All the characteristics of the Chevrolet Trailblazer: old and new SUV. Chevrolet TrailBlazer is back Mods of the Chevrolet Trailbazer

The second generation Trailblazer, which has just debuted on our market, is built according to the classic recipe: a sturdy frame, rigid all-wheel drive and a transfer case with a reduction gear. It's funny that in the press materials the rear suspension was called "independent five-link", and this absurdity went for a walk in media articles. Do not believe it! The Trailblazer has a real axle at the rear, suspended from the frame with four trailing arms and a Panhard rod. Front - independent double wishbone suspension.

Trailblazer is made according to the classic recipe: robust frame and plug-in four-wheel drive

The new Chevy looks rather massive due to the high sill line and hefty wheel arches, but it does not turn out to be brutal. The design is sustained in the corporate style, the radiator grille is divided by a wide horizontal crosspiece with a family cross ... And yet Trailblazer does not make the impression of a "purebred Yankee". Although what is surprising about that? It is not sold in the North American market. It is produced in Brazil and Thailand, and for Russia it is assembled by a large-knot method at the St. Petersburg GM plant.

Our Trailblazer is offered with two engines - a 180-horsepower 4-cylinder Duramax turbodiesel with a volume of 2.8 liters and a 3.6-liter gasoline V6 developing 239 hp. There are also two complete sets. The basic LT is available only with a diesel engine and a manual gearbox or "automatic", the older LTZ - with both engines, but only with an automatic gearbox. Actually, these four options exhaust the variety of modifications.

Almost five-meter SUV in the Chevrolet lineup falls exactly into an empty niche - between Captiva and Tahoe. There are seven seats in the cabin. Moreover, the gallery is also suitable for adult riders. Of course, there is not much space and amenities there, but it is quite possible to go. Both rear rows of seats fold flat. True, provided that an optional floor box is installed in the trunk. Without it, there will be a small step. But in any case, the cargo hold is huge, so the utility of the Chevrolet Trailblazer is all right.

Practicality is also evident in the driver's seat. The front panel is made of unassuming hard plastic. Glass-lift with automatic closer - only for the driver's window. Audio system with a simple monochrome display. In general, no frills ... The only non-standard solution is the climate control unit, designed in the form of a ring of buttons with a round display inscribed inside it. Still, perhaps, the connector for gadgets is unusual: for some reason it was made in mini-USB format. Therefore, in order to "stick" a USB flash drive, you have to use an adapter wire that sticks out of the audio system panel in the most conspicuous place. To put it mildly, a strange "creative". But the fit and the seats are quite comfortable. The A-pillars have handles that you can hold onto while climbing inside. To help riders and footboards.

The dynamics of the diesel Trailblazer are not breathtaking. It is quite enough to keep up with the city flow, but nothing more. On the highway, the excellent high-torque power of the turbodiesel helps out: overtaking is given to an SUV without much stress.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a bit rude, but an honest hard worker - a real utilitarian!

The suspension is sufficiently assembled and does not annoy with excessive swing on the longitudinal wave of the coating. The rolls in the corners are also not too great. In any case, from such a "bump" one could expect big ones. The suspension copes well with irregularities: it does not come to breakdowns even on large potholes. But the vibrations of unsprung masses are well sensed in the cabin, which reduces comfort and somewhat smears the overall impression. But you can't find fault with the steering. It provides clear feedback. And although the frame SUV with dependent rear suspension does not shine with exquisite handling, the car behaves honestly and reliably even on steep mountain serpentines.

The gasoline version accelerates, as expected, more vigorously, but otherwise the behavior completely repeats the behavior of a diesel car. The difference appears on serious off-road conditions. Turbodiesel looks preferable here. Its huge torque allows it to move in tension, easily climb steep climbs and force ambushes. And on descents, a diesel engine slows down much more efficiently than a gasoline engine, therefore, there is no need for a downhill assistance system - it is enough to tuck a lower gear. The petrol Trailblazer is a little harder to do off-road exercises, but ultimately it does it well, too. The key to this is the presence in the transmission of a demultiplier with a gear ratio of 2.62, a large ground clearance of 255-267 mm (depending on the dimension of the wheels) and decent angles of entry and exit.

