General Motors reveal features of facelift Chevrolet Trailblazer

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Chevrolet Trailblazer Review by Expert

American car maker General Motors has decided to have some real action this year. One of the most significant additions to the portfolio this year will be the Chevrolet Trailblazer which is a powerful SUV even more powerful than the current Chevrolet Captiva.

Initially the Chevrolet Trailblazer was a high trim line of Blazer SUV but later in 2002 it was launched as a separate model. Trailblazer SUV by Chevrolet was first launched in the year 1999. In due course of time Trailblazer has entered the second generation. The 2012 Trailblazer concept was unveiled at the Dubai Motor show in 2011 and the SUV’s production version was released by Chevrolet at the Bangkok Motor Show on March 21.  

The Trailblazer SUV draws close similarity to Chevrolet Colorado and is sometimes termed as the covered version of the later. The present generation of the new Chevrolet SUV will be produced in Thailand from where it may move to Brazil and other parts of the world.  

In order to expand its SUV portfolio in India, Chevrolet is thinking seriously on launching this SUV in the country. It is expected to be launched in India by the year end. The Trailblazer is expected to carry a price tag of Rs 19 lakh which is less than Chevrolet Captiva which is priced at Rs 21 lakh.  Besides being cheaper than Captiva, the Trailblazer is also much more powerful and will be coming in India as CBU initially. The Trailblazer is expected to have a 180 bhp diesel engine which is more than the 150 bhp engine in Captiva. In addition to this, the earlier also has more peak power of 470 Nm compared to mere 320 Nm in Captiva. A smaller engine in the 2.5 Litre configuration could also make it.  

Apart from this the new Chevrolet SUV heading for India will have a comfortable seating for seven people and it needs a special mention that there is enough headroom for the last row as well which is generally compromised in most of the SUVs.  

Why car buyers will be attracted to this SUV will be its power, plus its seating capacity for seven people with enough headroom at the third row. Besides this an attractive price of Rs 19 lakh will be driving many towards the SUV. Also, the SUV segment is fast catching up with significant growth in the sale of SUVs in India. The Trailblazer though has to face a little trouble due to the already established SUVs such as Toyota Fortuner and Ford Endeavour.  

Chevrolet Trailblazer Mileage and Fuel Efficiency

It is though unfair to demand mileage from SUVs such as the Trailblazer but still for a country obsessed with mileage, Chevrolet will certainly tweak with the engine and will make it return decent mileage. As per the recent information, this SUV will have a 2.8 L, 2.5 L diesel engine options powering it and if the pot size goes above 2.5 litres, the experts say that it comes in the category of a fuel guzzler. However, as per initial information the Chevrolet Trailblazer is expected to return a mileage of around 8 kmpl in the city and 12 kmpl on the highways.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Models and Features

Chevrolet Trailblazer Engine, Power and Performance

As per the available information, the Trailblazer is expected to have two engine options. Both the options will be in diesel. The top of the line will be the common-rail diesel 2.8 L engine which will churn our 180 bhp power and a peak torque of 470 Nm at decent rpms. The other option will be a 2.5 litre one which will be outputting 150 bhp and a maximum torque of 350 Nm. Both the engines have been tuned to produce enough power for the SUV.

The engine options will be mated to a six speed automatic gearbox that is expected to translate every fragment of power to the wheels. Chevrolet Trailblazer will be available in the two wheel or all wheel drive options. The significant improvement in performance of the car will be made possible with the installation of an electronic shift-control and electro-hydraulic control system will also be available in this model.

Performance is not an issue when you have 180 bhp power at hand and a six speed transmission to make it perfectly to the wheels. In addition to this there will be ABS and EBD along with hill descent control and electronic stability program to make on roading and off roading more than easy. For Trailblazer, it would be like press the pedal and it will overcome any terrain. Adding fun to the drive is the robust body framework that can withstand the more severe of terrains and makes it a cakewalk.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Pick Up and Acceleration

If you talk of the time when Chevrolet Trailblazer was available in the LT and SS models then acceleration figures reached to 9.56 seconds. However, the second generation of the car has a downsized engine and so the pickup is surely to be quite low. The present 2.8 L and 2.5 litre diesel powered Trailblazer is expected to have a decent pick up. The exact Trailblazer pick up figure is unknown currently.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Interiors and Features

The design philosophy of a mightier machine continues on the inside as well. If not miles, there are certainly acres of space inside. The seats are arranged in the normal 2+3+2 ratio and the most striking feature is that the third row seat is also fully functional and even two six footers can find a seat at ease.

