The all-new Chevrolet Trailblazer is out! It makes world debut in Thailand at a very special event. It is special because the event is also available through an online live channel at Chevrolet.co.th. The debut of the Trailblazer is few days ahead of the 33rd Bangkok International Motor Show which is just around the corner. It is the same car that many Chevrolet fans have viewed it in concept at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show.

“True to its name, the Trailblazer will ‘blaze’ the trail for new Chevrolet vehicles coming into the market. It has been built tough to offer Chevrolet customers everything they need from a heavy-duty SUV,” said Martin Apfel, President of GM Southeast Asia and Chevrolet Sales Thailand. “It will hit the ‘sweet spot’, not just for consumers in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia, but in every place around the world where it will be sold.” he continued.

Design 

In total there were five Trailblazers exhibited on the stage during the event. When the first Trailblazer came out from the back stage, cross the water and then come to the front stage, the first thing we saw is the notable dual-port grille with a three-dimensional grille mesh. It is complemented by polished aluminum decor trims. We believe the designer must be fastidious and wanted things in a certain way when designing the car. The headlamps are mounted higher with dual projector and built-in LED lights which make it look more cyber.

Inside the car, there are seven comfortable leather seats. The third row win the best-in-class spaciousness because it is unbelievably spacious. The third row 50/50 spilt-folding seats and second row 60/40 spilt-folding seats is able to create more room if there is a need to carry more items.

As for the front row, it looks more like a premium cruiser rather than a strong off-road SUV. Passengers are able to enjoy movies and music from the overhead console with an integrated HVA onboard infotainment system. The built-in stereo comes with a USB port and an auxiliary port for iPod, iPhone, or any Smartphone so that music can be played through the car speakers.

The exterior color is available in seven attractive colors including Auburn Brown, Blue Mountain, Black Sapphire, Switchblade Silver, Sizzle Red, Summit White, and Royal Gray.

Performance

This time, the all-new Trailblazer is a mid-size SUV and made available with two- and four-wheel-drive configurations. It comes in two variants, the 2.8-liter Duramax diesel engine and the 2.5-liter Duramax diesel engine. The 2.8-liter is giving 180 hp and 470 Nm of torque for the automatic transmission while the lower specification of 2.5-liter engine is offering 150 hp and 350 Nm of torque.

As for drivetrain, it is available in either five-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic transmission. The automatic transmission features an electronic shift-control with clutch-to-clutch capability and electro-hydraulic control module.

Safety

The brake system is packed with a list of useful features including ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), EBD (Electronice Brake Force Distribution), TCS (Traction Control System), ESC (Electronic Stability Control), PBA (Panic Brake Assist), CBC (Cornering Brake Control), HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist), and HBFA (Hydraulic Brake Fade Assist). A tough SUV like the Trailblazer will always face different kind of driving conditions. The HSA (Hill Start Assist) and HDC (Hill Descent Control) will be practical for the car to go up and down hill. Other than that, the Trailblazer also featuers a few active and passive safety features including engine drag control, dual front airbags and dynamic rear brake proportioning.

Chevy Trailblazer’s competitors and similar cars: Toyota Fortuner, Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Isuzu D-Max and Mazda BT-50.

Compare to some of its competitors or similar cars listed above, the Trailblazer has strong road presence and cool exterior. The power of the engine is well written in the brochure but the actual power and fuel economy in mpg is still remain unknown. We would like to reserve our final verdict until we get a chance to test drive the car.
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