The popularity of SUV models in China is self-evident, but have you ever known which model truly pioneered the four-wheel drive SUV?
In 1969, Chevrolet launched the four-wheel drive Trailblazer multi-purpose sports car in the U.S. market. This is a unique model with a larger body and wider interior space than other competing products. With more power, it is the leader in the SUV field and creates new market demand for four-wheel drive vehicles. It is the Chevrolet Blazer!
The Trailblazer has sold more than 4 million units since the 1980s. This time we were also lucky enough to get a Chevrolet Trailblazer test drive to see if this Trailblazer, which has returned with a new image, is more satisfying. Nowadays, consumers have strict demands for SUV models.
You will be amazed at the first glance
The test car we got this time is the top-of-the-line RS 650T Twin-Clutch four-wheel drive version of the Chevrolet Trailblazer (hereinafter referred to as the Chevrolet Trailblazer) ), its appearance highly restores the design elements of the concept car FNR-CarryAll.
At first glance, the front face of the Chevrolet Trailblazer adopts the Chevrolet family-style double grille design. The use of a large number of lines outlines a very aggressive front face shape, coupled with the prominent The front apron, blackened honeycomb grille, sharp star split LED headlights and the finishing touch of the red RS logo. Just one glance at this Chevrolet Trailblazer will give you the feeling of a Darth Vader-style sports car.
On the side of the car body, the most eye-catching thing is the 21-inch blackened tires. Chevrolet is also very kind and uses the same Michelin Tour series tires as the Porsche Macan 3.0T (market price 2400RMB) /strip). And it can be seen that the size of the Chevrolet Trailblazer is actually much larger than that of the Highlander and Edge, so its body lines are also more slender. Together with the raised rear triangle window and sports rear wing, it gives it a sideways shape. More design sense.
The highlight of the rear part of the car is the double Y-shaped LED taillights that draw on the design elements of Chevrolet's national treasure sports car Corvette. Very good too.
The inside is equally exciting
Entering the car, you can see that the interior style of the Chevrolet Trailblazer is very similar to that of the sixth-generation Camaro (the sixth-generation Camaro The interior design has won the title of "Ward's Top Ten Interiors"). It adopts Chevrolet's classic flying-wing dual-cockpit design, and is covered with leather materials on a large area, giving it a first-class texture.
It is worth mentioning that the air conditioning operating area of ??the Chevrolet Trailblazer is compressed into a small strip, and the buttons are arranged in an orderly manner. The air conditioning temperature adjustment and air volume adjustment are integrated into the air outlet. The outer ring is rotated to adjust the temperature, and the inner ring is rotated to adjust the air volume. This iconic design element is also similar to the Camaro.
The use of tungsten silver trim strips and red hand-stitching in the details greatly improves the overall texture and sportiness of the interior. The finishing touch is the bright white ambient lights and cup holder lights, which when lit at night will create a low-key and elegant atmosphere inside the car.
Moreover, this Chevrolet Trailblazer seems to be deliberately trying to overturn people's previous impression of "American cars" that are careless and don't pay attention to details. Not only are the function buttons in the car very well made, but also the armrest box, glove box and other equipment have an outstanding sense of damping and high-end design when opening and closing.
While having an excellent sense of design and luxury, the Chevrolet Trailblazer is also unambiguous in terms of comfort and technological configurations! Not only does the entire series come standard with 70 comfort and safety features, but on this top-of-the-line model, we also see technological configurations such as assisted driving and remote start that can greatly improve the convenience of use. It can be said that engineers are developing this car. Chevrolet Trailblazer has already taken into consideration all our daily car needs.
Of course, since it is a 7-seat SUV, space must be our focus. With a body length of 4999mm and a wheelbase of 2863mm, the Chevrolet Trailblazer can be said to be unique in its class. You must know that the Highlander, known as the benchmark for 7-seat SUVs, is only 4890mm in length and 2790mm in wheelbase. .
According to actual experience, the Chevrolet Trailblazer with a 2+3+2 seat layout not only has ample interior space, but also has hollowing out in the body and roof, which makes people first There is an unexpected sense of openness when entering the car for the first time.
