2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer

All-new last year, the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer rolls into its sophomore year with modest changes. If you’ve been away from car buying for a long time but the Trailblazer name sounds familiar, that’s because it first appeared on a much larger SUV in the 2000s. This new version is an appealing compact crossover that’s meant to do battle with the likes of the Jeep Compass, Kia Seltos and the new-for-2022 Volkswagen Taos.

All three of those crossovers are on the small end of the compact spectrum, but the trailblazer’s single biggest advantage is that it offers midsize-SUV-like passenger room within its 173.7-inch footprint. Both front and rear legroom is on par with larger machines like the Subaru Forester and even bests the Toyota RAV4. This big space doesn’t translate to acres of cargo room—though it is good for its segment—but it does make for a comfy small family hauler for folks on a budget.

Everything about the Trailblazer is geared for convenience, with an easy-to-use infotainment system that bundles in wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and plenty of available niceties like heated seats and a panoramic sunroof. There’s also a good helping of active-safety tech, though not quite as much is standard as at Kia or Honda, and the Trailblazer gets top marks from IIHS and NHTSA for active and passive safety systems. 

Though it drives pleasantly, with neutral handling and nimble steering, the Trailblazer’s tiny three-cylinder engines are a letdown. The base model 1.2-liter version just isn’t powerful enough, though the larger 1.3-liter unit, mandatory if you select all-wheel drive (AWD) or one of the higher trims, does much better. The Activ trim offers a skid plate, all-terrain tires and special shocks, but the Trailblazer’s firm suspension, long overhangs and basic AWD system (a $1,500 to $3,000 option depending on the trim) don’t make for a great dirt machine.

Because the engines aren’t all that powerful, some drivers may find themselves really pushing the pedal hard. The 1.3-liter Trailblazer has no trouble keeping up with traffic although power delivery from a standing start can be balky, but in two real-world tests by Forbes Wheels it underperformed on fuel economy by about 3 to 4 mpg. That puts it about even with competitors like the Mazda CX-30 and Ford Bronco Sport, both sprightlier performers but also much smaller inside.

Like the Mazda and the Bronco Sport, the Trailblazer offers distinctive styling that looks like a scaled-down version of its bigger brother, the Blazer. The cabin is a cut above past GM crossovers too, though the low roofline and sea of black or gray fabric can make the back seat feel dark. It doesn’t offer as long a warranty or as many features as Kia, and the top trims tiptoe into a pricepoint that puts it in competition with larger SUVs, but the Trailblazer offers plenty of value for commuters looking for a big back seat and hassle-free usability.

Performance: 8/15

Both of the Trailblazer’s available powerplants are turbocharged three-cylinder engines. LS and LT models get a 1.2-liter version making 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque that drives the front wheels. A 1.3-liter unit making 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque is optional on the LS and LT, and standard on Activ and RS models. 1.3s come standard with front-wheel drive, and when so equipped use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). AWD versions use a nine-speed automatic. 

The Trailblazer isn’t particularly heavy for its size and is actually lighter than the smaller Chevy Trax, but somehow these two engines feel underpowered in this vehicle. The larger 1.3 provides decent throttle response in traffic but from a standing stop, it can feel herky-jerky and slow on the uptake. The Trailblazer’s nimble, neutral handling always feels safe and planted but isn’t a particularly exciting vehicle to drive. The Activ model sprouts skid plates and underbody armor, and it does have 8 inches of ground clearance, but the Trailblazer’s suspension is too harsh and its AWD system too on-road biased to be of much use off-road.

Fuel Economy: 10/15

On paper, the Trailblazer’s EPA fuel economy ratings are about average for its class. 1.2-liter models return 29 mpg city, 31 highway and 30 combined. Front-wheel drive 1.3-liter models return 29 mpg city, 33 highway and 31 combined, while AWD 1.3’s get 26 mpg city, 30 highway and 28 mpg overall. But in the real world, most drivers will be pushing the gas pedal pretty hard.

