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GM Makes Argument For Offering Both Chevy Trax And Trailblazer

GM unveiled the all-new 2024 Chevy Trax earlier this month, debuting a fresh entry-level vehicle for the small crossover segment. Notably, the new Chevy Trax will hit the ground running alongside another small Chevy crossover, namely the Chevy Trailblazer, which could lead some to believe that these two models may trip over one another when it comes to sales. However, GM has a counter argument to that prediction.

During the debut of the new 2024 Chevy Trax, GM pointed out the relevance of offering two entries in the small crossover segment, while underlining how the Trax and Trailblazer appeal to different customers and can successfully coexist in the same brand lineup.

According to GM, the 2024 Chevy Trax appeals to customers that want the practicality of a sedan, plus the versatility of a utility, but with “lower, leaner proportions.” Additionally, the Chevy Trax serves as a gateway to the Chevy brand. By contrast, the Trailblazer’s 3-inch taller height and all-wheel drive capability give it more of a light off-roading appeal, especially when specced in the Active trim level.

Additionally, the Chevy Trax and Trailblazer exist in one of the largest and most popular automotive segments, a segment which is expected to grow by 32 percent in the next five years. That means there’s space for multiple entries, as Chevy has proven. What’s more, some competitors have abandoned the lower price segment, opening up new conquest opportunities for the Chevy brand.

As for the Chevy Trax and Trailblazer specifically, GM anticipates a $5,000 average transaction price (ATP) price difference between the two, with Trailblazer customers opting for higher trim content to access features not offered with the Trax. For example, more than 70 percent of 2023 Chevy Trailblazer sales feature the optional turbocharged 1.3L I3 L3T gasoline engine, while more than 40 percent include all-wheel drive.

As it stands, Chevy Trax and Chevy Trailblazer sales combined to make up 9 percent of the market share for the subcompact crossover segment during the 2021 calendar year. That said, production was extremely constrained, which means GM would likely have sold quite a few more units if more units were built.

Sales Numbers - Trax, Trailblazer - 2021 - United States

MODEL YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20 YTD 21 SHARE YTD 20 SHARE
TRAILBLAZER +162.92% 90,161 34,292 68% 24%
TRAX -59.93% 42,590 106,299 32% 76%
TOTAL -5.58% 132,751 140,591

Sales Numbers - Trax, Trailblazer - Jan-Sep 2022 - United States

MODEL YTD 22 / YTD 21 YTD 22 YTD 21 YTD 22 SHARE YTD 21 SHARE
TRAILBLAZER -43.26% 41,932 73,898 66% 64%
TRAX -47.02% 21,882 41,306 34% 36%
TOTAL -44.61% 63,814 115,204

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

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Comments

  1. Even though the Trail Blazer is fairly new the Trax makes it look old inside and out. I would really like to see them on a dealer’s lot side by side.

    Reply
    1. I think they are doing a significant refresh of the Trailblazer to keep it ahead of the Trax. It’s due for a MCE anyway, I also strongly believe it may get the Trax’s interior design with a few differences.

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    2. The dealers would love to have them so you could see them…..

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  2. Both nice looking cars but way to underpowered

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    1. We have a Trail blazer AWD with the 1.3l and the 9 speed.
      We also have a Subaru Forester , and a 2.0 l Equinox AWD. The TB can more than hold its own against the Forrester.
      I suggest you have never driven one, and your comments are not based on actual driving experience.
      The TB never feels underpowered unless you are a person who drives very aggressively all the time and in that case you are likely never looking for a vehicle like the TB
      Combine the excellent build quality and reliability and Chevy has a winner , but only if they can build enough

      Reply
      1. I have test driven both the TB 1.2L and 1.3L and the Encore GX 1.3L and in my opinion both engines are a bit underpowered

        If indeed GM decides to offer both – which I think makes sense – Trax entry level with 1.2L and the TB a notch up with the 1.5L (that is in the new Seeker).

        Wondering where the Trax will be produced?

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        1. South Korea….. just like the Trailblazer and the current Trax.

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          1. Has that been confirmed? It seems like the logical choice.

