Is the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer a Good SUV? 3 Pros, 4 Cons
The Chevrolet Trailblazer returned for the 2021 model year and was on a mission to do battle in a rapidly growing field of subcompact SUVs. While always a competent and capable choice, the Trailblazer has never been a leader in the category and faces competition from worthy alternatives including the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30 and Chevrolet’s own redesigned 2024 Trax.
Related: 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer Review: In the Shadow of Its Sibling
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Shop the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer near you
For 2024, the Trailblazer has undergone a freshening aimed at helping to keep it competitive. Updates include new front styling and a slick new touchscreen infotainment system, but even so, the Trailblazer continues to trail category leaders, and it can get pricey with options.
Cars.com Road Test Editor Brian Normile spent some time getting acquainted with a new 2024 Trailblazer RS equipped with all-wheel drive and the larger, 155-horsepower, turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine. You can read his full expert review by tapping the link above; for a quicker look, below are three things we like about the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer and four things we don’t.
Things We Like
1. Properly Packaged
A traditional upright SUV shape helps the Trailblazer make the most of interior space in a small package, allowing adequate room for adults front and rear. Cargo room is not bad for a subcompact at 13.5 cubic feet according to our measurements, but that trails the best in the category.
2. Clever Storage Options
The cabin is chock full of other storage options, including lots of bins and cubbies in various sizes. There’s also an available hands-free power liftgate, an unusual and welcome feature in the class. Another nice touch is a front passenger seat that folds flat for carrying longer items, which helps maximize cargo-carrying ability.
3. Agreeable Tech
The Trailblazer was already a class leader when it comes to interior tech, and a newly standard 11-inch touchscreen display further separates it from the field. Intuitive and easy to use, the larger screen looks and performs like something in a more expensive vehicle. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are part of the package, but unlike some other recent GM offerings, Google Built-In is not.
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Things We Don’t Like
1. Interior Quality
Our RS-trim test vehicle included some nice touches, such as a flat-bottom steering wheel and red accents on the dashboard, doors and seats. While the interior gets points for style, the overall look and materials quality is subpar, with cost cuts especially evident in the backseat. Competitors like the Kia Seltos SX Turbo provide a near-premium interior for less money, and even the Trailblazer’s Trax sibling offers similar room and quality for thousands less.
2. Modest Motivation
Equipped with the optional and more powerful turbo 155-hp, 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine, our test vehicle delivered lively acceleration around town, but it was noisy, felt unrefined and quickly ran out of steam on the highway. The nine-speed automatic transmission doesn’t help much, either, as it struggles to find the right gear and takes too long to downshift for more power. Gas mileage is also disappointing for the class.
3. Uninspired Performer
Changes for the 2024 Trailblazer include larger 19-inch wheels with low-profile tires for the RS trim. The larger setup doesn’t seem to make the already firm ride notably worse, but it doesn’t make the Trailblazer any sportier, either. Steering is responsive enough, though the SUV doesn’t have all that much grip, even with its available AWD (something the Trax doesn’t get). Any sporty feel has more to do with its tidy dimensions than anything else.
4. Value Equation
In the end, it’s not that the Trailblazer has any glaring faults, it’s simply that competitors offer more for less money. With a sticker price of more than $34,000 (including almost $4,700 in options and destination fee), our tested Trailblazer RS cost more than the Kia Seltos SX Turbo that won our recent test of six subcompact SUVs. Chevrolet’s own Trax also costs thousands less, making it a better value — as long as you don’t need AWD.
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