Trailblazer

Make
Chevrolet
Segment
SUV

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is simply the right vehicle at the right time. The subcompact crossover has a more premium look and feel compared to the aging Chevy Trax partly because it shares a platform with the also new and impressive Buick Encore GX. The Trailblazer's sales numbers speak for themselves, particularly regarding the sporty RS trim. But there was, however, one key area where Chevy felt the Trailblazer didn't meet up to expectations: safety.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) originally gave the Trailblazer a four-star crash test rating. Some automakers might have been fine with that score but Chevy felt otherwise. It wanted the coveted five-star rating, and so it got to work.

Following evaluation and implementing those findings, Chevy requested the government safety agency to re-test the vehicle, which it did in late October. Late last month, the NHTSA officially gave the upgraded Trailblazer five stars.

GM Authority has confirmed with the automaker 2021 Trailblazers will have three different window stick label safety ratings, depending on the specific vehicle's production date:

- Four stars (01/20/2020 - 07/13/2020)

- Not rated (07/14/2020 - 11/30/2020)

- Five stars (12/01/2020 and later)

Chevy will send dealers new five-star-rated stickers for to replace the "Not rated" stickers. "GM engineers were able to identify ways to improve the safety ratings of the Trailblazer," said GM spokesperson Rita Kass-Shamoun. "Our engineers made hardware and software changes to improve the vehicles' performance during frontal and side MDB (moving deformable barrier) NCAP crash tests."

Chevy was clearly determined for the Trailblazer to be as safe as possible and going the extra mile (by spending a lot more money) to make that happen even after 2021 models arrived in dealerships proves true commitment to customers.

A total of 10,322 units were sold in the third quarter of this year in the US and a grand total of 17,024 units to date and counting. In addition to improved safety, the Trailblazer is also one of the first vehicles to offer wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as part of the $1,720 Technology Package. The Trailblazer comes standard with a 1.2-liter turbo engine on the three lower trim levels while a 1.3-liter mill is optional for higher trims, including the RS. All models, however, come standard with a seven-inch touchscreen compatible with Bluetooth streaming. Pricing begins at $19,995.