Two to seven

The interior of the Chevrolet Trailblazer is quite suitable for traveling in every way. Even the third row of seats can accommodate adult riders without much discomfort. On the second, it is already really spacious, and the seat backs are adjustable in tilt angle. Of course, the rear seats can be folded all together or separately - in a wide variety of combinations (the middle row is divided in a ratio of 40:60, and the third - 50:50). When the seats are folded down, a flat loading area is formed. True, this requires an optional floor box (pictured in a red circle).

Is a relatively inexpensive frame SUV with a high ground clearance of 26 cm. The second generation Chevrolet Trailblazer is available with a diesel or gasoline engine with a capacity of 180 or 240 hp, which work with a manual or adaptive automatic transmission.

When driving, you can use only rear or four-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive engages and disengages manually, there is a transfer case and a limited-slip differential.

Chevrolet Trailblazer II Review:

The model began production in 2001, the first generation was produced until 2008. In this review, we will focus on the second generation, the beginning of release - 2012. Production is located in Brazil and Thailand, and assembly is carried out in Russia near St. Petersburg.

Salon:

V salon this car is spacious and comfortable. A rather tall driver, about two meters tall, can sit in the driver's seat and feel comfortable. Thanks to the high seating position and the comfortable seat setting, the steering wheel offers excellent visibility. The side mirrors are also large and informative.

Front seats without pronounced lateral support, American style. This will make you feel a little imposing and free. The plastic of the panels is tough and looks a little rough, but damage will be almost invisible on it. There is a lot of space for various little things - cup holders, niches and boxes.

On the second row for passengers there is enough space with a margin, the only drawback is the lack of a handle for embarking and disembarking. The high floor will make it difficult for some people to sit in the back seat.

The heating and cooling air ducts for the rear rows are routed under the ceiling and have openings for adjusting the air flow direction. On the third row, there will be little space for adults, but just for children. Needless to say, many children will love these trips. If you have a small family or the 3rd row is not planned to be used, it can be completely removed, significantly increasing the luggage compartment.

From disadvantages in the cabin, one can note the lack of seat heating; in winter, those who like to warm up will have to wait until the cabin warms up from the heater. This disadvantage can be corrected by the additional purchase of heated seat covers. And if you install a pre-heater, which will be especially useful for a diesel engine in Russian winters, then the problem itself will recede into the background.

Engine:

Gasoline six-cylinder engine volume of 3.6 liters elastic. At low revs, it creates good traction, at medium revs it works quite quietly, and with sharp acceleration at speed it picks up well and creates enough torque, for example, for overtaking. The red zone of the tachometer begins at around 7000 rpm (for a diesel - at around 4500).

Automatic 6-speed box adaptive, adapts to the driving style. Shifts gears almost imperceptibly, works without interruption. If you drive quietly, it will "get used" to this style and will change gears in such a way that revs are minimal.

In order to "wean" the automatic transmission from such a mode, you need to press the gas pedal, sharply and to the end, allowing the engine to develop high revs. After that, the gear changes will become more flexible and dynamic.

Vehicle handling:

When driving on the highway The trailblazer is easy to control, rides steadily. Traction control, stabilization and brake assist systems allow you to drive quite confidently and feel relaxed. For overtaking, the engine power is quite enough, its lack is not felt.

On off-road, in mud and puddles, you can not be very afraid, tk. the vehicle's ground clearance is high and the generator is high. This will allow you to overcome rather difficult obstacles, including water. The approach angle of 32 degrees also contributes to this.

There is 4 driving modes:

2WD - rear-wheel drive, for driving on the highway or on urban asphalt
4WD High - four-wheel drive, works at speeds up to 120 km / h, at speeds above the mode is disabled
4WD Low - four-wheel drive, rear differential lock, forced gear shifting, disengagement of traction control and anti-lock systems, works at speeds up to 40 km / h
Neutral - disconnect the transfer case, for towing

So, Trailblazer 2 has good driving characteristics, allowing you to easily overcome off-road conditions. The presence of the frame makes it durable and reliable, and manual engagement of all-wheel drive at any speed and a downshift range of gears is technically convenient. Suitable for people for whom adventure, drive, fishing, hunting, off-roading and competition are not just empty words.

