2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer: Small Size, Big Impact

So as the subcompact crossover class has expanded, brands have raced to enter the segment. And Chevy is one of those brands with not only one but two offerings in this segment. And in today’s article, I'm going to be reviewing the refreshed 2024 Chevy Trailblazer. 

So as one of their brand's most affordable models, is this Trailblazer the best pick in the subcompact crossover segment? Let's go ahead and find out.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing this 2024 refresh Trailblazer, we're starting at $24,395 for the base model. As we move up the trim structure, of course, it gets more expensive. The Activ is going to start at $28,395, and the RS is going to be the same price. You just kind of pick what flavor of the Trailblazer you like better.

Now, the one I’m reviewing today is the Activ model, which has all the options plus all-wheel drive. This brings the price up to $34,570, which I think is a pretty fair price, but it is pushing the upper limit for this segment. 

As far as warranty is concerned, the 2024 Trailblazer gets a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Also, Chevy does include the first maintenance visit as complimentary.

Different Looks For Different Trims

Now, just like with any refresh, you're going to see some slight updates to the overall look of the front end. But thankfully, Chevy didn't mess with it a ton, because I've always thought this Trailblazer was a pretty handsome vehicle.

In terms of the different trims, each one's going to have its own unique styling characteristics.

As I mentioned before, the one I'm reviewing is the Activ trim, which is going to have some smoked chrome running across the center of the grille, a black bow tie emblem, and then a black mesh with more of the little smoke chrome accents running throughout.

If you get the RS trim level, it's going to have a little bit of a sportier look to it.

Now the headlights have also been updated for 2024. Thankfully, Chevy is now including LED headlights as standard equipment on all trim levels.

If you choose at least the LT trim level, though, you'll get the premium projector LED headlights. You also have the separate LED turn signal indicator and daytime running light up top. 

The rear design of the Trailblazer continues to have mostly the same handsome design language, but there are a couple details that have changed for 2024. The main detail that helps with the overall handsome look is the tail light.

The Trailblazer does have an LED brake, a light LED turn signal indicator, and we also have LED accenting. However, the reverse light is going to be incandescent. So two out of three elements are LED for this new tail light design for 2024. I do like the way it looks.

It is worth noting that the LED tail lights come on Activ and RS trims only. If you go for the lower-end models, they will make more of the elements incandescent. The rear bumper does have a unique finish for this Activ trim level. It's kind of a copper-looking chrome, and then we also have integrated trapezoidal exhaust outlets, which I really like. 

The wheels have also been updated for 2024. All trim levels besides the RS will come with 17-inch alloy wheels, including this Activ trim level. The wheels on the Activ trim have a nice contrast finish. You also have a kind of thicker-looking tire on board.

Chevy did say that for the Activ trim, they did slightly tune the suspension a little bit differently for a little bit more of an off-road tune. Although this is not a rugged vehicle by any stretch of the imagination. Besides that, the RS's wheels have been upgraded to 19 inches for 2024, which is 1 inch larger than last year. 

You do get two new colors with the 2024 model year: Cacti Green and Copper Harbor. The one I'm reviewing has the Cacti Green finish, and in person, I actually kind of like it.

It's a pretty nice shade, especially when you pair it with the active trim, which is going to give you white accents.

The overall length of the Trailblazer is 173.5 inches. If you're curious as to how that actually fits in with the Chevy Trax, which is within Chevy's own lineup, the Chevy track is going to be a little bit longer than this vehicle but a little bit lower.

The Trailblazer is going to have that more boxy traditional SUV shape, for those of you wondering.

Now, as far as some of the design elements that I have on Trailblazer Activ, there are some really cool design elements. As I mentioned a little bit earlier, it does actually have a two-tone roof option. 

You get a white roof with the Activ trim level. If you want a black roof, you can get that on the RS trim level. So you have two different roof color options, which is pretty rare for this segment of vehicle. I really like that Chevy is spicing up the design that way.

Interior Of The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer

One thing you’ll probably notice right away with the interior of the 2024 Trailblazer is that there are some big tech improvements, as promised. I will be talking about them soon.

Before that, I want to talk about the material choices. So if you choose the Activ or the RS trim levels, those are going to upgrade you from the standard cloth seats to the leatherette seats. Depending on which trim you get, that will change the accenting.