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        2. I appreciate your opinion, however compared to most of the competition in the segment and the one just above, the TB/ Encore GX are just fine.
          Here are some 0-60 times in the segment take from a site on the internet;

          Chevy Trailblazer 8.5-9.3sec , various test sites
          22 HRV 9.8 sec
          Cross trek 2.0l 9.2sec
          Kona 8.1-9.7 sec, depending on motor
          Toyota CHR 10.5 sec
          22 Hyundai Tucson 8.8 sec
          Rogue sport 9.8 sec

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  3. Truth why do you need so much power? These small SUVs aren’t going to be pulling any trailers, they will most of the time be occupied by one person and some travel accessories, the fuel economy would suffer with a more powerful engine… The Equinox has proven that you don’t need a 300HP V6 to be the best selling Chevy only behind the Silverado the 1.4 liter turbo 4 with 170HP is just fine as will these two vehicles be with their power trains! I remember not so long ago in the 1990s and 2000’s where a V6 made this kind of power 150-180HP and the 4 cylinders back then your lucky if they squeezed out 130-140HP… and people still bought them and where fine with that power… Not everyone on earth needs 250-300HP in this size vehicle!

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    1. Some people don’t want a giant truck just to tow a small fishing boat or trailer with a lawn mower. Both the similar sized Jeep Renegade and Compass can tow 2000 lbs.

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    2. Chevy Man all I want is an option for a better engine transmission don’t want to spend 25,000 on a car that like you said is a one person car.The reason that people bought those 80s and 90s cars is that is the best they could make back then.Love the equinox buy I think it’s underpowered most car companies have multiple engine options.GM never offered hybrid or plug in hybrid they are going all in on EV at the expense of there ICE cars

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    3. C Man:
      Have you ever tried passing on a 2 lane in one of these under powered things?? I have! It’s very dangerous! Stop trying to smooth over a dangerous safety issue!

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      1. Robert… Then don’t pass anyone on a two lane road that’s also a dangerous thing to do while driving even with a higher HP car! Why are you in such a hurry anyway? Are you the Police, EMS, or fire fighter and even if your a volunteer fire fighter you have a blue light in your windshield or on your roof alerting other drivers to please move over… Or if your that late for work then wake up earlier don’t blame the vehicle! Also I have a 2010 Chevy equinox with the V6 and while yes it’s more powerful I would still take extreme caution passing somebody on a country two lane road with blind turns and hills… Again I am not in that much of a hurry… People have to slow down all these high HP vehicles for everyday driving is stupid a soccer mom does not need 300HP in a minivan nor does s small SUVs need that much power because people can’t drive them. Like I said before back in the day this much HP out of a 3 cylinder would have been great when I was growing up a Honda Civic SI had 190HP and it was plentyy 1996 Chevy Blazer LS had a 190HP V6 and that was enough!

        Reply
        1. This kind of logic is both arrogant and unintelligent enough to be angering. It’s not your business or your place to tell people to just “wake up earlier” or “don’t pass on two-lane roads,” or to tell other people what they need. It’s nice you have a perfectly-organized life where you’re never running late, or simply have the patience to lag behind other people driving 45 in a 55-zone for no reason, but that’s not reality for the rest of us.

          It’s also not reality, period. People pass on two-lane roads, as they have a perfect right to do, and as they always will do, anyway, so it’s the automakers’ job to give us vehicles with reasonable power. And it shouldn’t cost us a minimum of $40,000 to have it, either. The average car costs way too much, as it is… the least they can do while they’re milking us for a lot of expensive crap we don’t need in every car, is give decent mechanics. And that includes enough power to get around every turtle on the road, rolling along like they’re 80 and on their way to Sunday lunch all the time, and their schedule is the only one that matters.

          Besides, after spending that kind of money on pretty much any given car I could buy today, I have every right to want it to be quick and confident on the road. A good car’s not just a lifeless appliance, it actually enhances your life with a little joy every now and then. And part of that is a good, genuine sense of speed and power, that actually has something to back it up.