Specifications Chevrolet Trailblazer:

Class - frame SUV
Body - station wagon
Drive - rear or full, plug-in, transfer case, self-locking differential
Engine location - longitudinally
Engine 1 - Duramax CTDI, diesel, 4 cylinders in a row, 2.8 L, 180 HP, 2013
Engine 2 - VVT, gasoline, 6 cylinders V-shaped, 3.6 l, 240 HP, 2013
Volume - 2.8-3.6 l
Power - 180-240 hp
Torque 1 - 440-470 Nm, 2000 rpm
Torque 2 - 329 Nm, 3200 rpm
Number of valves - 16 or 24
Compression ratio 1 - 16.0
Compression ratio 2 - 10.2
Fuel injection 1 - direct, turbocharging
Fuel injection 2 - distributed
Timing drive - timing belt
Gearbox 1 - mechanical, 5-speed
Gearbox 2 - automatic, 6-speed

Number of seats - 7
Fuel tank - 76 liters
Fuel - diesel or AI-95 gasoline
Fuel consumption (city) - 12.3-15.5 l / 100 km
Fuel consumption (highway) - 8.4-8.5 l / 100 km
Acceleration to 100 km / h - 10.8-11.8 seconds
Maximum speed - 180 km / h

Dimensions:

Length, width, height - 4878 x 1902 x 1847 mm (width with mirrors)
Wheelbase - 2845 mm
Clearance (ground clearance) - 255-267 mm
Turning radius - 6.35 m
Gross weight - 2750 kg
Trailer weight - without brakes 2450-2750 kg, with brakes 5200-5500 kg
Trunk volume - 205 liters, with folded seats 1830 liters
Battery capacity - 70-90 A / hour
Tire size - R16 245/70 or R18 265/60
Disc size - 16 × 6.5J or 18 × 7.5J

Driving performance:

Entry angle - 32 degrees
Departure angle - 22 degrees

Comfort:

Air conditioning - with additional airflow for the 2nd and 3rd rows of passengers (LT).
Climate control - automatic (LTZ).
Cruise Control - Steering Wheel Button Control (LTZ).
Driver's seat - electrically adjustable position: horizontal, height and tilt angle (LTZ).
Steering wheel - hydraulic booster, audio control with buttons (LTZ).
Center armrest.
Rearview mirror - electrochromic with auto-dimming (LTZ).
Power windows - electric, front with a door closer.

Suspension:

Front - independent, spring.
Rear - independent, five-link, spring.
Steering - rack with gear.

Brake system:

Front and rear brakes - disc, ventilated.
HDC system for slow downhill travel.
HSA system for hill start.

Body:

Frame - 8 additional transverse reinforcements of the frame chassis.

Security:

Alarm, immobilizer.
Airbags - 2 front - in LT, 4 airbags (front and side) - in LTZ.
Folding steering wheel.
Film in laminated windshield.
Add. amplifiers in passenger door panels.

Equipment:

Headlights - halogen.
Fog lights - front (LTZ).
Rear parking sensor - LTZ.
Diode lights at the back - LTZ.

Salon:

Leather steering wheel trim - LTZ.
Fabric seats - LT.
Leather seats - LTZ.
The gear lever is chrome-plated (LTZ).
Audio - premium, radio, CD / MP3, Bluetooth, 9 speakers and amplifier.
Connectors - USB.

