Trailblazer returns to crowded crossover SUV segment

 Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- The Chevrolet Trailblazer name returns for the 2021 model year, and the subcompact crossover sport-utility vehicle showed me numerous surprises in my week with it.

Its appearance raised my eyebrows from the start.

The paint job on the tester was what I would describe as a super-bright turquoise.  Chevy calls it "Oasis Blue."  Labels aside, you'll never have trouble finding an SUV of this color in a crowded parking lot.

The mega-blue color was emphasized with 18-inch, black-machined aluminum wheels.  Those wheels hold up a no-doubt-about-it SUV-style body that is sleek and easy on the eyes.

Underneath the hood is a three-cylinder engine.  Boosted by a turbo, it makes a maximum 155 horsepower.

The tested Trailblazer AWD RS performed well on city streets and interstates, but it did labor noisily on steep hill climbs in the Sierra Nevada.

Given its subcompact standing, you might think that things are a bit cramped inside this Trailblazer.  You'd be wrong.  There's more than ample room in the back seating area, and the rear seats fold to create an impressive 54.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

In other words, the Trailblazer checks the boxes that small crossover SUV buyers desire -- small size, easy handling, good fuel mileage (26 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway) and good interior room to transport humans and cargo.

The starting price on the tester was a reasonable $26,900, but my ride was seriously dressed up to send the bottom line to a hefty $32,350.

And while that bottom-line number featured some customer-pleasing perks -- a power sunroof/liftgate package, wireless Android Auto/Apple Car Play, wireless charging and a high-definition rear-vision camera among them -- SUV shoppers might want to do some careful comparative shopping.  After all, the crossover SUV market is so packed today that larger models are sometimes loaded up with even more technology-comfort-convenience perks at bargain prices.  Bottom line: It comes down to dealing at the car lot.

But for Chevrolet fans and those who remember Trailblazers of old, this is an alluring offering. It also has the advantage of being "all new," which Chevy is marketing to the max.

The Trailblazer certainly is worth a test drive among those who do thorough shopping for their crossover choices.