Chevy has a problem in their lineup, which is somewhat surprising because they’ve mostly fine-tuned their selection of vehicles to offer something for just about everyone. They have models in the majority of popular classes right now, including a midsize truck, several full-size trucks, and an abundance of SUVs in all shapes and sizes. That said, the problem is that they arguably have one too many SUVs on the low end, as evidenced by the fact that far fewer people are looking for a Chevy Trailblazer for sale this year than last. The Trailblazer has no real identity in Chevy’s lineup, and the result is that it’s not that interesting or distinct, blending in and being overlooked in favor of other options. I think Chevy can save the Trailblazer, however, with a single action: reinvent it as a dedicated off-road model along the lines of the Ford Bronco Sport or Subaru’s Crosstrek Wilderness trim, giving it an identity and new appeal in Chevy’s lineup.
Does the Chevy Trailblazer Need Saving?
Before we go any further, it’s probably a good idea to figure out if the entire premise that we’re operating under is even appropriate. That is to say, does the Trailblazer need to be saved? Well, for one thing, it lacks any real identity in Chevy’s lineup, and that’s because it’s one of two subcompact SUVs currently available. The Trailblazer and Trax basically take the same spot and ultimately compete with each other. However, the Trax has numerous advantages: namely, that it starts at a lower price, making it the clear entry-level option in a Chevy dealer’s inventory.
It’s easy for me to say this, but the sales numbers right now for these models also back me up and show what people are actually doing. Last year, Chevy sold almost 62,000 Trailblazer models in the first half of the year; right now, Chevy has sold just over 52,000 Trailblazers in the first half of 2024. By comparison, Chevy sold just over 27,000 Trax models in the first six months of 2023. They’ve sold over 90,000 Trax models in the first half of this year. That’s an insane increase of 230% for the first six months of sales, and it shows that drivers are attracted to what the Trax offers, while disinterested in the Trailblazer.
So that brings me to my point and the title of this whole piece: the Trailblazer needs to either be saved, or it’s probably on the chopping block and set to be discontinued. I like the Trailblazer name, and I think there’s room for it in Chevy’s lineup if they do something pretty drastic with it. Also, I think the name gives us the perfect solution to this problem: “Trailblazer” sounds like something that is built for adventure, something that can go where no person or vehicle ever has before. It should be an off-road model and not just have some off-road-adjacent ACTIV trim level, like it does right now, but go all-in with an off-road design that only Chevy can deliver. So, what would that look like if I was in charge over there?
Step One: Fully Redesign the Trailblazer for a New Generation
This is the obvious first step, and it’s what needs to happen for the Trailblazer to have any hope of survival, no matter what Chevy decides to do with it. The Trailblazer either needs a full redesign and some new life or to just be put out of its misery—we’ll assume Chevy likes the former rather than the latter. This needs to be absolutely comprehensive; go back to the drawing board with this thing and forget everything you know about what the Trailblazer is. It could even grow a bit and become a compact option rather than a subcompact if that’s a better fit for a new purpose—the point is that it needs a fresh start.
If you’re thinking, the Trailblazer is currently in its first generation since it was introduced for the 2021 model year. Chevy gave it a refresh for the 2024 model, including a facelift with a new front fascia and bumpers, new exterior colors, and an improved interior with a larger Infotainment display and digital instrument cluster. That’s all well and good, but it’s clearly not enough based on the sales numbers we just looked at. It needs a full redesign that reinvents it more than anything else; maybe even take a model year off to let people miss it, then bring it back new and improved.
Step Two: Give the Trailblazer an Off-Road Focus
The ultimate solution, as far as I’m concerned, is to make the theoretical all-new Trailblazer a dedicated off-road SUV. I’m not just talking about one off-road trim; no, make this Chevy’s answer to the Ford Bronco Sport (or even the Bronco). This thing should be an off-road beast across every trim level, with standard all-wheel drive and great features designed to leave paved streets behind. That would give the Trailblazer a real identity in Chevy’s lineup, which already works with its name, and provide something they don’t currently offer.
What’s more, Chevy already knows how to make impressive off-road vehicles; just look at what’s available with other models like the Colorado and Silverado 1500 with their ZR2 trim levels. That’s what I’m talking about for the Trailblazer, and they could do it flawlessly. Give it a good off-road suspension and large wheels with impressive ground clearance even on the starting model; make this the new definitive SUV for off-road and outdoor enthusiasts. Chevy already knows how to do it; they just need to apply this focus and engineering to the Trailblazer to create something a lot of drivers would want.
Step Three: Make the Trim Levels About Style and Features
Once you’ve got the foundation of the Trailblazer as an off-road machine, then Chevy just has to do a bit of fine-tuning to finish things up. Personally, I’d do three trim levels to keep things simple and have pretty comparable features on the first two, maybe even the same price point. Make the differences between them about styling and aesthetics rather than functionality or capability so that people can choose which model they like the looks of while still getting solid off-road performance. You can already see something like this from Chevy with the 2RS and ACTIV models of the Trax, which are largely differentiated by styling.
Then, have a third, high-level trim that uses the ZR2 badge and delivers next-level off-road performance. This would be the one with Multimatic DSSV shocks, an off-road suspension, maybe greater ground clearance, and a few other advanced features. The Trailblazer ZR2 would be the one worth all the bragging points, giving Chevy big specs and capability to show off, even though most of us would be more than happy with the performance of the standard model. But this way, they can aim for numbers to surpass what the Ford Bronco Sport and other models can do—and isn’t that always the goal with car design?
Will Chevy Do Something Like This?
Honestly, I have no idea; I don’t work at Chevrolet, nor have I conjured up ancient and mystical powers from the underworld to look ahead into the future. This is just what I would do to give this SUV a new lease on life while also closing a hole that currently exists in the Chevy lineup. You can see Chevy working on developing more off-road-focused SUVs with things like the new Z71 trim for the Traverse, but it’s not the same as having a model that’s specifically meant to be an adventurous, enthusiast machine like the Bronco and Bronco Sport (not to mention the Jeep Wrangler). Chevy already knows how to make off-road monsters, and both the Z71 and ZR2 badges indicate this—you even have the Trail Boss models for the Silverado—so it’s time they lean into it and develop something new with that in mind. Why not make it the Trailblazer?