Electronic systems:

brake force distribution EBD
traction control TCS
dynamic stabilization ESC
emergency braking assistance PBA
cornering braking control CBC
hydraulic braking support HBA
effective overheating braking HBFA
lift assistance HSA
HDC descent assistance

Prices depending on the configuration:

Options and prices:

LT 2.8 MT - diesel, 2.8 l, 180 hp, 5-speed manual transmission, 4 × 4 - 1,444,000 RUR.
LT 2.8 AT - diesel, 2.8 l, 180 hp, automatic transmission 6-speed., 4 × 4 - RUB 1,520,000.
LTZ 2.8 MT - diesel, 2.8 l, 180 hp, 5-speed manual transmission, 4 × 4 - RUB 1,650,000.
LTZ 2.8 AT - diesel, 2.8 l, 180 hp, automatic transmission 6-speed., 4 × 4 - RUB 1,726,000.
LTZ 3.6 AT - petrol, 3.6 l, 240 HP, automatic transmission 6-speed., 4 × 4 - 1,777,000 RUR.

Prices are for information only and are not a public offer.

Used Chevrolet Trailblazer can be purchased through ads. The dependence of the price on the age of the car is shown in the diagram:

The previous first generation model has a different engine with more power. For example, a 4.2 liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 273 hp was installed on cars produced in 2004-2008. (four-wheel drive, automatic).

THEN:

Engine oil change - every 15,000 km.
Oil change in manual transmission is the first after 40,000 km, then every 100,000 km.
Automatic transmission oil change - every 150,000 km.
Power take-off clutch lubrication - every 45,000 km.
Replacing grease and front bearing oil seals - every 45,000 km.
Transfer case oil change - every 75,000 km or 3 years.
Replacement of the ancillary drive belt - every 90,000 km.
Oil change in the front and rear axles - every 120,000 km.
Replacement of spark plugs - every 120,000 km.
Brake fluid change - every 2 years.
Coolant change - every 150,000 km or 5 years.
Replacement of the timing belt and the ancillary drive belt - every 150,000 km.

Refueling volumes:

Oil in a gasoline or diesel engine - Dexos 2, 5W30
Transmission oil in manual transmission - 2.7-3 liters, Dexron IV
Transmission oil in automatic transmissions with a gasoline engine - 5.2 l, Dexron VI
Transmission oil in automatic transmissions with a diesel engine - 5.7 l, Dexron VI
Transmission oil in the removed automatic transmission to the MIN mark - 10.6 l, Dexron VI
Transfer case oil - 1.5 L, Dexron VI

Front axle reducer - 0.9 l
Rear axle reducer - 2.3 l
Front and rear axle oil - ACDelco SAE 75W90
Brake fluid - 0.8 l, ACDelco DOT4
Power steering oil - 1.5 l, ACDelco Dexron VI
Diesel Engine Coolant - 9.0 L
Gasoline Engine Coolant - 10.5 L
Washer fluid - 4.5 l

Manual:

Photo:

Video review Chevrolet Trailblazer:

Driving performance of the 2013 Chevrolet Trailblazer on water and off-road:

Test drive on a special track:

Have you driven this car? What can you say about its cross-country ability and driving performance? How does it feel to ride it? Have you had any breakdowns? Write your own review or story, your opinion is very important to us.

Chevrolet TrailBlazer is back with us! The main thing is not clear: cry or laugh? The easiest way to make an American car. Several springs from an old mattress in a suspension, a change house covered with leather from a construction site instead of a body, an axle from a fuel truck - and you're done.

On the other hand, for Americans, personal transportation is something sacred. In it, they lose their virginity, smoke the first (and someone and the last) joint, kill bad people, listen to Elvis and save the world. Many do it all at the same time. Some do it every day. Imagine how many strong emotions! But the accompanying entourage, that is, the car itself, is tightly attached to them. Is it easy to give the owner, conceived in the back seat, the feeling that they are at home in this car?

If designers and designers keep this in mind, the roof will move down. That is why they do not bother, but simply stick to tradition and make cars that are excellent by their own standards for the domestic market. The rest of them are concerned purely formally. This all adds up to the fact that GM showed us what the next Chevrolet TrailBlazer is. It was in Africa.

Great original.
In some places, this interior resembles a child's play, but on the other hand it is unusual.

Your ticket?
The third row is spacious in American style. No irony. Really not bad

CLASSICALLY RESET
The old TrailBlazer was nothing interesting. Its remnants in Russian warehouses were sold off with a creak - for a long time and for inexpensive. What are they offering us now? A car that can, if not save the world or even the president, then help out one big family for sure. However, since we were in South Africa, far from our loved ones, the mission "to save the vuvuzela" looked more realistic.

