2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Though the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer has more going for it than just good looks, it helps that the styling is so appealing. Chevrolet gets the proportions, primary character lines, and small details exactly right, and the available black-, white-, or red-painted roof makes it even more appealing.

You’ve got four Trailblazer models to choose from in Canada. It comes in LS, LT, Activ, and RS trim levels, and pricing ranges from $25,998 to $30,298. The destination charge to ship the Trailblazer from the South Korean factory where it is made to your local dealership is $1,900.

All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard for all but the LT trim level, which is unusual since it’s typically the base model that gets front-wheel drive (FWD) by default. It also swaps out the default 9-speed automatic transmission for a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Our test vehicle came with RS trim, which carries the highest MSRP of $30,298. Options raised the sticker price to $37,653 including the destination charge (Canadian, estimated). That’s too much to pay for a Trailblazer, so you’re better off choosing the Trailblazer LT and then upgrading it depending on your budget.

One reason paying more than thirty-five grand for a Chevy Trailblazer makes no sense is that the cabin is filled with hard plastic. Most of it doesn’t look like what you’d find on a child’s toy, but still. At least the interior has a sense of style.

Trailblazers use a turbocharged three-cylinder engine. That sounds like a worse idea than it is. In Canada, the smaller 1.2-litre engine is not offered, making the larger 1.3-litre turbo engine the default. This supplies power specs of 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, the latter arriving at 1,600 rpm and making the Trailblazer feel sprightly.

As mentioned, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) comes with front-wheel drive (FWD). Choose AWD, and the Trailblazer adds a more satisfying nine-speed automatic transmission. The AWD powertrain also comes with a slightly more sophisticated rear suspension design for improved ride and handling qualities. So, to summarize, get a Trailblazer with AWD. It’s the best one to drive.

With RS trim, the Trailblazer rides on great-looking 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in 22/55 all-season tires. Combine the Trailblazer’s light curb weight, turbocharged torque, and sizable rubber, and you’ve got a zippy and nimble little SUV. It’s genuinely fun to drive around town and on narrow, winding roads and is easy to park just about anywhere. There’s even a Sport driving mode that actually feels like makes the Trailblazer sporty.

As you might expect, the Trailblazer is loud inside when you’re traveling on highways. Also, the suspension tuning is such that it cannot take speed bumps and speed humps at much more than 30 kilometres per hour. Which, we suppose, is the whole point of them. But, should you choose to take a Trailblazer off-roading, you’ll need to take care on rutted terrain lest you bang its underside on the ground. That goes for the Activ trim, too, though it comes with off-road suspension tuning, sport-terrain tires, and a front skid plate in order to provide a semblance of capability in the dirt.

Back on pavement, the Trailblazer treats occupants to a bouncy ride and some head toss on undulating surfaces, but this is to be expected in any vehicle with a tall centre of gravity, a short wheelbase, and a narrow track. What you might not expect, given the small-displacement three-cylinder engine, is 9.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. That’s what our test vehicle averaged on the evaluation loop, falling short of the official Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption rating of 8.4 L/100 km with AWD. (FWD is rated at 7.6 L/100 km combined.)

The Chevy Trailblazer might be small, but when it comes to functionality, it is mighty. From the useful tray embedded into the dashboard to its ability to hold something 2.5 metres long with the tailgate closed, the Trailblazer is a useful tyke.

First, there’s plenty of room for four people in this little guy. Our Trailblazer RS test vehicle had a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, making it easy to find a perfect driving position. Plus, because it sits high, it's really easy to get into and out of a Trailblazer. The front passenger seat lacks a height adjuster but is nevertheless comfortable.

The rear seat is remarkably roomy and has plenty of legroom but is shaped like a park bench with Saskatchewan-flat cushions. Our guess is the seat is shaped this way to help ensure a flat load floor when it's folded down for larger loads of cargo. The trade-off is discomfort for rear passengers.

Speaking of cargo volume, the trunk holds 716 litres of it. The load floor offers two positions, and there are storage slots to either side of it. Fold the back seat down, and the Trailblazer supplies 1,540 litres of cargo space. The front passenger’s seat also folds flat, and that’s how this SUV can ingest something like a surfboard without much effort.

Like other Chevrolets, the Trailblazer is equipped with a comprehensive infotainment system featuring a 7-inch or an 8-inch touchscreen display. Standard features include Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, and the systems are ready for you to activate Chevrolet Connected Services including a Wi-Fi hotspot. If you’ve got a young new driver in the household, the standard Teen Driver report card technology is terrific for concerned parents.

Our test car had the system with the bigger touchscreen, and it included access to Spotify and SiriusXM satellite radio. It also came with an optional 7-speaker Bose premium audio system that delivered decent sound quality for this type of vehicle. Wireless smartphone charging is available.

Appealing graphics, a smartphone-style user experience, and a useful voice recognition system all make the Trailblazer’s infotainment technology easy to use. Physical controls underline the bottom of the display, offering a Home button, a Back button, and a volume knob flanked by tuning buttons. It is super simple and intuitive to use this system.

Aside from remote engine starting, which is offered starting with LT trim, there isn’t much in the way of other technologies in the Trailblazer. The SUV does offer a keyless entry keypad system, which allows you to leave the key fob inside the Trailblazer, lock the doors, and use a code to open the door when you return. You can also get a hands-free power liftgate.

Safety is important, especially in a smaller vehicle. To help ensure it, Chevrolet equips every Trailblazer with 10 airbags and a rear-seat reminder system that chimes to remind the driver to check the back seat for someone or something important before locking and leaving the SUV. The Trailblazer helps you to care for older children, too, with the previously mentioned Teen Driver technology.

Chevy Safety Assist is also standard, equipping the Trailblazer with a core set of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The safety features include forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. Options include blind-spot warning with lane-change assistance, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

During our testing, the fully loaded Trailblazer’s ADAS worked beautifully. It is accurate, smooth, and rarely irritating, which sometimes cannot be said for vehicles twice the price.

Plus, if for some reason it doesn’t succeed at avoiding a collision, the Trailblazer earns top crash-test ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

As we said before, $37,000-plus is too much to spend on a Chevy Trailblazer. For roughly a thousand dollars more than our test vehicle cost, you could buy a Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium and enjoy 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. Plus, the Mazda has higher quality materials, real leather upholstery, a superior sound system, a navigation system, and more.

Chevy doesn’t sweeten the pot much, either with very short free trials to connected services. And if you’re planning off-road excursions, the Subaru Crosstrek utterly mops the muck with the Trailblazer.

Simply put, the Trailblazer’s price is too high for what Chevy delivers. But, we still like this personality-rich small SUV. It looks great, is fairly flingable around town, and is both useful and safe. Plus, Chevrolet gets the technology exactly right.

So, drive a hard bargain at the dealership and get the price down before you buy. Otherwise, despite the Trailblazer’s inherent appeal, you might wish you’d chosen something else to drive.

Note: Images show a US model.