The key point is that the Chevrolet Trailblazer's third row of seats is not "tasteless". On the premise of ensuring the front and second row seating space, there is no need to worry about the third row of seating space. No matter the sense of space or comfort configuration, it has not fallen behind at all (the Trailblazer has the only seat cushion in its class with a thickness of more than 30cm and the thickness of the seat back has reached 14cm. At the same time, the third row of seats is also equipped with separate air-conditioning outlets. Cup holders and other comfort features). Moreover, the Chevrolet Trailblazer's second-row seats have an Easy entry function that can operate forward, backward, and tilt at the same time, which will fully reflect the care of third-row passengers.
Many "black" technologies integrated into one
After watching the static, the next step is to turn it on! The Chevrolet Trailblazer is equipped with the eighth-generation Ecotec 2.0T intelligent variable-cylinder turbine engine, which contains almost all the latest engine technologies under the General Motors Group, including intelligent variable cylinder, DVVT dual variable valve timing, and electronic bleed valve dual scroll Supercharger, etc. What needs to be emphasized is the intelligent variable cylinder technology. This is the world's first engine technology of GM Group. It can intelligently select the best current valve lift according to the engine speed and accelerator pedal position. In three working modes (two-cylinder smooth operation) Smooth switching between three modes (four-cylinder high-efficiency and four-cylinder power modes) not only improves fuel economy, but also brings more calm power and a smooth driving experience.
Matched with the engine is a 9-speed HYDRAMATIC? automatic manual gearbox. Unlike the "pseudo 9-speed gearbox" of previous years, this gearbox can cut in at a speed of 95km/h. 9-speed, moreover, it has a wider speed ratio range (7.6:1) and a thinner gear distribution. It is equipped with a universal patented optional one-way clutch, which can bring better shifting comfort.
For the chassis and body, the Chevrolet Trailblazer adopts a front MacPherson strut and a rear five-link suspension. The key point here is to note that the rear suspension is a five-link form (compared to the same level of models equipped with The four-link suspension and the five-link suspension system have better performance in terms of handling, comfort and NVH performance), which is considered a very generous configuration at this level. The body part adopts an ultra-high-strength body structure, which not only ensures the rigidity of the body, but also improves reliability and durability. In addition, it also helps to improve the vehicle's cornering stability.
The above are all technical descriptions. When it comes to actual driving, you can find that the Chevrolet Trailblazer's accelerator pedal response seems to be a balance between Japanese and German styles when starting. The power comes from It is not very fast, and there is no sudden pushing feeling. The smart gearbox shifting logic allows the vehicle to obtain a more linear power output at lower speeds. In terms of starting acceleration, the Chevrolet Trailblazer does not have the same difficulty as when testing other 7-seat SUVs in the past.
If you continue to press the accelerator pedal at this time, the gearbox will quickly downshift. As the engine speed increases, the entire car will show another state. At this time, you will have an illusion, as if this The 2.0T engine has a very bad temper. However, due to the limitations of engine displacement and vehicle weight, it ultimately cannot bring a sports car-like acceleration experience. However, if it is just accelerating to overtake, the Chevrolet Trailblazer's performance is quite relaxed and enjoyable.
The 9-speed automatic transmission responds very positively whether it is upshifting or downshifting, and it is well integrated with the engine. During daily driving, the transmission will appear very calm and smooth during the entire acceleration process. Compared with the general 6-speed gearbox that I have been exposed to more before, it can be said that the performance of this 9-speed gearbox has been improved by more than one level, and it has better predictability of gear changes, which can be used in actual driving. Good understanding of the driver's intentions.
The chassis performance tends to be balanced. Thanks to the five-link rear independent suspension, the Chevrolet Trailblazer has very good support when running fast in corners on well-paved roads. There will not be too much bounce when facing small potholes. This chassis setting can well meet the daily driving habits of most consumers today. The high-quality chassis combined with the brisk steering with a clear road feel makes driving for a long time feel comfortable rather than resisting. It is simple and easy to use. The word "easy to drive" lingers in my mind.