The Chevrolet TrailBlazer is still a classic American frame SUV with a cast iron rear axle and low gear. It has three rows of seats, a fairly simple interior, a simple climate control and music control panel and a full-size spare wheel under the bottom, installed at the right angle so as not to spoil the passability.

Vibration.
On the go, not everything is as smooth as we would like

FROM BEYOND
We left the city of Georgia for the vastness of South Africa and moved mainly between restaurants and safari. Once we drove to the beach, where there were a couple of hills, which the organizers counted as off-road. But the ride was not boring. At first, the dashboard made me laugh, the style is absolutely not compatible with the rest of the interior of the SUV. It was as if she had been taken out of a child's play. Then vibrations came to the body from somewhere behind the back, from the area of the rear bridge. After a while, something began to screech in the decoration. Tradition and reliability are often at odds with comfort and generally far from glamor. On the bends, a lazy and stubborn steering wheel declared itself. Sweeping and at the same time requiring noticeable effort, it is covered with inappropriately smooth leather, which is why it slipped out of the palms at the junctions. If we were forced to go through a snake, I would get off before the finish line or ride half pedal to keep the driving pleasure. The six-speed automatic transmission worked sluggishly, especially at the start. Huge dip in the low rpm zone. And this is noticeable on the most powerful version with a 3.6-liter V6 engine. But there were also pleasant sides.

- The degree of smoothness. The steering wheel is heavy and slippery. In sharp turns and slips out of your hands

- Make your way. The American button needs a lot of space around it, otherwise it gets nervous and loses sleep

Most of all, I liked the equipment with a 2.8 liter diesel engine. Here everything is vigorous and to the point. The box in this version is also six-speed, but the engine delivers torque from the very bottom. No delay when overtaking or changing lanes. I was also pleased with the third row of seats: although a person under one meter eighty with a head will not enter here, but the rest are tolerable. If we recall the already mentioned spare tire, then four clear advantages of the novelty are obvious.

STILL "EASIER"
The suspension is more difficult. It is impossible to describe in precise terms what kind of sensation it gives, but I will try. It is far from waddling - quite collected. With it, it's not a problem to drive over bumps with acceleration - there are no breakdowns. At the same time, the driver does not feel either complete comfort or sufficient controllability. It seems that the engineers just ... yelled at the traditional Yankee design. So to speak, they pressed psychologically, and she got in line, as it happens in elementary school with raging children. Should we attribute this to the pluses? Or disadvantages? The same can be said about the front panel. It was done with rural simplicity, on a grand scale and with some kind of contempt for cramped conditions. The huge pancake of the regulator stands in the center, leaving a whole stadium of free, unused space along the edges of the panel. The control functions are fulfilled ... I remember in the nineties I dealt with Moscow programmers who, on request from overseas, wrote the Easy Start program, which helped the residents of the southern states of the United States, how to say, work normally with Windows. That is, they put more understandable icons on top of the Microsoft operating system. The new architecture of the front panel reminded me of the Easy Start program.

Is it good or bad? It probably doesn't matter at all. After all, General Motors marketers never told us about the main thing. How much will the novelty cost? Perhaps they will announce the price so attractive that the words about the shortcomings of the chassis will go past the ears of consumers. Or, conversely, the price tag will be overstated to such limits, when talking about the advantages of the suspension and the simplicity of the panel will no longer help. True, GM has never had such a sin before, but it's never too late to start, because it will remove a lot of questions. For example, Koreans have been doing just that for the last two years.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
While GM is counting on the success of the new TrailBlazer in South Africa, such optimism may be justified. In a country where an unusually large number of people revolve around any business, a car with three rows of seats will work anyway. Only in South Africa there are people in public latrines whose entire job is to gesture visitors to the urinals. It is here that six workers arrive in a pickup truck to dig in one post. And only here, near the automatic turnstile, do the employees cool off, taking an electronic ticket from your hands and pushing it into the slot themselves. In this situation, and special cross-country ability is not needed. If you happen to sit down, a bunch of people will immediately run up and push you out.