The Activ trim has yellow accenting, along with some cloth inserts on the side. It's a very stylish two-tone look. With the RS trim, you get red accenting, which looks pretty. As for the seats themselves, there's going to be a 10-way power adjustment on all but the base model.

When it comes to the rest of the cabin materials, the door panel has a slightly padded kind of plastic material on the armrest. The center section is going to be finished in that cloth from the seat with the yellow stitching. 

The top part of the door panel will be hard-touch plastic, with a little bit of accent just below it. The upper part of the dash is going to be hard to touch as well.

The lower part of the dashboard is going to be finished in leatherette, again with the stitching detail running throughout.

Top models will have a nice leather-wrapped steering wheel. It will actually be flat-bottomed if you choose the RS trim level. The wheel itself is manual tilt and telescoping, and we also have steering wheel heating, which is an available option on RS and Activ trims. 

In terms of storage, the center console is quite narrow, but it goes down a good distance. Right ahead of that, you have another nice and large storage cubby, your two cup holders, and then you have a large spot, which was used as a wireless phone charging pad on your top trims. 

Next up is climate control, which is a single-zone automatic climate setup. nice and easy to adjust because we also have big knobs in this area. If you opt for the Activ or RS trim levels, you also get three-stage heated seats. 

Big Upgrades

The first big tech upgrade for 2024 is the 8-inch digital gauge cluster that's now going to be included as standard on every single model, replacing the previous analog setup. It’s a nice, large, high-resolution screen, and that's pretty impressive for a vehicle in this segment.

As for the infotainment screen, previously you had 7 and 8-in displays offered. But now Chevy has replaced them all with an 11-inch display. That is, honestly, a huge display for a vehicle in this segment. 

And not only is the size very nice, but it also has good performance as you go through some of the pages. You have wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay as well, so you'll always be able to connect to your navigation and see the things on your phone.

The backup camera has been upgraded to 2024. So this is actually going to be an HD-resolution screen now on all of the models. even the base one.

We do have an active trajectory, and if you want parking sensors, you can get those. Those are going to be packaged with blind spot monitoring on all trim levels. 

In terms of the sound system, you’re going to have four and six speaker sound systems to choose from, as well as an upgraded Bose sound system to select. The model I reviewed had the Bose sound system, and it sounds great for a vehicle of this price.

Spacious Rear Seats

The rear seats of the 2024 Trailblazer are a very impressive part of this vehicle. Typically, for a small subcompact SUV like this, space is a weak point, but not really with the Trailblazer, which has 39.4 inches of legroom and 38.4 inches of headroom.

That really makes this one of the largest options in the entire segment. It's even larger than the Kia Seltos. So really a good amount of space. It's larger than the Trax as well.

The seats are relatively comfortable overall. They do not recline, though, so keep that in mind, and they're not going to be heated in any version. 

As far as features are concerned, we don’t have rear vents, unfortunately. However, we do have a little storage cubby. We also have a household-style outlet. That's also a very rare feature to have in this segment. Besides that, we have two USB ports as well: a USB-C and a USB-A.

Unique Cargo Space

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer does come with a hands-free power tailgate as an option. but it's honestly very rare to even have that as an available feature in this segment. 

Now, as far as the cargo area is concerned, we're going to have a lot of space. about 25 cubic feet behind the second row seats, and if we fold the rear seats down, it's going to be about 54 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity.

As far as how that compares to the rivals, that is going to be one of the largest offerings in the segment. and it is right in line with what you're going to get in the Chevy Trax. Now I do want to point out a few different features in this cargo area because there are some innovative ones.

So if we lift up the cargo floor, we do have a spare tire underneath. We also have a little storage on the sides, but that's not what's cool.

Cool Cargo Space Feature

What’s cool about the Trailblazer is that you can fold down the front passenger seat completely flat. So that means that you can fit objects up to 8 and 1/2 feet long in this Trailblazer. So I don't know if you're hauling lumber in the Trailblazer, but you will be able to fit it in, surprisingly.

I really like that feature. It's pretty innovative, and I have not seen that on very many of this vehicle's rivals, that's for sure.

Adequate Amount Of Power For This Segment

There's a couple different engines that you can get with this Trailblazer. It's either a 1.2-liter or a 1.3-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder engine, and depending on which one you choose, it's going to make a pretty decent difference in terms of power. 

The one I'm reviewing comes with a 1.3-liter engine that produces 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. Those are healthy numbers for this segment.

