Anyone own a New Chevy Trailblazer?

[street]

I'm looking to purchase one and getting rid of a full sized pickup. Wanting some first hand experience from someone that has owned one and has an opinion on this vehicle?

Thanks

 

[HawkeyeNFO]

They are so new that I haven't seen many on the roads around here. My 2003 is great. It's the daily driver and just went over 176,000 miles. Still drives and rides smooth, like it's brand new.

 

[street]

HawkeyeNFO >>> thanks!!
One thing I'm not to sure of is they have a 3 cylinder engine. I know there is some great talented car people on this site and maybe they can give some insight to that engine.

 

[REWahoo]

Consumer Reports has done a "first look" at the Chevy Trailblazer ("...a corporate cousin to the Buick Encore GX. Both share a platform and powertrains...") and has the following initial impressions:

Likes

- Interior room
- Ease of access
- Power delivery of the 1.3 liter, 3 cylinder turbo engine
- Smooth ride
- Controls
- Standard safety features

Dislikes

- Engine vibration at low revs
- Road noise
- Visibility
- Front seat comfort

 

[Out of Steam]

HawkeyeNFO >>> thanks!!
One thing I'm not to sure of is they have a 3 cylinder engine.

I've also been eyeing a vehicle that is expected to come out late this year with a 3 cylinder engine, and been wondering about it.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a35034259/2022-ford-maverick-future/?

 

[street]

^ Now, that would be a great small truck I would be interested in!

 

[Out of Steam]

^ Now, that would be a great small truck I would be interested in!

The only current (or newer used) vehicle even close to comparable is a Nissan Frontier. It is substantially larger.

In my case, the heaviest thing likely to go into the bed is a dresser or a dishwasher. A larger truck would be overkill.

 

[Montecfo]

Those are some interesting vehicles for sure.

 

[triangle]

A 3 cylinder engine in an SUV? I just looked and saw the engine displacement is 1.3 liters on the 3 cylinder engine and there is a 4 cylinder engine in the 1.2 liter. Those sound more like high performance motorcycle engines than something suitable for a small SUV.

I know nothing specifically about those engine choices or the Trailblazer but I would be very cautious about buying. If your main purpose to drive around town, with only the occasional highway (interstate) trip they might be okay. But this does not sound like the kind of engine/vehicle that will last 150K+ miles, or have much resale value after 75K miles. The engine will have to work pretty hard to push the profile of a truck through the wind at highway speeds with that size of engine. Plus GM has not had the best reputation in prior decades with their transmissions. They probably needed to use a CVT transmission to deal with the smaller engine and make it feel better to the driver.

I only spent a couple of minutes reading, but it sounds like this 3 cylinder engine is a mostly new design, a second try at this type of engine. I would be leery of buying the first generation of this engine, to the point that I would consider the 1.2 liter if I had to chose between them. But that is just my prejudice without having better understanding of either engine's reliabilty. Maybe you are not looking to keep this vehicle 10+ years. If you are then I would consider a toyota or honda, or perhaps a mazda or ford. Again that is my prejudice, this new Trailblazer might be a good vehicle.

 

[Jerry1]

Just can't get past the thought that it's not a good idea to buy a first year model. I've always associated that comment with GM's, but I'm sure it could be applied to others. I'd give it a model year.

 

[street]

Thanks for that great advise and will do some more looking. I like the price, great mpg, 4 wheel drive all in one vehicle thou.

 

[Jerry1]

Thanks for that great advise and will do some more looking. I like the price, great mpg, 4 wheel drive all in one vehicle thou.

Get an extended warranty or plan on getting rid of it before the base warranty expires.

 

[street]

Jerry1 >> yep that would be the thing to do. I was hoping to buy this new and it would take me to my grave. Lol I got to many outfits need to start down sizing. I have a 2004 truck never been on gravel, never pulled, no one has ever sat in the back seats, never slept under the stars and the heaviest load it has hauled been groceries has 50K and they are mostly hwy miles. It is show room class. I'm going to sell it private, no trading there I would be taken to the wood shed if I did that. They tell me to start at 15K and hold firm I will get it, so I will see.

 

[Bamaman]

Chevy is putting big incentives on the Equinox, and the net price out the door is very favorable on the larger vehicle.

I'd go for the Equinox over the Trailblazer as of now. The Trailblazer is a good looking vehicle, however.

Most all manufacturers like Honda are going with smaller engines that are turbocharged, and they seem to be adequate in most conditions. Many also have CVT trannys.

Toyota is the exception, as they're sticking with non-turbo'd, larger 4 cylinders and auto trannys with gears.

 

[aja8888]

My golf partner has a new Equinox. It has the engine stop and restart "feature" when you come to a stop. He absolutely hates it and it is quite irritating and cannot be shut off permanently unless you get into the ECU code. Make sure whatever you buy you get comfortable with that feature (poor name for it).

 

[Montecfo]

Just can't get past the thought that it's not a good idea to buy a first year model. I've always associated that comment with GM's, but I'm sure it could be applied to others. I'd give it a model year.

I agree.

 

[Jerry1]

My golf partner has a new Equinox. It has the engine stop and restart "feature" when you come to a stop. He absolutely hates it and it is quite irritating and cannot be shut off permanently unless you get into the ECU code. Make sure whatever you buy you get comfortable with that feature (poor name for it).

I have a 2017 Equinox with a 6cyl. We're very happy with it. I was looking at a Traverse, but it has the stop start feature and as you said, it cannot be shut off. Unbelievable. I'm hopeful that the next vehicle I get either has the option to shut that off or, more likely, it will be electric. Stop start on a gas powered car reminds me of a golf cart.