Off road.
In the dunes, the novelty is helped by a primitive four-wheel drive and suspension, with which the engineers had a conversation.

CAREFULLY! TECHNICAL DETAILS
TrailBlazer is a classic of the SUV genre. Frame with rear continuous axle and transfer case with low gear. The TrailBlazer all-wheel drive system belongs to the part-time type (plug-in) and allows you to select one of the operating modes - 2H, 4H, 4L. The lowered row is 2.62. The TrailBlazer with a 2.8-liter diesel engine with both manual and automatic transmissions has a maximum tractive effort of 3000 kg. The model with a petrol engine 3. 6 liters - 2500 kg. The diesel is equipped with a common rail, a variable geometry turbocharger and an exhaust gas recirculation system. The camshaft drive is belt driven. With a five-speed manual transmission, it develops 180 liters. with. at 3800 rpm and a torque of 440 Nm at 2000 rpm. (with a six-speed automatic transmission - 470 Nm at 2000 rpm). TrailBlazer 3.6 LTZ is equipped with a gasoline V6 with 24 valves and a VVT system that develops 240 hp. with. at 6600 rpm and a torque of 329 Nm at 3200 rpm. The camshaft drive is chain. Both engines comply with Euro 4 requirements.

Chevrolet noticed that there was not enough car in the logical chain of models between Blazer and Tahoe. And at the turn of the century, in 2001, a model was released that had a derived name from the Blazer, but resembled the Tahoe in appearance - it was called the TrailBlazer. Contrary to the opinion of buyers - the newcomer had nothing in common with the Blazer except for the name, the platforms of the models were completely different.

The TrailBlazer is a true off-road vehicle with a powerful naturally aspirated engine and frame construction. It's not as huge as the Tahoe, but that's exactly how it was conceived in Chevrolet. The car immediately attracted buyers at home - in the United States, for its brutal appearance and general style, a strong half of the US residents fell in love with it. But Trailblazer was also adapted for Europeans, the gearbox selector moved from the steering column to its usual place between the front seats. The driver's workplace is clearly delineated and has an easy angle of rotation to the person sitting behind the wheel, and the number of boxes and niches for small items cannot be counted for the delight of a large family.

The first generation of the car from 2001 to 2006

It was created as an off-road conqueror and had very impressive dimensions, chevrolet trailblazer technical characteristics:

length 4893 mm
width 1905 mm
height 1826 mm
ground clearance 203 mm
wheelbase 2869 mm
tank volume 94 liters
curb weight 2155 kg
gross weight 2608 kg.

Before us is a large and heavy car, which was driven by the same large and powerful engine:

petrol V-shaped, six-cylinder 4.2-liter engine with a capacity of 273 hp and a torque of 373 Nm. With it, Trailblazer accelerated to 100 km / h in just 9 seconds, but did not differ much in economy - 17.9 liters in the city and 10.1 on the highway. There is only one gearbox - an automatic machine with 4 gears. But it was not a simple machine, but one of the first adaptive machines that could adapt to the driving style, which the car owners really liked.

Trailblazer's safety is also all right, side and front airbags, a strong body frame and steel bars in the doors. The volume of the luggage compartment is simply huge - at least 1577 liters, maximum 2268 liters, not one competitor could boast of such a volume.

After a year of conveyor life, the Trailblazer received an extended version and a new engine. The new model was called TrailBlazer ETX:

length 4279 mm
width 1894 mm
height 1957 mm
ground clearance 203 mm
wheelbase 3277 mm
tank volume 98 liters
curb weight 2325 kg
gross weight 2903 kg.

The ETX had a significantly increased wheelbase and, as a consequence, a third row of seats. A more powerful motor was allocated for him:

petrol V-shaped 8-cylinder unit with a volume of 5.3 liters and a capacity of 294 hp Torque 441 Nm. The ETX accelerated to 100 km / h in 8.7 seconds, and its top speed was 175 km / h. The gearbox is the same 4-speed automatic.

