2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Typically, subcompact SUV shoppers look for functionality and solid fuel economy above all else. In this, the Chevrolet Trailblazer excels. However, this spunky little urban warrior brings much more to the party. Its handsome wrapper, a plethora of technology, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and reasonable pricing are crowd-pleasers, as well. So, if you have your heart set on a roomy people hauler that’s easy on the wallet and convenient to park in crowded cities, the Trailblazer is calling your name.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact SUVs, including the Chevy Trailblazer.

Chevy just updated the Trailblazer for 2024; therefore, it still feels current and fresh. For 2026, the Chevy Trailblazer adds Apex Red and White Sands to the exterior color palette in place of the deleted Crimson Metallic and Nitro Yellow Metallic. Also, because a spare tire and jack are no longer standard, a tire inflator kit is.

Look for the 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer to go on sale in the fall of 2025.

Historically, the best-selling Trailblazer trim has been the LT. Our recommendation would be the LT with the all-wheel-drive (AWD) option because it comes with the engine upgrade and a traditional automatic transmission. More about that below. Adding all-wheel drive to any trim level bumps up the bottom line by $2,000.

If you want to stay with the bow tie brand but go bigger, take a gander at the compact Equinox.

Compared to some of its closest rivals, including the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, and Toyota Corolla Cross, the Chevy Trailblazer is priced a bit below. Many of the even more affordable options in this class, like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Soul, and Chevy’s own Trax, don’t offer all-wheel drive as an option.

The Chevy Trailblazer is a small SUV that prioritizes efficiency over performance. With few exceptions, subcompact SUVs aren’t particularly thrilling to drive, but we found the base 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine in the Trailblazer particularly underwhelming. No doubt its automatic transmission engineered for mileage rather than performance is a big factor, too. Performance is improved by the optional 1.3-liter engine. It’s only slightly more powerful and more efficient than the base engine, but it’s much easier for us to recommend. Moreover, it includes a traditional 9-speed automatic transmission.

The Trailblazer’s ride is compliant on smooth pavement, but we found it a bit jittery on rough roads. The 19-inch wheels on the RS model look cool, but they don’t help with the ride quality. For longer trips, we prefer the 17-inch wheels on the other trims.

Fuel Economy

With the base engine, the Trailblazer gets up to 30 mpg in city and highway driving (30 city/31 highway), which is better than average for the segment. Moving up to the turbo 3-cylinder with all-wheel drive, the mileage drops to 27 mpg in mixed driving, which is about average for competitors’ all-wheel-drive versions. If efficiency is your top priority, consider the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, which has standard all-wheel drive and is rated at up to 42 combined mpg.

We’re impressed with the Chevy Trailblazer’s interior space. For such a small SUV, it offers plentiful seating space in both rows with 39 generous inches of rear legroom. Measuring 25.3 cubic feet behind the back seats, it also has one of the biggest cargo holds in this class, adding to its practicality.

Yes, there’s a lot of black plastic in this interior, but it’s textured nicely, helping it avoid feeling cheap. It’s a functional interior with plenty of standard features like a digital gauge cluster, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and push-button start.

The cabin gets a bit more stylish in the two upper trims, which both have Evotex faux leather seating. The RS has a sportier feel with red accents and a flat-bottom steering wheel, while the outdoorsy Activ trim has what Chevy calls “Artemis” accents and “Activ” embroidery on the headrests. The two top trims also come with niceties like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power driver’s seat.

The Trailblazer’s exterior styling is one of its strengths. Its look changes a bit throughout the model range, with each trim having a slightly different front end and different wheel designs. The two top trims have an available contrast roof, further adding to the Trailblazer’s personality.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
The Trailblazer’s standard equipment list boasts an 11-inch touchscreen plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This makes it easy to bring your maps, music, and more to the screen in the car without taking your phone out of your purse or pocket. Hey, who can complain about not fussing with a phone cable?

Digital gauge cluster
Also standard in the 2025 Trailblazer is a customizable 8-inch digital gauge cluster. We find that it not only boosts the cabin’s visual appearance, but it’s capable of displaying more data.

Chevy Safety Assist
This standard safety tech suite bundles driver assistance features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, a following distance indicator, forward collision alert, and automatic high beams.

Available contrast roof
An optional two-tone contrast roof accentuates the boxy profile of the Trailblazer. It’s available on the RS and Activ trims with eye-catching paint colors like Copper Harbor and Cacti Green.

Rugged Activ trim
The Activ trim adds a rugged look to the Trailblazer, but it’s more than just an appearance package. It also adds more adventurous tires and a special off-road suspension system for added capability, especially with all-wheel drive. Many of the Trailblazer’s competitors don’t offer a dedicated off-road trim.

Sporty RS model
The stylish Trailblazer RS has black exterior trim, red interior accents, a unique mesh grille, dual-exit exhaust with chrome tips, and distinct 19-inch wheels to add a sporty aesthetic.

The Chevy Trailblazer offers a choice of two engines.

The entry-level (LS and LT grades) engine is a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine that generates 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. It is completely adequate for around-town driving but struggles a bit getting up to highway speeds. We don’t expect rip-roaring performance in this class, but many rivals of the Trailblazer have a stronger base engine at a similar price point.

If you want all-wheel drive, you must upgrade to the somewhat bigger 155-hp 1.3-liter 3-cylinder engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission that is standard on the RS and Activ grades.

Just to ensure we are all on the same page: All front-wheel-drive Trailblazers get a continuously variable transmission (CVT), regardless of the engine. Every all-wheel-drive version gets the bigger engine mated to the 9-speed automatic.

On paper, there isn’t a big difference between the two available engines. However, the 1.3-liter unit is the one we recommend if it works for your budget. The modest upgrade in power and torque combined with slightly better fuel economy make it an easy choice.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is typical among mainstream automakers. Additionally, you get complimentary maintenance on your first visit for service at the Chevy dealer.

Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Trailblazer its highest overall 5-Star safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Trailblazer its highest score of “Good” in all crashworthiness categories.