In driving some loaner cars with stop start, there are two things you can do. You can learn to creep. If the car isn't fully stopped with your foot on the break, it doesn't stop. I got pretty good at that. The other thing I've read that you can do is drive around in manual mode. Not sure how much of a pain that would be but it's supposed to work. I understand there are other brands that allow you to shut that off.

Another point however, is that if you're more of a country road driver, which I assume street is, it may not happen enough to matter. I live in the suburbs and stopping at lights and stop signs is very frequent.

 

[triangle]

Jerry1 >> yep that would be the thing to do. I was hoping to buy this new and it would take me to my grave. Lol I got to many outfits need to start down sizing. I have a 2004 truck never been on gravel, never pulled, no one has ever sat in the back seats, never slept under the stars and the heaviest load it has hauled been groceries has 50K and they are mostly hwy miles. It is show room class. I'm going to sell it private, no trading there I would be taken to the wood shed if I did that. They tell me to start at 15K and hold firm I will get it, so I will see.

Unless you are having serious mechanical issues, I would keep that truck and plan to drive it another 5+ years or 50K miles. By that time there may be more electric/hybrid options to consider. That is my plan/hope with my aging vehicle. As electric powered vehicles should be more reliable and once they reach critical mass on the highway beyond Telsa's offerings (the cybertruck is ugly IMO) I think generic gasoline vehicles will have even less resale value.

Maybe get it checked out by a mechanic and have all the fluids changed in the meantime. Your truck could possibly be better than the new vehicle you are about to buy. It sounds like you have not stressed the drive-train, and if it was kept in a garage or otherwise maintained it, it should continue to give good service.

 

[Dawg52]

I have a 2017 Equinox with a 6cyl. We're very happy with it. I was looking at a Traverse, but it has the stop start feature and as you said, it cannot be shut off. Unbelievable. I'm hopeful that the next vehicle I get either has the option to shut that off or, more likely, it will be electric. Stop start on a gas powered car reminds me of a golf cart.

In driving some loaner cars with stop start, there are two things you can do. You can learn to creep. If the car isn't fully stopped with your foot on the break, it doesn't stop. I got pretty good at that. The other thing I've read that you can do is drive around in manual mode. Not sure how much of a pain that would be but it's supposed to work. I understand there are other brands that allow you to shut that off.

Another point however, is that if you're more of a country road driver, which I assume street is, it may not happen enough to matter. I live in the suburbs and stopping at lights and stop signs is very frequent.

Here is an explanation of how to do it in manual mode. Have to do it each time you start driving but looks simple enough. Dealer will probably discourage doing it I bet. I have a 2017 Traverse which is the last year w/o this feature. So won't be a problem for me anytime soon.

 

[Out of Steam]

My golf partner has a new Equinox. It has the engine stop and restart "feature" when you come to a stop. He absolutely hates it and it is quite irritating and cannot be shut off permanently unless you get into the ECU code. Make sure whatever you buy you get comfortable with that feature (poor name for it).

That feature is likely to push me to a hybrid for my next car, where stop-start works fine. The electric motor(s) get the car moving from a stop, and the engine catches up in a couple of seconds.

 

[street]

I had no idea what the stop-start thing was about and I was researching that vehicle also. Thanks for that information.

Yes, I really wanting to get a hybrid and will look at one more vehicle and then get serious.

I would like to try a Ford Escape Hybrid. The reviews etc. are very good but can't seem to find one close enough to go look at or drive.

 

[triangle]

@street, I think you have already culled your selection process. But if not you may enjoy this video. I was surprised that Scotty Kilmer was this positive about the new Trailblazer after a test drive:

 

[teetee]

My golf partner has a new Equinox. It has the engine stop and restart "feature" when you come to a stop. He absolutely hates it and it is quite irritating and cannot be shut off permanently unless you get into the ECU code. Make sure whatever you buy you get comfortable with that feature (poor name for it).

I would never buy a car with cylinder deactivation feature. It is already bad enough to drive car short distance comparing to highway driving, with the engine stop and go feature, you essentially make the short distance driving 10x worse. The engine parts get worn primarily from starting when the oil was not circulating.

 

[foxfirev5]

I've also been eyeing a vehicle that is expected to come out late this year with a 3 cylinder engine, and been wondering about it.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a35034259/2022-ford-maverick-future/?

I've never seen a smooth idling 3 cyl engine.

 

[Bamaman]

Chevy is putting big incentives on the Equinox, and the net price out the door is very favorable on the larger vehicle.

I'd go for the Equinox over the Trailblazer as of now. The Trailblazer is a good looking vehicle, however.

Most all manufacturers like Honda are going with smaller engines that are turbocharged, and they seem to be adequate in most conditions. Many also have CVT trannys.

Toyota is the exception, as they're sticking with non-turbo'd, larger 4 cylinders and auto trannys with gears.

The Equinox might be a safer bet as a vehicle if Chevy's throwing good sales incentive programs on it. The Trailblazer is very attractive and priced right, but I'm still not sold on the GM engine engineers.

If GM has inherent problems with an engine, they just don't fix'em without millions of engines being bad. Their 3.6 engine was such a problem at one time throwing timing belts out of warranty--and $3.5K repairs.

I do like the Equinox, however and a slight price differential might actually make them a better value. FYI: The small and mid size SUV retail market is full of really good vehicles, and competition is really tough.

I recently traded my 2018 Camry Hybrid for a 2021 Venza--hybrid AWD. We just absolutely love this $32K vehicle getting 42 mpg. Toyota's hybrids are simply bulletproof mechanically.