The ACTIV trim gets a $1,720 Technology Package that includes a wireless charger, 8” touchscreen, Bose premium audio system, SD card reader, LED headlights, and a HD rear camera among other things. Selecting this package requires the addition of both the Driver Confidence and Convenience packages. So with pretty much every option package selected and the Traiblazer ACTIV loaded out, it rung in a $30,850; $32,350 with awd.

The top of the Trailblazer line is the sporty $26,395 Traiblazer RS. This is another trim that’ s only available with the 1.3 liter engine. It comes with 18” high gloss black wheels, a (pointless I might add) leather wrapped flat bottomed steering wheel, Black Chevy bowtie and exterior badging, LED taillamps and dual polished exhaust.

The RS gets 2 specific exterior colors that are both no cost: Scarlet Red Metallic and a sporty almost BMW like Oasis Blue which I choose with the contrasting Black roof. Inside the only seat choices are Black leatherette seating. With the same option packages selected as the ACTIV, a Trailblazer RS rings in at $30,850: $32,350 with awd.

As I have to always ask, who is this for exactly and why does it exist? The answer to the second one is almost obvious as its to satisfy consumer insatiable need for crossovers. As to who its for? I’m not sure. I assume its going to replace the Trax in the lineup eventually as it has a slightly high starting price (exactly $700 more). Its just 6.3” longer than the Trax and is not that much bigger than the Trax in places where it counts. Like rear legroom where the Trailblazer has just 3.7” more rear legroom. But it doesn’ t make sense and I’m sure we will probably see a new model that sits between the Trax and Equinox or Trailblazer and Equinox if the Trax goes away. And the madness will continue.

DISCUSSION (22)

boredalways > LJ909
03/11/2020 at 21:40

Gee, can't wait to rent one with Avis, Budget, Enterprise, or Hertz

LJ909 > boredalways
03/11/2020 at 21:43

And as always , inhale that new car smell as you run your hands along the hard plastic on the door trim.

boredalways > LJ909
03/11/2020 at 21:49

I just LOL'd hard on your reply!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > boredalways
03/11/2020 at 22:25

Uggh not even a rental brah.

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > LJ909
03/11/2020 at 22:25

Hey, GM, Ford and FCA, I have about $15-$18K to spend on a new car in about a year or so . What do you have that will fill my needs for an inexpensive new car? Anything? Anything at all? Oh well, guess I’ll head over to the KIA dealership and see what they have on offer. Bye.

LJ909 > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
03/11/2020 at 22:45

Hyundai/Kia is always the best bet.

QCGoose > LJ909
03/11/2020 at 22:50

So now there will be the Trax, Trailblazer, Equinox, Blazer, Traverse, Tahoe, and Suburban.

Good grief.

LJ909 > QCGoose
03/11/2020 at 22:54

Right. And like I mentioned, who knows what models they are cooking up to sit in between those. I read a few months ago that they were mulling a crossover to sit between the Traverse and Tahoe. Makes no sense.

Ssfancyfresh > LJ909
03/11/2020 at 23:00

It looks nice and it will probably do well against other things that look like this.

I don’t hate it. I also don’t want it and would never buy one.

Good for them.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus
03/11/2020 at 23:33

I have 25-30k to spend on a sporty vehicle that can easily seat 4, ha ve a stick shift, and also have a reasonable insurance category and gas mileage. It’s a pretty short list these days....

Kinja'd!!!

Man, remember how 2000-2015 saw almost everyone having a high performance, sporty compact or midsized? Good times.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > LJ909
03/11/2020 at 23:49

Trailblazer? In other parts of the world? In 202 0/21? Nope. Not anymore.

That BoF beastie got shit in the head three weeks ago...and SAIC bought the factory.

Besides, GM is now largely confined to the Americas and China...

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > LJ909
03/12/2020 at 00:06

Don’t expect the Trax to be around much longer as the design is old in the tooth and the gamma2 platform is being phased out for the vssf platform

LJ909 > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
03/12/2020 at 00:39

Damn I hadn’t heard. That sucks as I read it was actually kind of decent.

LJ909 > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
03/12/2020 at 00:40

Right. And I don’t think they’re going to do another gen of it. Because since it’s based on the Sonic, that would mean another Sonic. And Chevy seems to be going the way of Ford with taking their cars out to pasture.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > LJ909
03/12/2020 at 01:20

This needs the Volt powertrain. Even if it’s FWD only, currently only the niro is in that PHEV small cuv class and people dig the rugged look.

LJ909 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
03/12/2020 at 01:31

That would make sense. But they’ll use millions to develop a specific vehicle for that when they already have a perfectly good one.

Carbon Fiber Sasquatch > LJ909
03/12/2020 at 01:41

GM’s lack of logistics, cohesion and homogeneity in their development and products is mind boggling

LJ909 > Carbon Fiber Sasquatch
03/12/2020 at 01:53

It really is. Like how there was a Spark EV but no Sonic EV. Or how there’s a coming Bolt crossover, but no plug in or hybrid option for any of their crossovers.

fintail > LJ909
03/12/2020 at 02:01

Cool, another faux floating C-pillar - definitely not a played out “styling” cue, nope.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > LJ909
03/12/2020 at 02:38

It was OK.

However, Izuzu still sell theirs (and are doing well) and they and Mazda are doing the next one. Ford and VW might be planning to do one to update the Everest along with the Ranger . Toyota have theirs. And Mitsubishi is carrying the can for its new version of the Triton/Pajero Sport along with the Nissan and (maybe) Renault iterations .

So the loss of GMs effort is of no great consequence... ¯\_()_/¯

pip bip - choose Corrour > LJ909
03/12/2020 at 06:18

no right hand drive though.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > LJ909
03/12/2020 at 08:20

not for the US. the vss-f-A is for the sonic, spark. and the vssf-B for cruze. I think the -D for malibu