2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer Review | It's cute, distinctive and we like it

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is Chevy’s latest entry in a constantly growing legion of tiny crossovers. Despite its name previously being used for a midsize SUV, the new Trailblazer is substantially smaller and bridges a gap between the subcompact Trax and compact Equinox. It accomplishes that task with a lot more style than either of those rather drab people movers. It’s cute, distinctive and we like it.

Unlike the bigger and mechanically unrelated Chevy Blazer, the Trailblazer doesn’t stand out for its driving dynamics. Instead, Chevy makes up ground with its relatively large back seat and versatile cargo area. Also of note are its two unique trim levels: the outdoorsy Activ and sporty RS. From the curb, either of these will stand out from the crowd of other boring small crossovers. That's a good thing, and in general, the Trailblazer is perfectly competitive for this growing segment of small crossovers that slots in between subcompacts and compacts. That said, its driving experience leaves much to be desired, and it's pretty expensive when compared to its very strong competition. That includes the Mazda CX-30 or Kia Seltos, while align with the Trailblazer RS, as well as the more rugged Ford Bronco Sport and Subaru Crosstrek, which are stronger choices looking to take their little SUV on outdoor adventures.

What’s new for 2021?

The Chevy Trailblazer is a totally new model for 2021.

What’s the Trailblazer interior and in-car technology like?

The Trailblazer’s interior design and styling resembles other Chevy crossovers. That means it's rather uninspiring to look at with plenty of black plastic switchgear, but it doesn’t feel cheap or especially low-rent for the money. The Activ may lack an 'e' in its name, but at least it has some nice touches like a neat cloth pattern on the front doors and brown-painted dash trim (pictured above right). The RS gets a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and red interior accents (picture above middle). The available eight-way power driver seat allows for a long range of movement and would be suitable for taller drivers.

The Trailblazer can be loaded up with tech competitive for its segment. A 7-inch infotainment touchscreen comes standard, and an 8-inch is optional. Both feature wireless Apple CarPlay (that works quickly and easily) and wireless Android Auto, but can also accept a traditional wired connection. Those who use the wireless functionality will find the wireless phone charging pad handy, letting them store the phone in a cubby ahead of the shifter. The instrument panel isn’t fully digital, but a small screen between the tach and speedo can cycle through a number of informational readouts. GM also makes its handy rearview camera mirror available as an option.

How big is the Trailblazer?

The Trailblazer slots neatly into the growing subset of "in-betweener" crossovers between subcompacts and compacts that includes the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30 and Ford Bronco Sport. That means it's bigger than than Chevy's subcompact crossover, the aging Trax, but not significantly so. Sitting in the back is pleasant from a pure space perspective, with 39.4 inches of rear legroom (0.5 inch less than the compact Equinox), but it’s a step back in ambiance, as most of the intriguing trim and style is abandoned for the back seat. You should also think twice about the available panoramic sunroof since it significantly reduced headroom.

Cargo space is officially measured at 25.3 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.4 cubic feet with the seats down. That’s well ahead of the Trax and just behind the Equinox in maximum utility. We found that it's not quite as spacious with the seats up as that official figure would indicate, but its distinctive fold-flat front passenger seat grants it a degree of versatility that its competitors cannot match.

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Carhartt Edition Road Test | The upmarket outdoorsman

While GM is working on broader updates to its full-size pickups, the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Carhartt Edition is being offered to help move 2500 HDs in the meantime. Joining the ranks of some other national and more localized packages (looking at you, Texas Edition), it adds some aesthetic bits along with some of the Silverado HD’s more-frequently selected add-ons.

Chevy’s Carhartt tie-up is certainly not the first between an apparel company and an automaker. The most famous is Ford with Eddie Bauer, but there have also been those with LL Bean (Subaru), Mossy Oak (Ram) and Orvis (Jeep), just to name a few. Back in the day, high-end fashion designers and brands would partner with luxury automakers, most notably Lincoln.

Pairing Chevy with Carhartt certainly makes sense. Known for producing work clothes and hunting gear, the century-old American clothing brand is also headquartered in the Detroit metro area. Win-win.

Now, I’m a short, nerdy guy who works a desk job. I’ve never set foot in a deer blind in my life. Carhartt isn’t exactly my lifestyle brand of choice, but I have driven every other pickup in existence in the past six weeks, so, hey, why not?

Like most such packages, what we’re dealing with here is basically a popular equipment bundle with some branded dress-up bits, and popular equipment is usually called such because, well, people like it. This particular bundle includes quite a bit of it.

On the surface, it seems pretty straightforward. Take a 2021 Silverado 2500 HD LTZ 4X4 Crew Cab (MSRP: $55,295), slap on the Z71 off-road package ($325) and, bam, you've unlocked the magical Carhartt package ($3,040) with its custom interior and exterior dress-up bits, 20-inch wheels, custom tonneau cover, side rails, and body-colored bumpers. Simple, right?

Well, I wouldn’t have brought it up if it was. That seems like a reasonable deal for what it is, but the catch is that opting for Carhartt also locks you into a few other packages: LTZ Plus ($2,645), LTZ Convenience Package II ($1,670), and Safety Package II ($645). All in, you’re looking at $63,620. Our tester upped the ante further with the 6.6L Duramax V8 diesel ($9,890), Technology Package ($1,475) and Gooseneck/Fifth wheel package ($1,090), for a grand total of $75,575. You can do the same with a Crew Cab long-bed model if you’d like, for about $2,000 more.

Yeah, that’s a lot of equipment and, correspondingly, a lot of money. Setting aside everything above and beyond the bare minimum Carhartt configuration, you’re still getting an 8-inch touchscreen navigation system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, lots of safety tech, the Z71 off-road suspension and all-terrain tires, heated seats front and rear, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and enough cameras to run your own surveillance service – including two inputs designated for trailer cameras.

And all of this stuff works great. In fact, if you ask me what makes the cost of modern pickups worthwhile, the above list is pretty much what I’d rattle off. Personally, I’d prefer them on something that doesn't take up 10% of my property footprint by itself, but for those who need to tow a small house, this is an incredibly plush way to do it.

The heated accessories are especially nice in cold climates. It snowed a little bit every day I had this Silverado for evaluation, and they were life-savers until that big diesel warmed up, which can take a while, especially if you’re just running errands around town. The tonneau cover was also great to have since it made rear-end snow removal a breeze.