Story & photos by Patrick Tulfo
THE Trailblazer proved to be a best-seller for Chevrolet in the Philippines after it debuted in the country in 2013, and still continues to rake it in ’til now.
This is despite the onslaught of newer models in the midsize sport-utility vehicle (SUV) segment, where it competed with the likes of Ford’s Everest, Toyota’s Fortuner and Mitsubishi’s Montero.
The Trailblazer was first shown as a concept vehicle at the 2011 Dubai International Motor Show, where it drew a lot of attention. It eventually went into production the following year in Thailand, with a minimum of changes in the way it looked. It was designed and developed at GM’s South America Design Center in Brazil together with its pickup counterpart the Colorado.
The vehicle was introduced in the country a few months after the Colorado was launched and it was warmly received by buyers, who anticipated its arrival.
Strangely enough, though, its perennial rival Ford took its sweet time in developing the new Everest based on the Ranger pickup, which was launched almost simultaneously with the Colorado pickup.
The Trailblazer is a good-looking mid-size SUV. It shares its looks with the other Chevrolet vehicles sold in the country like the Cruze, Spin and the recently launched Trax, particularly its fascia, where the company’s signature dual-port grill with bowtie badge is prominently displayed.
The power dome hood was obviously designed to mirror the powerful engine and it completes the front end look. The sides are characterized by what GM calls “the body in-wheels out” design accentuated with bulging wheel flares. This design also help it achieve a good departure angle and a high approach as well.
This is capped nicely by a pair of LED tail lamps in the roundish rear with the usual spoiler attached to roof. It’s a good thing that Chevy decided not to install the spare tire on the rear door otherwise it would have ruined the Trailblazer’s overall look.
A year after its introduction, it has already received a minor tweak in horsepower and torque for both the 2.8- and 2.5-liter diesel engines equipped with intercooler and Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) with the former benefitting the most.
The 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine was sourced from Italian engine manufacturer VM Motori, which also supplies the same engine to Jeep Wrangler, which is also available in the country.
To date, this engine is still the most powerful in its class with its 200 horses and earth-moving 500 kg-m of torque. Chevy claims that it’s also very durable with an expected lifespan of at least 240,000 km before needing an overhaul.
The powerful engine needs only less than 10 seconds to haul both the Trailblazer and the Colorado from zero to 100 kilometers per hour.
The independent front wheel suspension together with the five-link setup in the rear provides good handling and articulation, especially off-road.
Be warned though that this is a traditional SUV that features a body-on-frame construction built atop an eight cross-member chassis that was constructed for toughness rather than handling. And as with any other SUV with high ground clearance, sudden maneuvers on corners during high speed are strongly discouraged.
Inside, it is an all-white affair for this SUV, which combines nicely with the dark dashboard that houses Chevy’s own My Link color touchscreen display. Aside from the ability to connect with iPhones, Android phones and other music sources, it also features TPMS, or Tire Pressure Monitoring System, which warns drivers if their tires are over or underinflated, which is a must for an SUV built to tackle the rough terrain.
The instrument cluster, the chunky steering wheel houses, the audio control, hands-free cell-phone button and cruise control were taken directly from the Camaro.
The big air-conditioning knob with built-in temperature display also features auto climate control. Vents are distributed throughout the cabin with each passenger enjoying his or her own. The last, second and third row seats can be configured depending on the owner’s needs. It’s nice to note that the third row can seat two full-sized adults.
The Trailblazer remains a good choice for those shopping for an SUV. Aside from its signature classy Chevy pedigree, it’s a bargain at P1,748,888 for the LTZ variant and packed with almost all the features that can be found in the newer SUV’s competing in the same category.