2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review, MPG, Release Date

2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review, MPG, Release Date  – Although it only comes with front-wheel drive (FWD), the Chevrolet Trax may be the greatest little car that General Motors (GM) has produced to yet. The 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer, which is around the same size, fills that need. All-wheel drive (AWD) is a standard feature on the two most costly trims, however it may be added as an option on the lowest trims. This includes the RS under test, which had a pre-tax MSRP of about $42,000 and was topped up with a substantial $4,975 in extras.  2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review

2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Redesign and Update Plan

Exterior and Interior

The Trailblazer received a refresh this year, with new fascia and grille designs that differentiate the trims, while the RS trim rides on 19-inch wheels – slightly larger than last year’s 18-inch rims. White and grey paint are included in the price, but my tester’s handsome Crimson Red adds $495, as do most other colors.

Inside, the Trailblazer tucks a new-for-2026 twin-screen display into the handsome dash, with a standard 11-inch centre touchscreen and eight-inch digital instrument unit. The upper trims include accent colours on the stitching and across the dash.

2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Specs

The new 11-inch touchscreen includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and as many automakers are heading, with available subscription services but without embedded navigation. All trims include single-zone climate control, six-speaker audio – upgraded to an optional seven-speaker system in this tester – and LED headlights.  2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review

The activ and RS trims then add a power driver’s seat, rear seat centre armrest, and faux-leather upholstery. Optional items include a 120-volt power outlet, automatic climate control, cargo cover, auto-dimming mirror, wireless charger, and a hands-free power tailgate, as well as a panoramic sunroof.

Engine and Performance

The Trailblazer comes with two available turbocharged three-cylinder engines, depending on how many wheels are being driven. The LS and LT in FWD use a 1.2L making 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, and mated to an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT). With AWD there’s a 1.3L, with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and a conventional nine-speed automatic transmission.  2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review

That little 1.3L feels peppy enough in the city, moving well off the line and through traffic. It takes a bit to get it up to highway speeds, though, and while it cruises fine once it gets there, it gets wheezy when you put your foot down. You quickly learn to plan your passing manoeuvres.

2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Fuel Economy

The Trailblazer with AWD is officially rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 9.0 L/100 km in the city, 8.1 on the highway, and 8.6 in combined driving (the FWD version rates a combined 7.8), and it takes regular-grade gasoline. I spent much of my time on long highway drives, and averaged 8.3 L/100 km. While this three-cylinder engine rates higher than some competitors with four cylinders, they’re all pretty close, with the Subaru Crosstrek at 8.0 L/100 km combined, and the Toyota Corolla Cross at 7.8 (the hybrid version is rated for just 5.6).  2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review

2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Safety Features

The base LS trim includes such driver-assist technologies as emergency front braking with pedestrian detection, buckle-to-drive, lane-keep assist, teen driver controls, automatic high-beam control, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles. My tester was further optioned with adaptive cruise control. When I first drove the then-new 2021 Trailblazer, that system could be jerky as it reacted to traffic, but it seems to have been tweaked as it now works quite well. 2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review

2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Price and Release Date

The Trailblazer starts at $28,699 in FWD and $30,699 in AWD, and runs to $34,999. It’s in line with some rivals that offer both: The Kia Seltos starts at $27,345; while the Toyota Corolla Cross is $29,580 to $37,880. The Subaru Crosstrek, with its standard AWD, is $31,290 to $40,290 (all prices including delivery). The Trailblazer’s sibling, the Buick Encore GX, comes in FWD or AWD but with the 1.3L engine in both, and starts at $31,649.

There are a lot of very good competitors in this subcompact crossover segment, and the 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer holds its own but isn’t head-and-shoulders above them. It’s comfortable and practical, and its handling is smooth and responsive; but then that’s the case with most of its rivals, so test-drive it thoroughly on city streets and the highway. It’s a decent little ride that just might win you over. 2026 Chevy TrailBlazer Review