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All Chevy Crossovers Need A Rugged Variant: Opinion

These days, it’s hard to turn around without seeing some sort of off-road-flavored crossover variant. The rough-and-ready aesthetic is hugely popular right now, and automakers are leveraging that popularity by adding a plethora of trim levels, equipment, and standalone off-roaders across multiple segments. That said, the Chevy crossover stable could use additional rugged model variants – in fact, all Chevy crossovers should get the off-roader treatment.

That isn’t to say the Chevy crossover stable has completely ignored the off-roader aesthetic. Back in November, the Bow Tie brand unveiled the U.S.-spec 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, pulling the sheets on two trim levels, including the sporty RS, and the more rugged Activ.

The Activ stands apart from the rest of the lineup thanks to a variety of unique features and styling touches, including a new front fascia that adds extra ground clearance, faux skid plates, all-terrain tires, and off-road-tuned suspension.

It’s the sort of thing that’s sure to pique the interest of customers looking for a slice of the rugged aesthetic, so why not apply the same formula to the rest of the Chevy crossover lineup, including the Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Blazer, and Chevrolet Traverse?

After all, GMC is doubling down on the off-roader treatments with the expanding AT4 line. As we covered previously, the 2021 GMC Terrain AT4 was recently teased, and we know that every GMC model (excluding the Savana van) will get an AT4 variant by 2021. So why not all the Chevy crossovers as well?

2020 Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road

The competition is certainly leveraging all the interest in rugged crossovers. Toyota, for example, released a new TRD variant of the RAV4 just a few months back, following up on the RAV4 Adventure model variant released previously with new rally-inspired suspension, Dynamic Torque Vectoring all-wheel-drive, and other complementary bits and pieces.

As for rugged version of the Chevy crossover lineup, the Activ name would be a good fit. We’ve seen it used previously for the Chevrolet Spark, the Chevrolet Spin, and the Chevrolet Onix, adding things like plastic cladding, and in some cases, a small suspension lift. These are the sort of upgrades that would help the Chevy crossover lineup go toe-to-toe with rivals like Toyota, and would surely draw in loads more sales.

What do you think about adding new rugged variants across the Chevy crossover lineup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. If done as well as the Trailblazer, I’m down with more Activs.

    Reply
    1. Back when…I went over my budget to purchase a GMC Sonoma High Rider. I thought GM got it right for the first time with small trucks. After I bought it, the next year GM came out with the 4×4 Blaser! Bested any SUV. Haven’t seen anything like it since. Since GM started with the Highrider an d the 4×4 Blaser maybe GM will take the cue and evolve the ZR2/Bison to a 4×4 SUV….

      Fingers crossed.

      Reply
  2. This is true except one has to remember that GM CEO Mary Barra is too much of a bean counter to consider doing this which means this is just a pipe dream at best.

    Reply
  3. “faux skid plates”

    I think that is all you need to know about GM’s small and midsize SUV strategy….

    Reply
  4. Its aesthetics for the most part, which is just ridiculous and seems like a poser to me. Add some grunt with more performance variants and true offroad or sport capabilities and then it would be a consideration.

    Reply
  5. Well the problem is, how do you make the Equinox more rugged and sexy at the same time lol?

    Reply
    1. Isn’t that was GMC is already doing with the trim levels offered? You want rugged get the AT4, you want sexy buy a Denali. Chevy has the High Country for sexy and Redline for Sport. The problem for me personally is that there is no performance attributes to distinguish the two. You just get a different grille and body styling. Zero other true content.

      Same at GMC…the Terrain AT4 is supposed to be off-road, but comes with the same lane 4cyl engine. Oh but it does have some different tread tires and maybe a suspension tweak. Whoop-di-doo…aftermarket can do that.

      Reply
  6. How about a true 4X4 smaller Chevrolet SUV. Not everyone needs a Tahoe or Suburban. But those are our only choices in a 4X4. Not an AWD, a true 4X4. The previous generation Trailblazer was the last.

    Reply
  7. They should just have Active versions of their hatches, like they do with the spark and spin.

    Reply

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