But with the enlarged version of the trailblazer in the Chevrolet they miscalculated. Buyers tended to favor the Tahoe, considering it more solid. The ETX version lasted on the assembly line until 2006, after which it was discontinued.

Model update from 2006 to 2009

The original version was not repressed and continued to be produced. In 2006, the model was updated. Externally, the model did not receive major changes, since the image of the car was quite fresh and solid.

There were slightly more changes in the technique: it became possible to order a Trailblazer with a drive only to the rear wheels, and some of the engines were modified:

4.2 liters with a capacity of 273 hp - switched to the updated Trailblazer without changes.
the updated 4.2-liter engine now produced 295 hp. and a torque of 375 Nm. The changes in power were not significant, but the revision was aimed at improving the efficiency of the engine and the goal was achieved: 14.7 liters in the city and 9.2 liters on the highway.
the modernized 5.3 liters now produced 304 hp. and a torque of 447 Nm. This motor was equipped with both rear and all-wheel drive. Fuel consumption - 15.9 liters in the city and 12.4 on the highway.
new 6-liter monster with 400 hp The torque is 542 Nm. This engine came from the Corvett sports car. Trailbeiser with such a motor received the SS nameplate and was produced for only a couple of years from 2006 to 2007. The sporting direction marked SS was the first to tweak an SUV, and in this sense, Trailblazer was a pioneer. Acceleration to "hundred" with such a powerful power unit took 5.5 seconds, and the maximum speed was 210 km / h.

All models of the second generation were aggregated with an uncontested 4-speed automatic.
In 2009, Chevrolet decided to discontinue the TrailBlazer in the United States. After that, it was released for some time in Asian countries.

The first generation Trailblazer all-wheel drive system is state-of-the-art. In 2001, it was even patented as a know-how. It is based on a computer controlled transfer case. At his discretion, the driver can turn on rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, or lock the moment in a ratio of 50 to 50 with a low gear engaged. With such an arsenal and an impressive engine, TrailBlaizer is a serious rogue.

Second generation of the car since 2012

The new Trailblazer was shown at the 2011 Dubai Motor Show and went on sale in 2012 in the United States, Canada and Australia. He reached Russia in 2013. Contrary to expectations and fashion trends, TrailBlaizer has not turned into a crossover. It remains the same SUV with a frame, but the platform is completely different - from the Chevrolet Colorado.

length 4878 mm
width 1902 mm
height 1848 mm
ground clearance 255 mm
wheelbase 2845 mm
tank volume 77 liters
curb weight 2091 kg
gross weight 2750 kg.

If the digital values do not differ much from the previous generation, then outwardly they are completely two different cars. The newcomer is clearly focused not on the US market, but for Russia, Asia and Africa. It is produced in Thailand, Brazil or South Africa, where the cost of the car is significantly lower. For the domestic market, TrailBlazer will be assembled in Russia.

The salon easily takes on board 7 passengers and their belongings, by the way, the trunk this time does not boggle the imagination, only from 235 liters to 878 liters. Due to the fact that the car was not created for the United States, there is an abundance of hard plastic in the cabin and the finish is not of high quality.

Volumetric engines are a thing of the past, now everyone is fighting for economy and the environment, as a result, the TrailBlazer has only two units:

diesel 2.8 liters with a capacity of 180 hp and a torque of 440 Nm. Such a motor for a 2-ton car is slightly weak. Acceleration is sluggish, but you can accelerate to 100 km / h in 12.5 seconds. The element of a car is off-road, where, with a huge ground clearance and a torque motor, you can not be afraid to get stuck. Gearbox - 5-speed mechanics or 6-speed automatic. Diesel fuel consumption in the city is 12 liters, on the highway - 8 liters.
gasoline 3.6 liters with a capacity of 239 hp Torque 329 Nm. Such a unit is noticeably faster than the base unit, up to "hundreds" of TrailBlazer shoots in 8.8 seconds. But the maximum speed is the same as that of a diesel engine - 180 km / h. This engine is more suitable for asphalt, due to not large (compared to diesel) torque, but good dynamic characteristics. The gearbox is a 6-speed automatic.