          Reply
          1. Aaron… Like I said there is no need for an average crossover to be fast you want speed there is the Buick Envision, the Chevy Blazer, my wife’s Buick enclave gets up and goes with the 300 horse V6… My point was is that for $25,000 dollars this looks good for someone wanting to save fuel in a small wagon… If you don’t like it then don’t buy it PERIOD! And the the idiot that almost hit me and almost caused a HEAD ON COLLISION that it’s not safe to pass somebody on two lane busy country roads… I value my life as well as the life of others now I can see if the person is going 40 in a 55 and can pass then fine do it but most drivers lake the judgement to do this safely. Also my car is not an appliance my Equinox gets up and goes with the V6… but that doesn’t mean I have to drive like the dukes of Hazzard everyday… I don’t need an accident or a ticket!

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  4. At least make awd optional on the Trax. Good looking, though. I guess manual transmission is out of the question? Manual always helps with small engines.

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  5. It looks great but why take the 4.1 liter out and make it a 3.1. It’s great n gas and it’s got kick why dissect it.

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  6. Most will choose the higher with better visibility. AWD will sap power and mpg. The lower Trax will have slight advantage.

    Not race cars, 1.8 na is fine. With turbo or without manual I pass on both.

    Reply
  7. GM historical competed against itself with the various brands & still does with Chevrolet, Buick, GMC. Hyandai & Kia do the exact same thing. Provided each vehicle appeals to a unique demo any small amount of cannibalization is offset by greater market share.
    Trax is the spiritual successor to Cruze. It’s basically a 2022 Chevy Cavalier wagon w/cladding.
    (In cases like this I wish GM had kept Opel. Never agreed with Barra that the brands only shared 40% of segments with proof being 3 banger Trax, would have made a great Astra, and Trailblazer not to mention Nox (ICE & EV) plus Blazer and Envision & many of the new EV models. Wait till the US sanctions China over Taiwan & suddenly Europe will look good).

    Reply
  8. You know want Aaron I just thought of something it’s funny how the Chevy Camaro behind me today did not tailgate me… But the dnmbass in the Jeep Grand Cherokee was riding my ass the whole way and I was doing the speed limit… And I have every right to not want some idiot endangering my life as well as my young sons life in my car! My life is not perfect but I leave on time for work so I do not have to rush… It’s called planing ahead don’t sit there and tell me that other people should take my life in there hands… This is coming from someone who owned a 2002 Camaro Z28 with the V8… Not some cross over that I wish was fast… You don’t know me and I don’t know you. It is reality when your going 45-50 mph in a 45 zone and the person is riding your bumper!…. SLOW DOWN!

    Reply
  9. What you have is every right to drive the way you want, and not to tell anyone else how to drive. I get that there are more than a few people out there who shouldn’t be driving, but that doesn’t give you the right to tell everyone else what they do and don’t need. Not everyone can afford a Camaro with a V8, or even an Equinox with a V6, but that doesn’t mean they should be stuck with a car so slow, it’s not only a rip-off for the price, but actually dangerous. Having confident speed in a car you’re already paying too much for is a perfectly reasonable thing to expect, rather you agree with it or not. I’m not saying people should be allowed to do whatever they want without caring how it affects everyone else. I’m saying it’s not up to you to make that distinction for everybody, and you need to cram the arrogant attitude up your nose. The rest of the world isn’t responsible for making you feel better about the way we drive by accepting underpowered cars so you don’t have to feel nervous on the road. That’s your issue. Deal with it.

    Reply
  10. Aaron GM is just tagging along nearly every vehicle in this price range is slow… The Crosstrek, the HRV, the Kona and Nero… If you can’t stand to look at them the rouge sport (different then a regular rouge it’s cheaper) base model escape and bronco, Jeep compass in this price range… I know it sucks but your not going to get high HP out of any brand of any brand for $25,000 dollars. I would say make it hybrid but that would make it over $30,000 thousand dollars look at the RAV4 hybrid it’s $50,000 almost double the price of an equinox. I don’t know I guess I am just old school when my 1996 Chevy Blazer had a 190 HP V6 and it was good enough power… If it where a car lower to the ground then make it high HP… But we don’t need a bunch of soccer moms who can’t drive a Malibu going any faster… I myself an a spirited driver I just take extra caution.

    Reply

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