From a so-called “Yank tank” possessing the enormous exterior dimensions and engine size typical of American cars, to a pickup-based seven-seater SUV tailored for Southeast Asia and Australian markets — the Chevrolet Trailblazer has taken many forms.

Today, the bowtie brand’s nameplate is affixed to a five-seater crossover SUV that’s set to blaze its own trail (sorry, couldn’t resist) in its segment. The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer now originates from the carmaker’s plant in South Korea, according to local Chevrolet distributor The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI). Aside from South Korea and the Philippines, the 2022 Trailblazer has also established presence in China and the USA.

So, with a storied past carried by its name and worldwide appearance, does the Trailblazer have what it takes to create its own path towards sales success? Let’s find out.

Variants and prices

The Trailblazer currently starts at P1.488-million for the entry-level LT variant. In fully-loaded Trailblazer Premier trim with all the bells and whistles, it retails for P1.622-million.

With these price tags, the Trailblazer, well, in terms of figures, trails and is trailed by what we think are its closest alternatives in the segment. While it does go for thousands less than the Geely Azkarra (P1.788-million), however, it can’t quite match the relative affordability of the likes of the Ford Territory (P1.31-million) and MG HS (P1.259- to P1.309-million).

Surely, though, the vehicle has more to offer to justify its price, does it?

Exterior

It may not look as imposing as its burly predecessors, but the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer's rugged appearance makes it stand out next to its rivals that wear sleek shapes and shiny trimmings. 

Chiseled body contours, angular windscreen, and boxy shape contribute to the Trailblazer’s rugged appeal. Up front, running lamps flow into the grille bearing the Chevy bowtie logo, while below this, the gaping triangular grille — whose opening is sometimes shut by the Active Grille Shutters to let air flow around the car to improve aerodynamics — is accompanied by squared-off headlights.

Moving on from what Chevrolet described as “Camaro-inspired front-end,” elsewhere around the car, blacked-off details in the windows create the illusion the glass wraps around the body, while roof rails, 17-inch rollers, — and black body cladding that perhaps no other in the Trailblazer’s class wears as boldly — support the vehicle’s adventurous intentions.

Add to these the LED head-, fog-, and rear-lights (LED exclusive to the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Premier; LT makes do with halogen), and what you get is a vehicle that makes a stylish statement in a sector that, given its population, should be hard to stand out in.

Interior

That boxy shape translates to a cabin that’s never short of room for the passengers’ head, shoulders, and legs. Lending more cabin comfort inside the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer are the supple leather seats for the driver and passenger seats and the rear bench, as well as interior materials that feel classy to the touch.

What you’ll also find inside are expected, if not breakthrough, equipment: push-button start, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with switches for the audio and cruise control (located behind and in front of the spokes, respectively), an intuitive eight-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and USB connection. There’s also the good old-fashioned auxiliary jack (that’s linked to six speakers that give average sound quality) and somehow, even heated seats all around — what we’d do with those in our perennially humid weather is anyone's guess.

Moreover, the Trailblazer’s interior is notable for the things it does without. Even in its most expensive form, there’s no panoramic sunroof available, and particularly in the rear quarters, absent are a rear center armrest, charging port (there are two of them up front, though), and AC vents from the Premier-exclusive automatic climate control. Considering that these can be had in vehicles at a lower price range, their nonappearance in a car costing P1.6-million is glaring.

At least the cargo space — which in the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Premier, can be accessed by way of a powered tailgate that projects the brand’s logo on the ground — is so expansive, it can rival a van’s. The already wide and long cargo area is made more spacious still when you expel the rear occupants and tumble their 60/40 split seats down.

Engine and fuel economy

Small and turbocharged is the way crossovers are going, and the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer stays true to this formula. Powering both the Trailblazer Premier and its LT sibling is a 1.3-liter, inline three-cylinder gas engine that pumps out 155hp at 5,600rpm and 236Nm of torque from 1,600rpm to 4,000rpm. Power is sent exclusively to the front wheels via a CVT.

Under our watch, our Chevrolet Trailblazer Premier did 10 to 12kpl in the city and 18 to 20kpl in the highway, as it was driven in a languid pace with only the driver onboard. Had we taken things easier, we would’ve easily matched the near-21kpl consumption achieved by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) and The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (TCCCI) in their eco runs of this crossover SUV and its smaller sibling, the Tracker.

Credit should probably go to the Trailblazer’s fuel-saving features. It has, after all, the abovementioned Active Grille Shutters, and an engine start/stop system that helps save fuel and reduce emissions by shutting off the engine when it senses that it’s idling.

And even in spirited driving, when we enabled the CVT to shift at higher revs in its sport mode — or shifted gears manually via the rocker switch awkwardly placed on the side of the gear lever — the impressive fuel economy figures barely saw a hit.

Driving impressions

The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer doesn’t mind being hustled. Thanks to the adequate power from the engine, its drony noise in high revs is accompanied by a good amount of push during overtaking maneuvers and when racing up mountain roads. It’s also impressive at sedate speeds, too, with the low-end pull coming in progressively to the front wheels via the CVT, which is also quick and smooth in its operation.

Swift and responsive is also how we’d describe the Trailblazer’s steering. Its lightness may be appreciated more in the city than in the twisties, but it has enough responsiveness and accuracy to make corner-carving worthwhile. The ride, meanwhile, stayed level even as the car was thrown around. The ride, after all, does remain relatively composed even when it encounters small craters, bumps, and ruts. Only the biggest of road imperfections unsettle the ride.

Decent road manners are the most impressive attribute of the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer. It has better driving dynamics and ride quality than some of its rivals, and this is complemented by the Trailblazer’s refined cabin that’s unperturbed by wind- and road noise. For us, this is where the vehicle is slightly worth its premium.

Extra equipment

Good news first. Aside from the expected stability control, you'd get various safety features in the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer Premier — cornering brake control, roll over protection, mini spare detection, torque vectoring via brakes, forward collision alert, front pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning. During reversing maneuvers, the rear cross traffic alert and rear parking sensors and camera are there to reduce the chances of fender-benders.

Now for the downsides. While these equipment are welcome additions, we’d happily trade several of them for a 360-degree camera and proximity sensors — these would make parking a sizable car with slim windows so much easier. The resolution from the reversing camera could be better, too.

Verdict

When we consider only how impeccably the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer drives and rides, then there’s barely anything to complain about.

However, a product’s success is dictated by how much content the consumers get in exchange for the product’s SRP. Also, if sales of Chinese alternatives are any indication, what guarantees a vehicle’s top position in the sales charts is how and if it offers more than what the price tag suggests. In the market, the price really should be right.

And so for a vehicle so named, it merely follows the path made by the cars leading the way.

Photos from Dylan Afuang