Our Opinion - 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer Review The 2026 Trailblazer comes well-equipped to succeed in the highly competitive subcompact SUV segment. It has room for five people, good gas mileage for its class, resembles its bigger siblings, and offers a lot of storage space behind the back seat. There are two three-cylinder engine choices, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, numerous tech features, and a variety of bright colors on the outside. The Volkswagen Taos and Subaru Crosstrek are the Trailblazer’s main rivals. However, the Chevrolet Trax SUV, which offers nearly the same space and features for a lot less money, is the Trailblazer’s biggest threat. The Trailblazer and the Trax both have a base 1.2-liter engine, but the Trax’s engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the six-speed automatic transmission found in the Trailblazer. All-wheel drive is not available on the Trax. The Trailblazer is a good choice, especially if you need more grip on wet roads. You will have to pay more for that small amount of extra space, though. What's New? The Trailblazer doesn’t undergo many visual changes for 2026, as it was last updated in 2024. The new White Sands and Apex Red finishes will replace the Crimson Metallic and Nitro Yellow Metallic paint jobs. To make up for it, they added a standard tire pump kit and let people choose whether to use the extra tire or not. Pros and Cons Pros Charming exterior design. Roomy cabin. Options that are compelling. Cons Acceleration of Pokey. Interior noise. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Trailblazer also features two turbocharged three-cylinder engines, similar to those found in the Encore GX. The standard 1.2-liter turbocharged engine produces 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque when matched with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The 9-speed automatic gearbox and turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine, which produces 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, make this engine easy to drive. Due to the difference in gearboxes, we believe the additional couple hundred dollars for the engine update is well worth it. The nine-speed makes driving smoother and quieter. Regardless of the engine, acceleration remains slow, which is typical for a car in this class. The Trailblazer feels more powerful around town at slower speeds than its acceleration test results suggest. However, you need to plan and be patient if you want to merge onto the highway or pass at high speeds. Just stay in the right lane and pack this Chevy full of people and lifestyle trash. Safety All Chevrolet Trailblazers come standard with basic technology to assist the driver, but more advanced options, such as adaptive cruise control, are also available. Most automatic emergency braking systems can detect pedestrians on the road. Standard features also include lane departure warning and lane-keeping assistance. You can get adaptive speed control. Space for both internal and external items. Internal and External Cargo Capacity If you get inside the Trailblazer, the driver will be sitting high, similar to a larger SUV. There is plenty of room for two people to relax in the back seat. Although the interior is mostly made of black plastic trim, it doesn’t look cheap. The addition of chrome and colored trim makes the higher-end models appear more expensive than you might think for the price. It’s easy to get everything you need in the Trailblazer, a compact SUV. You can fold down both the front passenger seat and the rear seat to create more space for cargo. Six pieces of carry-on bags fit behind the back seat during our tests. With the back seatbacks folded down, a total of 19 could fit. Fuel Economy and Actual MPG The front-wheel-drive Trailblazer’s 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine gets 30 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, according to the EPA. With the 1.3-liter engine and front-wheel drive, the total gas mileage goes up to 29 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive is only available on the larger engine, which results in a total gas mileage of 26 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. At 75 miles per hour, an all-wheel-drive Trailblazer RS got 26 mpg on our highway fuel economy route. Infotainment and Connectivity For the driver, there is an 8.0-inch digital set of gauges, and in the middle of the instrument panel is a big 11.0-inch touchscreen display. Part of the Adaptive Cruise and Sound Package is a Bose seven-speaker audio for the ACTIV and RS models. The base model comes with a six-speaker system. There is one normal USB-A and one USB-C port. A Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all standard features. Range, Charging, and Battery Life Neither power source speeds up very quickly. Despite being equipped with the more powerful 1.3-liter engine, the Trailblazer reached 60 mph in 8.7 seconds during our testing. Towing And Payload Capacity The Trailblazer can tow up to 1,000 pounds, though it’s not ideally suited for heavy towing tasks. Price and How to Choose The 2026 Chevrolet TrailBlazer’s costs can range from $24,395 to $28,995, depending on the trim and optional extras. We prefer the Trailblazer LT for its upgraded sound system, heated side mirrors, and tinted glass on the hatch and rear doors. With all-wheel drive, the Trailblazer looks much better. It comes equipped with a more robust 1.3-liter engine paired with a standard nine-speed automatic transmission. It also features adaptive cruise control, roof-mounted side rails, and the Convenience Package, which includes an automatic dimming rearview mirror, wireless smartphone charging, and automatic climate control.
