When it comes to choosing a new car, size definitely matters. If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly crossover that still has room for your friends, consider the 2021 Chevy Trax vs 2021 Chevy Trailblazer. These two affordable subcompact options deliver on more than just price. Safety, comfort, and performance are all woven in, giving buyers a tough decision to face.
The subcompact crossover category is literally loaded with choices. Navigating through each one requires ninja-level patience and a lot of time. We’ll save you a few steps by comparing the Trax and the Trailblazer, two of the most popular and distinctive choices in a sea of vanilla sameness. Chevy distinguishes one from the other with unique styling and features, giving buyers a wide range of options.
The Trax and the Trailblazer feature the same Chevrolet bowtie logo prominently displayed on the grille, but that’s where the similarities end. These are two very different vehicles designed for different buyers. At first glance, the differences may seem small, but Chevy strategically designed its crossover/SUV lineup to truly offer an option for every buyer.
What do we like about these two practical subcompact contenders? Affordability, range of options, and fuel efficiency are the headlines. Read on to learn more about the 2021 Trax and the 2021 Trailblazer.
2021 Chevy Trax Overview
The Trax offers city driving simplicity, with an easy-to-park and easy-to-maneuver size and available all-wheel drive for buyers that need a little extra traction in bad weather. It’s cute and efficient, offering great bang for the buck. Trax owners love its fuel efficiency and peppy 155 horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged engine.
Available in two trims – the LS and LT – as well as an optional Midnight Edition or a Sport Edition, the Trax comes in plenty of different configurations, good news for buyers interested in specific features or equipment. With a starting price of just over $20,000, the Trax is all about affordability, but don’t let the low price fool you. It’s filled with plenty of tech, safety, and comfort features.
The LS features 16-inch wheels, standard front and rear intermittent wipers, 10 airbags, a 6-speaker audio system and available 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat, and a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen. Power windows and door locks are included, as well as a rear vision camera and remote keyless entry. For a few thousand more, the LT adds an available keyless start, optional 18-inch wheels, heated power outside mirrors, tinted glass, and LED daytime running lamps and taillights. On the interior, you’ll get a 120-volt power outlet, an available 6-way power driver’s seat, cruise control, and upgraded leatherette/cloth seat trim. Add the available Driver Confidence Package, and you’ll get a handful of driver-assist safety systems, including Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Park Assist.
2021 Chevy Trailblazer Overview
The Trailblazer pushes the style envelope a little further, with features like a two-tone roof and eye-catching sculpted exterior lines that set it apart from other crossovers in its category. It offers a little more room than the Trax, which translates into a spacious cabin and plenty of cargo capacity. The Trailblazer is all-new for 2021, reviving a classic Chevy nameplate in an affordable subcompact body style.
The Trailblazer has an equally affordable price tag, at just a hair under $20,000. With 54.4 cubic feet of cargo space and comfortable seating for 5, the Trailblazer is an affordable option for busy families. Available in five trims – the L, LS, LT, Active, and RS – the expansive Trailblazer lineup offers plenty of comfort and convenience upgrades.
The base L is specifically designed for entry-level, budget-minded buyers. While you won’t get a lot of bells and whistles with this efficient trim, you will get a brand new vehicle that’s covered under the factory warranty. A 7-inch infotainment touchscreen is also included, and it’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Chevy also includes several standard driver-assist features.
At the high end of the trim range sits the Activ and the RS. Priced comparably, these two trims differ only in the smallest ways. The Activ boasts an upgraded 1.3-liter EcoTec Turbo engine, along with a dual exhaust with unique trapezoid-shaped tips and special sport terrain tires. The RS offers the same upgraded engine, but its dual exhaust is accented with round tips, and Chevy adds special 18-inch high gloss black wheels.
On the interior, the Activ and RS trims offer an optional 8-inch touchscreen when buyers select the Technology Package. The package also includes an upgraded Bose premium audio system, a high-definition rear vision camera, LED headlights, and a wireless charger. Adaptive cruise control is also part of the Technology Package.
Which One Should You Choose?
When comparing the 2021 Chevy Trax vs 2021 Chevy Trailblazer, size is a great place to start. The Trax is 167.20 inches long and has a 100.6-inch wheelbase, while the Trailblazer sits at 173.7 inches in overall length with a 103.9-inch wheelbase. A 3-inch wheelbase difference doesn’t sound like a lot, but since the wheelbase is essentially a measure of interior cabin space, the Trailblazer offers substantially more space.
We see the space difference more clearly when comparing specific areas of each vehicle. Max cargo capacity is 48.4 cubic feet on the Trax. The Trailblazer has 54.4 cubic feet of space for cargo. That all-important rear seat passenger legroom specification is also an important difference: the Trailblazer offers 39.4 inches of legroom, substantially more space compared with the Trax’s 35.7 inches of back seat legroom.
If compact size and easy city driving are high on your list, the Trax is probably right for you. On the other hand, if you want plenty of standard driver-assist features and more advanced technology features, the Trailblazer may be the best fit. There are also two different powertrain choices on the Trailblazer (depending on trim level), whereas on the Trax, there’s just one.
The good news is that there just isn’t a bad choice if you’re comparing the Trax and the Trailblazer. Each offers tremendous value and a very low starting price that is sure to attract first-time buyers who would otherwise settle for a dubious used car. Both the 2021 Chevy Trax and the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer are covered by the same comprehensive 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty. They each also come with one free scheduled maintenance visit, so the first oil change and tire rotation are on Chevy. It may boil down to appearance for you, with the Trax offering a more traditional curb appeal and the Trailblazer possessing an edgier design.
We like that both these vehicles contain advanced safety features designed to keep occupants protected in the event of a crash. The Trailblazer contains 10 airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, and standard Teen Driver capability. This system lets parents set boundaries and speed limits for young drivers, as well as view vehicle history reports to help them develop safe driving habits.
The 2021 Trax received the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) coveted 5-Star Overall Safety Rating. It also features 10 standard airbags and high-strength steel construction to protect occupants. StabiliTrak electronic stability control with traction control is standard on Trax front-wheel drive models, and all Trax trims have a tire pressure monitoring system. Both vehicles offer optional OnStar subscriptions, giving drivers access to 24/7 live agent emergency support.
A Great Vehicle No Matter Which One You Get
Whether you go with the 2021 Trax or the 2021 Trailblazer, your purchase is backed by the might of the world’s largest automaker with a comprehensive warranty that will give budget-conscious buyers a lot to cheer about. Either one of these vehicles deserves a second look. They’re affordable and fun to drive, two qualities high on many buyers’ wish lists.