It is worth mentioning that when cruising at a high speed of 120km/h, thanks to the standard ANC active noise reduction system of the entire series and the excellent sound insulation performance of the entire vehicle (reaching Level A level of silence) ), the past experience of driving a larger SUV surrounded by all kinds of disturbing noises will no longer appear on this charming "Dark Warrior".
Who said "Dark Warrior" only represents sports?
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the Trailblazer is a multi-purpose sports car that has appeared as early as 1969. In addition to road test drives, off-road tests on non-paved roads are also essential. You must know that Chevrolet The Trailblazer has extremely excellent hardware capabilities (approach angle: 16°, departure angle: 22°, minimum ground clearance: 163mm), supplemented by Twin-clutch intelligent four-wheel drive system and All-road driving mode. With blessing, it can be said that based on its own conditions, it is fully capable of cross-country and short-distance crossings.
When we actually come to non-paved roads, the first thing we encounter are muddy roads and large potholes in shell craters. At this time, the Chevrolet Trailblazer's electronic limited-slip system will operate very sensitively and can In less than half a second after I feel a tire that has partially lost its grip, the system can immediately stop it from idling and quickly distribute the engine power to other wheels that have grip, so I just need to keep steady. You can easily pass obstacles with just the accelerator.
And as for the off-road section we traveled through, the Chevrolet Trailblazer could easily handle it in the "AWD four-wheel drive" mode, but this further aroused my curiosity about the positioning of urban SUVs. How strong is it? Of course, I have to switch the mode to "Off-road" mode to find some more difficult road conditions for testing. What deserves praise here is that when switching to "Off-road off-road" mode, the Chevrolet Trailblazer does not need to stop and shift into neutral and then adjust it like traditional models (officially claims that the switch can be made at any time).
When the vehicle enters the "Off-road off-road" mode, you can feel that the power output performance of the entire vehicle immediately changes. The torque output is much stronger, and it can pass when facing larger angle slopes and muddy roads. You will feel more confident. I even specifically selected some deep ruts and potholes to create a scene of self-rescue after a stuck car, but no matter whether I stopped with two wheels in the air and started again, or found a muddy road to create a situation where only one tire had adhesion It can easily handle "unexpected situations" with its Twin-clutch intelligent four-wheel drive system.
By the way, I also discovered an unexpected surprise on the way back from the crossing. The HDC hill descent function of the Chevrolet Trailblazer actually has a calibrated speed option. When the steep hill descent function is turned on, it can Adjusting the vehicle speed by setting the cruise speed button not only saves me a lot of worry when the road conditions permit, but also greatly improves the passing efficiency.
Written at the end
At the end of the article, let’s make a brief summary. The Chevrolet Trailblazer’s body size of 4999×1953×1736mm and wheelbase of 2863mm are compared to the Highlander. Competitors at the same level as Ruijie are much larger. This kind of "compensating with the big and the small, misaligned competition" and highlighting the size advantage is actually a very good approach.
In terms of overall strength, the Chevrolet Trailblazer also has profound "skills". It not only has an exterior design that combines science fiction and power, but its interior has a sense of high-end, technology, comfort and practicality. The extent was beyond my expectation. But what surprises me most is the driving experience. The calmness when driving it is completely different from driving a 7-seater SUV with a weight of nearly 1.9 tons. Don’t forget that the Trailblazer, equipped with Twin-clutch intelligent four-wheel drive system and All-road all-road driving mode, also performs quite well in off-road.
Although the Chevrolet Trailblazer's starting price of 259,900 yuan may be slightly higher than other competitors in the same class, whether it is the hard strength it displays or the various features in the car that subvert "American cars" The sense of high-end will make you feel that it is worth the money. Coupled with the five-fold car purchase gift and the long warranty policy that have just been launched, I believe that the high-end large 7-seat full-scale SUV Chevrolet Trailblazer will definitely become an extremely popular 7-seat SUV class. A strong contender.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.