Like the compact Chevrolet Blazer, the new for 2021 Chevy Trailblazer subcompact crossover is not a true SUV, despite what its name might imply. The last vehicle to bear the Trailblazer nameplate was a truck-based SUV with off-road capabilities that was discontinued in 2008. This probably doesn't sit well with GM's off-road faithful. However, the reborn Trailblazer's existence is totally justified even though it's not the only subcompact crossover in the lineup. The Chevy Trax shares that size classification. So why have both?

GM Authority has learned from Chevrolet SUV Senior Marketing Manager Bradford Franz that the brand sees something within this segment that none of its major rivals currently appear to. According to Chevy's market research, the subcompact crossover segment is about to split into two unique groups.

The first consists of budget-conscious consumers who find the Trax's affordable price quite attractive. However, the Trax, like its Buick Encore corporate cousin, is aging and it lacks a more premium overall feel. Enter the new Trailblazer. With its slightly higher pricing, owners will also be getting a newer and slightly more upmarket vehicle. Having both the Trax and Trailblazer gives Chevy an advantage over competitors because it can appeal to a greater number of segment buyers.

For example, the Trax will continue to compete against the Ford EcoSport and Nissan Kicks while the Trailblazer has the Jeep Renegade, Toyota C-HR, and Honda HR-V in its crosshairs.

And so far, the sales data is proving Chevy right. In the first half of this year, Trax sales increased by a little over 9 percent in the US compared to the same period in 2019. The Trailblazer, in its first months on sale, has also sold well. All told, in the first six months of 2020, Chevy has sold over 57,000 subcompact crossovers, a combined effort between the two models. Meanwhile, the EcoSport has sold just 30,155 units, the Renegade at 26,859, and the C-HR and HR-V at 21,424 and 36,895, respectively.

For the time being, Chevy sees no need to discontinue the Trax, even though it dates back to the 2015 model year and was last refreshed for 2017. The Trax-Trailblazer duo is clearly giving Chevy the edge it needs in this competitive segment.