Although initially designed for the Chinese market, the Trailblazer quickly became one of the most popular subcompact crossovers in North America. The company revived the legendary nameplate and despite the completely different design, the new model was accepted well, mainly because of the fact that it offers more practicality and functionality than most rivals. It’s been in North America since 2020 and the 2023 Chevy Trailblazer will represent the third production year. That seems too early for bigger updates, so we are pretty sure that the next year’s model will bring no more than minor tweaks.
All in all, you may count on a small crossover that comes with a couple of pretty strong points, starting from the surprisingly spacious cabin, considering the segment. The cargo area is also pretty impressive in this aspect, while we also like the intuitive infotainment system. On the other hand, the biggest complaints go to uninspiring powertrain options, subpar interior quality and similar things.
As there are no significant changes to come, we expect that the 2023 Chevy Trailblazer will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Chevy Trailblazer Design
Design-wise, the new Trailblazer is nothing like the legendary SUV from several decades ago. Instead of a rugged body-on-frame layout, the new generation is rather a small crossover, which offers a good balance between maneuverability and functionality. This model rides on the company’s new VSS-F platform and features an FF layout, though all-wheel drive is available. Of course, the modern Trailblazer is much more about comfort and on-road ride, though we have to say that most rivals feel better in this aspect.
When it comes to styling, you may count on Chevy’s contemporary design language, with a lot of Camaro-inspired styling details. The car looks attractive and we don’t expect that the company will bring bigger changes in the near future.
Interior
The inside of this crossover is a kind of a mixed bag and from what we know so far, we won’t be seeing bigger changes in the near future. The 2023 Chevy Trailblazer is about to bring a familiar layout, which offers a nice-looking cabin, though a subpar overall quality. Simply, most of the cabin features low-rent materials, while the build quality isn’t particularly impressive either.
On the other hand, where this crossover is impressive is the amount of space. This is one of the rare subcompact crossovers that accommodate adults in the second row in such a nice fashion. The front seats are also very generous with space, though we would like a little bit more support.
The cargo area is also pretty impressive. It offers around 25.3 cubic feet of space with its rear seats upright and 54.4 cubic feet.
Features
This aspect usually brings novelties for every model year, so the 2023 Chevy Trailblazer shouldn’t be any different. Still, we are pretty sure that most of the things are about to remain the same and that the list of standard equipment won’t change much. It should include goodies like keyless entry, a 7-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the other hand, the list of options should include goodies like an 8-inch touch screen, additional USB ports, a seven-speaker Bose audio system, HD Radio, wireless device charging, a panoramic sunroof, and automatic climate control, push-button start, and remote start.
The same thing is with safety features. So, we expect that the list of standard equipment will include goodies like a rearview camera, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning etc. The list of optional features should include goodies like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear parking sensors etc.
2023 Chevy Trailblazer Engines
Things under the hood definitely won’t change. Base models will continue with a 1.2-liter turbo three-cylinder engine that puts out around 137 horsepower. It won’t impress you with driving dynamics but a good thing to know is that there is a slightly more powerful 1.3-liter engine, which puts out 155 horsepower.
None of these engines offer strong performance. However, there is some big difference. While the base engine comes in pair with a CVT, the optional unit comes coupled with a 9-speed automatic transmission, which has a much better impact on the overall experience.
When it comes to fuel economy, the base engine is good for about 29 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. On the other hand, the more powerful engine also offers better fuel economy. It is good for about 29 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.
2023 Chevy Trailblazer Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 Chevy Trailblazer will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year, with a starting price of around 22.000 dollars. Key competitors should be models like Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, Honda HR-V etc.