Most vehicles in this segment range, you know, from extremely slow to just regular slow, but this is pretty good. Especially the torque figure. You can definitely feel that that kind of pushes you back in your seat as you get off the line. 174 lb-ft of torque is one of the healthiest in the segment.

I definitely appreciate that every time I get behind the wheel of this three-cylinder, you hear it on paper and you're like, hmm, that sounds like it's going to be awfully slow. But when you get behind the wheel, I think everyone is really impressed with it. 

I have had some people in this while reviewing it, and they're like, Okay, that's actually not a bad powertrain, that's for sure. I think you're going to be impressed with the overall power setup that you're going to get, especially if you choose the 1.3-liter.

If you choose the 1.2-liter, you will have 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Really, not a huge difference between the 1.2 and the 1.3-liter, but the 1.2 will be standard on the LS and LT trim levels. If you choose the higher-end trim levels, like the Activ and RS, you'll get the 1.3. 

9-speed Auto Better Than The CVT

Now there's some more differences with your powertrain as well, because you also have two different transmissions. So when you have an all-wheel-drive-equipped model, you're going to get a 9-speed automatic transmission.

That's what I have in the model I’m reviewing, and this transmission is pretty good. It's nice and responsive. As soon as you put your foot down, it gives you more power.

I haven't had any problems with this transmission during my time with the Trailblazer. It's certainly been a nice, smooth partner to this, and I think for a lot of you guys, it will be a good upgrade over the continuously variable transmission that's in the standard engine. 

I also think this engine has a decent noise to it. It doesn't really sound as strained as you might think a three-cylinder would, that's for sure.

In terms of ride quality, the 2024 Trailblazer does have really good ride quality. Honestly, I've been very impressed with it. The seats are very comfortable. It does a good job of soaking up the bumps. 

Now, one thing worth noting is that if you choose the RS, you will have larger wheels than what I have on the Activ trim. I imagine that might have slightly worse ride quality, but overall, I think the ride is very good in this Trailblazer. 

In terms of fuel economy, if you opt for a 2024 Trailblazer with AWD and a 1.3-liter engine, you’ll get a fuel rating of 26, 29, and 27 mpg in city, highway, and combined, respectively. Now you can also get better fuel economy if you choose a 1.2 or 1.3-liter with front-wheel drive. It's either 30 or 31 MPG.

Real World Economy Is Impressive

Now, as far as my real-world fuel economy is concerned, I've been driving this vehicle for the past 7 days, mostly city driving. During this time, I have gotten an average fuel economy of 30.1 miles per gallon, which I think is very impressive.

This is a very efficient powertrain, as I've come to find out. So I think you're going to be very impressed with the real-world performance of this powertrain's fuel economy. 

Overall, after being behind the wheel, the driving dynamics of this Trailblazer are pretty good. The body control is pretty nice.

I also really appreciate that the steering doesn't have a big dead spot right in the center like a lot of the rivals. When you turn off the center, you get an immediate response because this is a pretty fast-responding steering setup.

Safety

As far as your safety systems are concerned, I like what Chevy is doing. Both the FWD and AWD versions of the 2024 Trailblazer have a 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA.

Chevy is including three out of your four active safety features as standard equipment on every single Trailblazer model. These include a forward emergency braking system, auto-high beams, and lane-keeping assist. Additionally, if you go for an LT trim or above, you will have the option of adding adaptive cruise control.

Highlight And Lowlight

The main thing I like about the 2024 Chevy Trailblazer are the 2024 improvements. I think they added some things that you really wouldn't even expect to have in the subcompact segment and at this price point. specifically in terms of technology being standard on all trim levels and also having the availability of some premium features. 

And when it comes to the one thing that I didn’t like about the 2024 Trailblazer, it was the price. The Activ model I’m reviewing costs around $35,000 when fully loaded up.

While that is, you know, not uncommonly expensive in the segment, it is, you know, one of the top-end options.

The thing that we don't quite understand is that the Trax is a lot less expensive. If you get a fully loaded-up Trax, you're sitting well under the $30,000 price point. So when you compare this Trailblazer to a Trax, it's going to be quite a bit different than you would think, about $5,000 or more equivalently optioned up. 

Now granted, you cannot get all-wheel drive with the Trax, so that's something worth noting, and of course you do have a little bit of a different engine set up. But overall, I think a lot of the elements are very similar. So for those of you who are wanting an even better deal, I might suggest looking at the Trax instead.