Chevy Trailblazer Sales Leap 225 Percent To Place Second In Segment During Q1 2023

Chevy Trailblazer sales increased in the United States and Canada but decreased in South Korea during the first quarter of 2023.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Sales - Q1 2023 - United States

In the United States, Chevrolet Trailblazer deliveries totaled 27,951 units in Q1 2023, an increase of about 225 percent compared to 8,606 units sold in Q1 2022.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Sales - Q1 2023 - Canada

In Canada, Chevrolet Trailblazer deliveries totaled 1,951 units in Q1 2023, an increase of about 95 percent compared to 1,001 units sold in Q1 2022.

Chevrolet Trailblazer Sales - Q1 2023 - South Korea

In South Korea, Chevrolet Trailblazer deliveries totaled 1,430 units in Q1 2023, a decrease of about 59 percent compared to 3,500 units sold in Q1 2022.

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

Chevy Trailblazer sales during the first quarter of 2022 put the Bow Tie’s brands popular subcompact crossover in second place in a crowded segment of 21 entries when ranked by sales volume. We’ve added the Subaru Crosstrek to this report for the first time, and the model has taken the top spot in the segment thanks to an 11 percent bump in sales to 41,562 units. The Trailblazer placed second with a segment-best 225 percent leap to 27,951 units. The Honda HR-V followed in third with a 37 percent drop to 26,504 units, while the Jeep Compass placed fourth with a five percent slide to 23,209 units. The Mazda CX-30 rounded out the top five with a 109 percent jump to 19,870 units. The Buick Encore GX (see running Buick Encore GX sales), the Trailblazer’s platform mate, took 11^th place with a 128 percent jump to 12,279 units. The Chevy Trax (see running Chevy Trax sales), the Trailblazer’s corporate cousin and second entry from Chevy,  placed 15^th with an 11 percent bump to 6,465 units. The Buick Encore (see running Buick Encore sales), the Trax’s platform mate and the second segment entry from Buick, placed 18^th, up 14 percent to 2,979 units.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - United States

From a segment share standpoint, the Trailblazer posted a 10 percent share, up a segment-best seven percentage points. The Crosstrek led with a 15 percent segment share, up one percentage point year-over-year. The HR-V posted a nine percent share, down a segment-worst seven percentage points, while the Compass held an eight percent share, down one percentage point. The CX-30 earned a seven percent share, up three percentage points. The three other GM models in this space fared as follows:

• The Encore GX posted a four percent share, up two percentage points
• The Trax maintained a two percent share
• The Encore maintained a one percent share

The four GM vehicles in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment, the Chevy Trax and Trailblazer along with the Buick Encore and Encore GX, accounted for a cumulative 49,674 deliveries. That was good for a 17 percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - GM Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - USA

By comparison, the three Stellantis rivals, namely the Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, and Fiat 500X, saw 27,473 deliveries combined for a nine percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - Stellantis Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - USA

Toyota’s Corolla Cross and C-HR saw a combined 15,264 deliveries for a five percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - Toyota Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2023 - USA

Meanwhile, Hyundai – with the Kona and Venue – and Kia – with the Seltos, Niro, and Soul – saw a cumulative 68,528 deliveries, which accounted for a combined 25 percent segment share, commanding a quarter of all sales in this space.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai and Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (With Soul) - Q1 2023 - USA

However, a strong argument can be made that the Kia Soul is not part of the segment in question, but rather competes one segment below based on its size and price point. Removing the Soul from the Hyundai-Kia total nets 51,544 deliveries for a combined 19 percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai and Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (Without Soul) - Q1 2023 - USA

Out of the 11 manufacturers represented here, four field multiple models in this space of 21 entries. When combining the sales volume of those compared to automakers with a single entry, each ranks in this order:

• Hyundai-Kia – 25 percent segment share, five models; 19 percent share, four models
• GM – 17 percent share, four models
• Subaru – 15 percent share, one model
• Stellantis – nine percent share, three models
• Honda – nine percent share, one model
• Mazda – seven percent share, one model
• Toyota – five percent share, two models
• VW – five percent share, one model
• Nissan – four percent share, one model
• Mitsubishi – two percent share, one model
• Ford – one percent share, one model (now discontinued)

Note that while fielding multiple models in general seems to rank a manufacturer higher, that doesn’t prevent those with a single model – like Subaru and Honda – from performing well. As such, this seems to be a game of commanding more “shelf space” versus cannibalizing sales.

