GM Hoping For Another Encore Moment With 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer?
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At the start of the decade, someone, somewhere inside General Motors gave the green light to a Buick version of the Opel Mokka—the sub-compact crossover Americans know as the Buick Encore.
While it may have been a “let’s see what happens” kind of move, the market responded very positively. The Buick Encore remains the brand’s best-selling model today and opened up a whole new segment in the U.S. The Chevrolet Trax followed from GM. Then Jeep came with the Renegade. The Honda HR-V is a thing. So is the Toyota CH-R. We can’t forget about the Ford Ecosport, either.
Is it fair to say GM is hoping for another “encore” type of moment with the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer? Analysts seem to think so.
Speaking to The Detroit Free Press in a report this past Saturday, IHS Markit senior analyst Stephanie Brinley said there’s absolutely another element of “let’s see what happens” with the introduction of the sub-compact-plus 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The model will sit above the current Trax, but below the Equinox. If Chevy prices the Trailblazer right (and doesn’t step on the Equinox’s toes), the brand could have another sleeper hit waiting to happen.
The model will also give buyers another somewhat affordable option as Chevy ditches passenger cars, save for the Malibu. Nevertheless, GM will likely price the Trailblazer at thousands of dollars more than the Chevrolet Cruze, which will net the automaker higher profits in the process.
As for that “encore” moment, Brinley also said it was a bit of a no-brainer to bring the Trailblazer to the U.S., and the closely related Buick Encore GX itself that GM also revealed.
“GM builds them anyway, so why not see if people here like them?” she asked.
Both models will be built in South Korea and exported to the U.S. market. They’ll arrive in early 2020 and we’ll soon see how many crossover SUVs are too many.
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Source: The Detroit Free Press
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It better not have a dinky 1.4L in the higher end trims. A 2.0L is a must for that price range on higher trim models. Along with AWD/4×4
Do it right:
Your experience with the 1.4L Turbo is what? Are you basing your comment on experience or just the mentality that bigger must be better?
I have a 2018 Encore with the smaller HP 1.4L turbo and I have yet to find a need for more. I live in L.A. area where traffic is terrible and there are lots of hills/mountains. Going up the 405 at Sepulveda pass is no issue. Freeway driving and holding 70+ MPH is no issue. Merging into traffic, again no issue.
I’ve had my share of high powered “sport” vehicles. I’ve had several SRT Models. V-8’s. V-6’s. Turbo and non-turbo engines. I was in low enforcement for 10 years. I just don’t understand this mentality of we need more and more power.
Had a 2017 Cruze 1.4T. It was loud and gutless. Hopefully if they do go the 1.4L route they use the LE2 in the newer cruze and not that ancient 1.4L that just buzzes when you floor it.
Want a 3.6 300+hp
Stupid Gm should had based the so called Blazer on the gmc canyon or chevy pickups Dumbasses.
GM losing its way. To be built offshore and sold in the states? To who all the people that lost there jobs with plant closing?
They maybe making a vehicle built off the canyon/Colorado. They want to invest in the location its built and spy photos have seen Jeep Wranglers on GM’s proving grounds. So something is up. Maybe there will be a competitor very soon.
I was taken by surprised by the get up and go of my grandsons trax and I am used to driving corvettes
I believe that the 2.0 has too much horsepower for the trail blazer. I wouldn’t mind maybe the 2.5 na in the car it is just a super small platform
gm should absolutely obliterate the ford ecosport in this segment.
people turned off by the funky toyota ch-r or the conservative honda hr-v should give the trailblazer serious consideration.
best looking one in the segment.
This would be a perfect opportunity for the trailblazer SS, using the same engine as the Cadillac XT4 2.0 L with 237 hp
Someone in GM got crazy. Try to parasite on old names in different cars. First Blazer, Trailblazer… but poor Caddy lost its famous name and face. The problem with this new generation SUV from Korea is the fact that these cars brings nothing new at all. They are bigger but inside they are almost the same. Zero full digital cluster and the same small display. Even some details like buttoms are exactly the same. So, why should I buy new one?
Could be a good vehicle if it doesn’t have an auto-stop feature and keep the shift lever.
The Trailblazer is just a little bigger then the Trax/Encore, but estimated to be $3k to $4k more expensive. I’m thinking the slightly bigger sub-compact isn’t worth the added expense. We got a 2018 Encore in Oct. We got it for my wife, and she loves the thing. I kept reading how it was under powered, but the little thing will scoot. I was thinking I may get the Trax in a couple of years. GM is going to replace it basically with a similar vehicle, just more expensive, I will look at other makes instead. I didn’t like the Toyota ch-r, looks like a Stormtrooper. I did like the Honda hr-v. Just got the Encore for $3k less. The 2018 Encore looks great, it runs great, and the interior feels upscale. For the money, we couldn’t be any happier.
I’m all for new CUV’s and new entries, but I;m starting to see a bit of “old GM” badge engineering going on. I pray they dont get carried away with it. GMC does not need something this small.