The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Great in-cabin tech
- Stylish cabin, too
- Good safety features
- Comfy and refined for the price
Dislikes
- Front-drive model is so slow…
- … and AWD model isn’t much quicker
- So-so fuel economy
- Price can top $30,000
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a stylish and refined small SUV for nimble around-town maneuvers or occasional highway jaunts.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Chevy Trailblazer is an urban-friendly small SUV comparable to the Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, and Chevy’s own Trax.
Is the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer a good SUV?
While hardly a speed demon or particularly fuel-thrifty, the 2025 Trailblazer has a quality feel and great tech. It’s a 6.0 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
After a mild update last year, the Trailblazer is unchanged for 2025.
The Trailblazer is part of Chevy’s two-pronged subcompact SUV approach. It’s costlier and less rakish than the Trax, but it’s more practical and offered with all-wheel drive. The Trailblazer is a nifty-looking small SUV, with sharp headlights and a spindle-like grille flanked by driving lamps and available fog lights. There’s a lot going on up front, but it gets a little more conventional from the side and rear.
The Trailblazer’s cabin is neat and organized, with a big-for-the-segment 11.0-inch touchscreen mounted up high and intuitive controls below.
The 1.2-liter turbo-3 that powers front-drive models sends just 137 hp to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This less-than-thrilling setup is replaced by a 1.3-liter turbo-3 rated at a more reasonable 155 hp sent to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic in all-wheel-drive models. The bigger turbo-3 is smoother, and its transmission works far better. It’s the one we’d grab.
All models have a compliant urban ride and quick-witted steering, plus they settle in nicely once they (finally) reach highway speeds. Fuel-economy ratings aren’t great, though, at 31 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and a downright unimpressive 27 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. Those figures would be just so-so in the compact class, let alone the subcompact segment.
The Trailblazer has a nice cabin for its price point, though, with decent front seats, surprisingly roomy rear-seat legroom, and a reasonably large cargo area. The interior is also nicely outfitted given the Trailblazer’s price, though those models above $30,000 pale in comparison to dressier rivals costing only a bit more.
Chevy’s Trailblazer has done well in NHTSA crash testing and it comes standard with a good array of features, such as adaptive cruise control with pedestrian detection and active lane control. Adaptive cruise control is standard on some rivals, but it’s not too costly as an option on the Trailblazer.
How much does the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer cost?
The Trailblazer LS starts at $24,395, which buys little in the way of luxuries but does offer shoppers a slick touchscreen with Google built-in and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Work your way up the lineup and it’s possible to add all-wheel drive and such niceties as adaptive cruise control and heated front seats while keeping your spend below $30,000.
Where is the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer made?
In South Korea.
2025 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Styling
Fun outside and rather nice inside, the 2025 Chevy Trailblazer doesn’t look like a cheap SUV.
Is the Chevrolet Trailblazer a good-looking SUV?
It’s a pretty attractive choice, and one that looks costlier than its sub-$25,000 base price would otherwise suggest. We give the Trailblazer a 6 for its styling thanks to its lovely interior.
The exterior is busy and complex, with three tiers of lighting up front and a massive, spindle-like grille. Its side profile has plenty of black cladding, plus a huge rearmost roof pillar that imparts a chunky look. Two-tone paint dresses things up a bit.
Inside, the Trailblazer has a modern, far more cohesive look. Its 11.0-inch touchscreen vaults up from the dash and angles slightly toward the driver, imparting a sophisticated, almost sporty look. An 8.0-inch instrument cluster framed by the steering wheel adds a tech flair. While definitely not luxurious, the Trailblazer has attractive fabrics and plenty of low-sheen plastics and metallic trim that look more upscale than we expect from a sub-$30,000 model.
2025 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Performance
The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer is definitely light on power.
The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer is nimble but pretty pokey, particularly with the standard engine in front-wheel-drive models. It’s a 4 here, with a point dialed back from average due to its weak acceleration.
Is the Chevrolet Trailblazer 4WD?
All models offer either front- or all-wheel drive. The Activ trim level sits up slightly higher than other versions, but it’s only marginally more capable off-road.
How fast is the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
It’s not quick, especially in base front-wheel-drive form with the little 1.2-liter turbo-3 that has just 137 hp on tap. This engine is paired with a CVT that works unobtrusively in the background right up until a hard stab at the throttle. Then, the engine becomes raucous and loud.
The better choice here is the 1.3-liter turbo-3 rated at 155 hp that comes paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. This setup is noticeably smoother, and the extra power on tap easily overcomes the slightly heftier curb weight.
Otherwise, the Trailblazer is a pleasant enough companion with a good ride quality that can sometimes get busy and decent heft to its steering. It’s never particularly sporty, but it is comfortable and confident. It’s also better at highway speeds than many other budget-priced small SUVs.
2025 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer is reasonably spacious inside.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer stretches around 174 inches long, making it a relatively small SUV that should fit in just about any garage. It’s small but fairly roomy, with a good cargo area that helps it net a 6 on the TCC scale.
Front-seat riders will find reasonably comfy seats, though getting a power-adjustable driver’s seat requires selecting a few options first on the mainstream LT trim.
Rear-seat riders have terrific legroom and decent headroom, but the bench itself is thinly padded and three abreast is wishful thinking.
Out back, the Trailblazer can lug 25.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats, or 54.4 cubes with them folded down.
The Trailblazer’s interior materials and trim are in line with pricing: plasticky but pleasant.
2025 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Safety
The Chevrolet Trailblazer has a good safety record.
How safe is the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
It’s a good overall choice. The latest Trailblazer has done well in federal and independent crash testing, though the IIHS has yet to subject it to its full barrage of tests. Its pre-2024 redesign scored a Top Safety Pick+ award, though, so our expectations are high.
Provisionally, it’s an 8 here due to a five-star score from the NHTSA in the 2024 model year, decent outward vision, and standard features that include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, automatic high-beams, and active lane control.
Adaptive cruise control is optional on all but the base LS trim.
2025 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Features
The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer has good tech for an inexpensive small SUV.
The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a pretty good value starting at around $24,395 this year. It earns a 8 on the TCC scale thanks to its value, good standard equipment, and a solid infotainment system with a big screen and terrific Google built-in tech.
The Trailblazer’s 3-year/36,000-mile warranty is pretty basic.
The base Trailblazer LS has an 11.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus it comes with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, automatic high-beams, and 17-inch alloy wheels. All-wheel drive costs about $1,300 more.
Which Chevrolet Trailblazer should I buy?
For an extra $2,200, the Trailblazer LT has nicer interior trim, two extra speakers, remote starting, and a few other worthwhile items.
It’s also the gateway to such niceties as a power tailgate, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, and a wireless charging pad.
How much is a fully loaded Chevrolet Trailblazer?
Activ and RS versions both cost $28,995, and they add heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and various styling tweaks. Activ models have an outdoorsy look, while the Trailblazer RS has a sportier appearance. Neither has any significant effect on the way the Trailblazer drives, though.
2025 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Fuel Economy
The 2025 Trailblazer’s fuel economy is decent, but not great
Is the Chevrolet Trailblazer good on gas?
It’s not a big drinker, but the 2025 Chevy Trailblazer’s fuel economy isn’t as good as its modest output and small size would otherwise suggest. Front-drive versions are estimated at 29 mpg in the city, 33 highway, 31 combined. With all-wheel drive, the Trailblazer slides to just 26/29/27 mpg.
Our 4 out of 10 rating here is based on the 2024 model. We’ll update this space when the 2025 model is certified by the EPA.
