| Chevrolet's Trailblazer has long been the decaying iron | | | | are in a 60/40 configuration that could be folded for a |
| horse in recent years, trying so hard to fit in with the | | | | number of different loading situations, another plus. All in |
| huge gang of more reliable and cutting edge of SUV's. | | | | all, I'd say the Trailblazer does a decent job at staying |
| Don't get me wrong, the Trailblazer and Envoy still | | | | true to its interior functionality. |
| have so much to offer the consumer if looks or interior | | | | Lastly, just like it's first year models, the Trailblazer has |
| amenities mean little. It's where this blight of aging, does | | | | been equipped with that phenomenal 4.2 I-6 which puts |
| the wrinkles start to show until one day the faithful | | | | out a respectable 292 HP. I checkmarked it's capable |
| midsizer finally disappears into the archives. Was it a | | | | powertrain through some uphill interstate acceleration |
| successful run? Or did it flop around aimlessly looking | | | | tests, and it was more than satisfying. Still a great |
| for fresh new waters to dive into? I'll give consumers | | | | engine! However, the engine is loud, coarse sounding |
| the lowdown on what still makes this SUV a | | | | like it is really fighting to stay in the higher RPM's. This in |
| tremendous bargain by examining the brains and | | | | turned transferred that noise into the interior, not the |
| brawn that many of us still look for. | | | | quiet interlude I was looking for. The body also rolled a |
| Back in 2002, the Trailblazer had great looks, very | | | | little, keeping in mind this is the truck-based platform, |
| rugged yet handsome. It even commanded presence | | | | and wasn't refined in tackling those curvy curves. Gas |
| and with the release of the SS model, gained street | | | | mileage is in the tar pits with this one, buy a lot of |
| cred as one of the most potent sport SUV's in the | | | | SUV's are in that classification anyways. Great torque |
| market. Now six years later, the Trailblazer still looks | | | | action, faithful transmission, and high stance give this |
| the same on the exterior with no mid model updates | | | | SUV a more backwoods, offroad definition. |
| except maybe a headlight change or two, it is pretty | | | | And so with the whole package, there's gotta be |
| much a stale cowboy peering into more golden | | | | some light at the end of the tunnel. And I've decided to |
| horizons. Exterior fit and finish is sub par in this class, | | | | switch gears and talk about the positive idea to the |
| especially with the more up to date competition out | | | | purchase at the end of my review. Before the test |
| there. Base models had windows that were delete | | | | drive, I wasn't in a mood to spend what the base LS |
| any standard tinting, plastics on the door handles, roof | | | | trim was going for, at that time it started just shy of |
| rack, and lighting was cheap and undesirable as well. | | | | $26k. It was when, that by the time I did some |
| And it is with these negatives, that has made a sour | | | | research and talked to a couple owners did I realize |
| affect with Trailblazer's crash safety ratings and long | | | | the true bargain element. I've found that consumers |
| lasting durability. Today, it barely passes as good | | | | can easily save $7-8k off MSRP with rebates and |
| enough, if not the cheap, everyday driver's SUV. It was | | | | discounts, playing this SUV into the under $20k margin |
| simply a cheap rental fleet thrill. | | | | and undercutting its cheaper, smaller Chevy Equinox |
| Again, the interior dash appointments were | | | | by a couple thousand bucks. So wow, that makes this |
| underwhelming with cheesy-ness, but I'm not going to | | | | the ultimate bargain truck to be had, and it had to be |
| dwell on that subject. The seats are still comfortable, | | | | that way so that Chevy can sell the rest of its 2008 |
| and on long trips made my body feel pretty good and | | | | inventory before the new Traverse comes out. In the |
| still pliable, no complaints here. The instrumentation is | | | | grand scheme of things, I'd pay the money for this and |
| basic but does the job perfectly with subtle, pleasing to | | | | avoid higher priced trucks like the Hyundai Tucson, |
| the eyes green lighting, check mark on good here. The | | | | Ford Escape, and Kia Sorento. |
| radio was unfancified and lacked any sort of modern | | | | In closing, it's 15 minutes of fame might be coming to a |
| twists such as input jack for ipods, which has become | | | | close, but the Chevrolet Blazer/Trailblazer will always |
| an important staple in the teenager's lifestyle, wasn't | | | | be the one midsize SUV that has built the foundation |
| too crazy here. Room is plentiful in the second row, no | | | | for other successful models in the current market. |
| problems with leg room or seating comfort. Made for | | | | Take nothing away from this as it will play many more |
| three, but two is much more reasonable back there | | | | useful years in families' lives. |
| for the carpool adventures. Additionally, the rear seats | | | | |