LOS ANGELES — Following a spartan reveal earlier this year, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer, twin to the new Buick Encore GX, has appeared at the L.A. Auto Show with a few more details. One of the first notable details being its starting price under $20,000.
That’s as detailed as Chevy got on price. What’s curious here is that Chevy says the Trailblazer sits above the also-subcompact Trax crossover and below the larger Equinox. This is despite the fact that the Trax, a much older vehicle of similar size, starts at $22,295. And both crossovers will coexist together.
Strange lineup positioning aside, the Trailblazer does sport modern, Blazer-inspired styling that looks attractive, and arguably a bit like the Hyundai Kona. It will be available in a couple of different trim levels with unique styling. Chevy highlighted the sporty RS trim and the more off-road-oriented Activ. Both come standard with two-tone paint and distinct grille inserts. The Activ also gets retuned shocks designed for dirt roads, and chunkier all-season tires.
All Trailblazers will be available with either a turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder or a turbo 1.3-liter four. Output has only been revealed for the 1.3-liter at 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. Both come standard with a CVT and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is an option, and when paired with the 1.3-liter engine, it gets a nine-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive system is like that in the Equinox in which you can switch between front-wheel drive and all-wheel at the press of a button. There are three drive modes that adjust steering and throttle feel.
A number of desirable safety features are standard on even the base Trailblazer, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, automatic high-beams and rear-seat reminder. Available as options are adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and rear-cross traffic and blind-spot monitoring.
The 2021 Chevy Trailblazer goes on sale in spring 2020. More details on pricing, specifications and trim levels should be available closer to its on-sale date.