The all-wheel drive system is essentially the same, but slightly technically modernized. By default, auto rear wheel drive. The mode selector can be used to connect front-wheel drive, or front-wheel drive with torque blocking and "lowering". Now TrailBlaizer is equipped with the ESP system, traction control, brake force distribution system and other systems that make life easier for the owner.

Options and prices 2013

At the moment TrailBlaizer is presented in two complete sets in our market:

LT - from 1,444,000 to 1,510,000 rubles. (only diesel with automatic transmission or manual transmission) This version is equipped in a very Spartan way: ABS, 2 airbags, air conditioning, on-board computer, audio system with 4 speakers, full electric glass package, central locking, four-wheel drive with a lowering range , 7-seater fabric interior, steps on the sills, 16th steel wheels.
LTZ - from 1,650,000 to 1,777,000 rubles. (gasoline with automatic transmission). New options compared to LT: airbags - 6 pcs, including curtains, climate control, heated and electrically folding mirrors, cruise control, parking sensors, ESP, chrome trim, lenticular headlight optics, leather interior, 18 alloy disks.

Conclusion

Originally created for America, the TrailBlazer was an SUV for comfortable travel on any surface. But with the change of generations, fundamental changes have occurred, as a result of which the car does not claim to be comfortable, it is just a working machine with good off-road potential for third world countries. At the same time, the price is very high, and the equipment is empty. Compared to the same Mitsubishi Pajero, the TrailBlazer does not stand up to any criticism in terms of price / performance / equipment ratio. Perhaps the state of affairs will change with the release of the car on the territory of the Russian Federation.

I completely forgot to answer the question of my dear LJ friends - my "trail" was produced in St. Petersburg. But despite his St. Petersburg roots and Moscow residence permit, there is not an ounce of intelligence in him. This is a brutal American redneck. And this clearly masculine character of the car is very to my liking. We decided to check how the character of the "trailblazer" corresponds to its real off-road abilities in a place called "Bestial Mountains". Mud, sand, pits, mountains and huge puddles - everything is here as we wanted.

Since the car did not undergo special training and is serviced exclusively in Moscow, where else we need to get, we decided to do without extreme - we did not give more than 80 in the mud and drifted quite a bit. Watch the video)

You know, I have never tested SUVs before. And I don't even know what to write here. I will just share my emotions. But for now, I'll tell you about the technical part - this is important.

The clearance of this giant is 220 mm. Short overhangs and the absence of plastic in the lower parts, as well as severe steel protection, allow you not to be afraid of damage even on the most difficult tracks. The crankcase protection here resembles a sheet of armor at all. The driver's position is very high, the visibility is perfect. In the rear-view mirror, you see only the upper part of the roof of the cars driving behind. They do not honk this car, but only throw reproachful glances if they did something wrong. Huge side mirrors would make any car a chebarshka, but not that. Everything is visible - great!

Hidden under the hood is a turbodiesel, 2.8 liters, 180 horsepower, torque - 470 Nm. Maximum speed - 180 km / h, acceleration to hundreds in 12.5 seconds. The transmission is automatic, 6-speed. Plug-in four-wheel drive, low gear with differential locks. Suspension - independent front and multi-link rear. In addition to the usual safety and stability systems (ABS, HSA, EBD, ESC, ESC, CBC, HBA), there is a switchable traction control system (TCS) and a hill descent control system (HDC).

But enough words - a forest trail awaits us! What is unusual is that a huge city is noisy a kilometer away, but absolute silence reigns here.

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It rained yesterday, so the mud and puddles are just right - as we like)

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In the car, I am sure that the mud will pass through on the rear wheel drive. But for every firefighter, right on the go, I transfer the car to four-wheel drive with a washer. For ponizhayki it would be necessary to stop and switch through neutral - otherwise nothing ... But with it the car rushes like a tank. Slowly and inevitably.

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For a complete buzz, turn off the traction control system - it is displayed on a separate button. There is also a descent assistance system, but in a month I have used it once or twice ...

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