In our evaluation, we saw an average of 25.2 mpg in combined urban and highway use. This puts the Trailblazer ahead of Ford’s Bronco Sport and even with Compass and Mazda CX-30, but behind rivals like the Seltos, Taos, and Honda HR-V.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 13/15

The 2022 Trailblazer earns a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Unlike some older models, Chevrolet also equips the crossover with a healthy suite of standard active-safety gear. Forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warnings, lane departure warnings with lane keep assist, automatic high beams and a following distance indicator are found on all Trailblazers.

Chevrolet makes rear cross-traffic alerts and blind spot monitoring available at a reasonable $345, and adaptive cruise control can be added for another $770 to LT but is part of a $1,620 technology package on Activ and RS models. Some of these features are included as standard equipment on rival models, but the Trailblazer isn’t off the pace in terms of its safety tech offerings.

Comfort & Room: 14/15

If the Trailblazer is an all-star in any one area, its passenger comfort. Upfront there’s plenty of room for tall drivers and the seats are comfortable and supportive, with as much legroom as the much larger Honda Pilot. Rear passengers are treated to appreciably roomier seats than other similarly-sized crossovers, with accommodations similar to machines that are one size larger. The Chevy boasts more rear legroom than all of its rivals and vehicles like the Toyota RAV4.

The low-slung roof, for a crossover, eats into headroom compared with some of its rivals, particularly with the optional panoramic sunroof, but the Trailblazer never feels cramped despite its petite exterior dimensions. The ride can be a little harsh over broken pavement, and particularly off-road, where the suspension’s firmness, good for handling on pavement, transmits too many vibrations to the passengers. 

Infotainment: 13/15

Chevrolet’s infotainment system is intuitive to use and even though the Trailblazer runs newer software, returning GM owners will recognize it immediately. Those who prefer to use their phone’s interfaces will find wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability standard in every model. The standard infotainment screen is a small-ish 7-inch unit, but an 8-inch screen is available on the higher trims. Happily, physical buttons and knobs remain for many essential functions and are easy to use while the vehicle is in motion.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

Curiously, the Trailblazer’s feeling of passenger roominess doesn’t translate to huge amounts of cargo space, but what’s there is used well. The Chevy boasts 25.3 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 54.4 with them folded. The front passenger seat can also fold to help store long items, but the added volume isn’t counted in the numbers. This is a little less than some rivals, but a lot more than only marginally smaller entries like the Nissan Kicks.

For a family of four, the cargo area won’t be disappointing and Chevrolet also offers dealer-installed cross-rails for the roof rack. We used our Trailblazer to haul several hundred pounds of old car parts and found the load area capacious and easy to use. A towing package is available too, but the tiny Chevy has only a 1,000-pound tow rating, limiting it to small two-wheeled utility trailers.

Style & Design: 8/10

Style may not be the primary motivating factor for most crossover shoppers, but looking good never hurts and the Trailblazer’s lines are natty indeed. The squinting running lights, muscular haunches and pretty wheel designs give the little crossover plenty of character, and the blackout trim around the roof gives it the illusion of a much more aggressive roofline than it actually has. Two-tone schemes and vibrant color choices are welcome additions too, and only the Kia Seltos looks faintly similar in this class. 

Inside, the Trailblazer’s cabin isn’t as adventurous as the exterior, or the confines of the Seltos or Taos, but it’s still well-executed. There are some cheap plastics in evidence, but the Trailblazer’s interior is a cut above many older Chevrolet offerings, including the Trax.

Is the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer Worth it? Which Trailblazer is the Best Value? 

Although it starts at a very tempting $22,995 (including a $1,195 destination fee), the base model LS doesn’t offer the optional safety extras and even requires ponying up for basic (not adaptive) cruise control. The Activ and RS cost more, but with some desirable extras they can quickly add up to more than $30,000. That leaves the LT as the best buy of the lot.

The front-drive LT rings in at $25,195, and can roll off the lot for less than $27,000 with some nice options added, particularly its two available safety-gear packages, which bring adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts. AWD will bump this up by $2,000, but that still puts the Trailblazer in line with the best value in the Seltos line, the EX, and below the price of the Taos SE.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Chevrolet Trailblazer?

The Trailblazer isn’t an expensive car to insure. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,782, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1,678 for the RAV4, $1,818 for the Hyundai Kona, $1,707 for the CX-30 and $1,770 for the Seltos. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.