The Chevrolet class of interior designing has also its significant inside the Trailblazer as well. The instrument panel has a flow design and the centre stack is integrated into it. The SUV interior has been designed to be functional for both the driver and the co passenger and thus there is a dual cockpit design that pervades at the front.

As per the initial information about the Chevrolet Trailblazer interiors need no manual to understand the controls such as the way to configure and adjust the seats. Most significant part in the interiors that is expected to make this SUV different from others is the presence of a comfortable third row where people can actually sit and enjoy long journeys just as the first and second row passengers do.

The second row seating will be 60-40 split type so as to ease entry and exit of the third row passengers. With the second and third row seats folded there is a real storage space for real carriage. When there are seven people sitting inside the SUV, there needs to be a sincere entertainment that is taken care of by a music system that is equipped with Aux, Bluetooth and USB connectivity to make sure that every occupant has his favorite number playing all the way through.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Exterior and Features

The Chevrolet exteriors got its big sized appearance due to the design miracle by General Motor’s Brazil based South America Design Centre. The exterior appearance of Trailblazer closely resembles with the pickup truck Chevrolet Colorado. In addition to it Chevrolet has imbibed in it its global design philosophy in toto.

Where the Colorado is a two door pickup truck, the Trailblazer has five doors and seems more like a covered Colorado. But the cover has been efficiently done as the roofline has been stretched a bit to keep headroom at the last row seating. Thus the Chevrolet Trailblazer has a longer roofline than the normal SUVs. The overall appearance of this SUV is more like a raised big car. At the front there are high mounted headlamps that have projector type lamps in them to enable the SUV to have better road visibility. The horizontal slab that houses the Chevrolet badge at the centre divides the front grille into two parts. The lower part is more prominent and U shaped. The grille has a three dimensional shape.

The exteriors also mark a wise use of polished aluminum decorations along with a belt line and most prominently the roof rack that synchronizes the overall appearance of the SUV.

The Trailblazer design philosophy is based on the principles that the power within should reflect on the outside as well while making it a decent city car as well. Thus muscular design proportions are found on the fenders and the bonnet. But that does not hinder its sophisticated appearance and it cannot be called the monstrous SUV only because of its dimensions. The looks seem as if the SUV is about to take on the terrain before it and this is what might attract the customers towards. And sensing the powerful motor under the hood, the assumption given by the exteriors that it is a power packed machine is set right by the engine. The Trailblazer is expected to be available in a wide range of all metallic colors.

Safety Features in Chevrolet Trailblazer

If it is powerful, if it is big sized and if it is carrying seven people all together it should have a lot of safety gizmos all around. Six airbags to make sure that nor the front or side collision can harm any of the occupant. Besides there is Anti-lock braking system and Electronic Brakeforce distribution to take care of panic braking. There is also a lot of other safety features expected on the Chevrolet Trailblazer. 

Chevrolet Trailblazer Driving and Handling

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is meant to be put to off roading and the American car maker has equipped it well to take every terrain well. The robust body-on-frame make of the Trailblazer imbibes some of the sturdiest SUV traits in the SUV. The rear suspension is a five link independent type thus making sure that even the deepest of the up and downs are taken care of well. Notably, such a suspension is found on premium SUVs. Chevrolet has developed Trailblazer to make it not only a robust SUV but a city car as well and the handling dynamics is evidence of the same.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Accessories

The Chevrolet Trailblazer will be available with a variety of accessories to step up its sporty image. There will be 17 inch, 18 inch, 19 inch and 20 inch wheel options. In addition to this the dealer installed accessories could include all weather floor mats, rear air deflector, chrome tubular side steps, molded hood projector, cargo organizer, head restraint DVD system and a variety of other accessories on demand. 

Chevrolet Trailblazer Conclusion

Those who wish to have 180 bhp Chevy at hand can go for this car which is expected to be priced at Rs 19 lakh. Compared to the Captiva, the Chevrolet Trailblazer is more powerful, up market and has a variety of features that makes it a worth buy. However, the wait for this SUV will be over by this year end.