The mainstream subcompact crossover segment grew six percent to 280,412 units during Q1 2023, meaning Trailblazer sales significantly outperformed the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

Chevy Trailblazer sales put it in second place among now 21 entries in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment since we added the Subaru Crosstrek this time around, which interestingly enough took the top spot from the get-go. Furthermore, in February the third-generation, 2024 Subaru Crosstrek debuted as a Chevy Trailblazer rival, and this month the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness launched with no Chevy Trailblazer equivalent – the closest rival being the less-rugged Chevy Trailblazer Activ.

That notwithstanding, when combining sales of multiple models from different manufacturers, the Hyundai-Kia conglomerate leads by far, but The General takes a close second to oust Subaru, which gets knock down to third place. Yet Subaru’s single entry competes quite well against The General’s four models combined, putting it within two segment share percentage points.

With 21 models, the mainstream subcompact crossover segment is one of the two most crowded spaces we cover. Another is the midsize and full-size mainstream crossover segment, also with 21 entries.

The bottom line here seems to be: “Build it and they will come” – buyers, that is.

About Chevy Trailblazer

In February GM revealed the refreshed 2024 Chevy Trailblazer, showing off slightly updated styling, an overhauled interior, new standard features, and other changes for the third-generation of the small crossover that was introduced for the 2021 model year. The 2024 Trailblazer also introduces two new exterior paint colors, Cacti Green and Copper Harbor Metallic, along with a new interior colorway, Jet Black/Artemis Accent.

Production of the 2024 Chevy Trailblazer is set to commence in July.

The Trailblazer has proven to be popular among buyers, offering unique variants from the regular LS to the sporty RS and rugged-looking Activ trim. In September 2021 the Trailblazer earned its highest-ever segment share, and the model continues to see high critical acclaim. In November 2021 the Trailblazer received a perfect reliability rating by Consumer Reports. This was followed by the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer earning a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in February 2022, following the same award from IIHS in September 2021 for the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer. This past December Consumer Reports gave the 2023 Chevy Trailblazer a “recommended” rating.

Highly rated, the Trailblazer is so popular that it was the brand’s fastest turning nameplate behind the Corvette in January 2023. In other words, GM can’t make the model fast enough. While Trailblazer inventory across the United States improved slightly in the beginning of April 2023, it was still low at a mere 13 days supply. For reference, 60 days supply is considered optimal by the National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) and other auto retail organizations.

About The Numbers

• All percent change figures compared to Chevrolet Trailblazer sales in Q1 2022, unless noted otherwise
• In the United States, there were 75 selling days for Q1 2023 and 75 selling days for Q1 2022
• South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
• China sales figures represent retail deliveries and not wholesales
• GM Q1 2023 sales reports:
  • GM Q1 2023 sales U.S.A.
    • Chevrolet sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
    • Cadillac sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
    • Buick sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
    • GMC sales Q1 2023 U.S.A.
  • GM Canada sales Q1 2023
  • GM Mexico sales Q1 2023
    • GM Mexico sales January 2023
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    • GM Mexico sales March 2023
  • GM China sales Q1 2023
  • GM Brazil sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Brazil January 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Brazil February 2023 sales
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  • GM Argentina sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Argentina January 2023 sales
    • Chevrolet Argentina February 2023 sales
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  • GM Chile sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Chile January 2023 sales
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  • GM Colombia sales Q1 2023
    • Chevrolet Colombia January 2023 sales
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  • GM South Korea sales Q1 2023
    • GM South Korea January 2023 sales
      • Chevrolet South Korea January 2023 sales
      • Cadillac South Korea January 2023 sales
    • GM South Korea February 2023 sales
      • Chevrolet South Korea February 2023 sales
      • GMC South Korea February 2023 sales
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      • Chevrolet South Korea March 2023 sales
      • Cadillac South Korea March 2023 sales