The 2024 Chevy Trax was unveiled in October of 2022, ushering in an all-new generation for the entry-level crossover. At this point, it’s clear that the 2024 Chevy Trax is nothing less than a runaway success, but that success may be partly at the expense of the Chevy Trailblazer. Nevertheless, the success of the new Trax could be seen as a perfect opportunity for a rugged remake of the next-generation Trailblazer.
2024 Chevy Trax
2024 Chevy Trailblazer
Looking over the sales figures for the final quarter of the 2023 calendar year, it’s clear that the all-new 2024 Chevy Trax is doing quite well, taking second place in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment with 44,127 sales, just behind the Subaru Crosstrek, which sold less than 500 units during the same timeframe.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q4 2023 - USA
| MODEL | Q4 23 / Q4 22 | Q4 23 | Q4 22 | Q4 23 SHARE | Q4 22 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUBARU CROSSTREK | +11.97% | 44,561 | 39,798 | 13% | 17% |
| CHEVROLET TRAX | +835.88% | 44,127 | 4,715 | 13% | 2% |
| HONDA HR-V | +53.85% | 35,172 | 22,861 | 10% | 10% |
| JEEP COMPASS | +28.13% | 24,613 | 19,209 | 7% | 8% |
| HYUNDAI KONA | +23.39% | 22,598 | 18,314 | 7% | 8% |
| TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS | +14.65% | 21,950 | 19,145 | 6% | 8% |
| CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER | -2.22% | 18,535 | 18,956 | 5% | 8% |
| MAZDA CX-30 | +15.25% | 17,773 | 15,421 | 5% | 6% |
| NISSAN KICKS | +70.97% | 16,685 | 9,759 | 5% | 4% |
| VOLKSWAGEN TAOS | +333.08% | 15,305 | 3,534 | 5% | 1% |
| BUICK ENCORE GX | +51.96% | 13,755 | 9,052 | 4% | 4% |
| KIA SELTOS | -3.95% | 12,994 | 13,529 | 4% | 6% |
| KIA SOUL | -16.32% | 11,192 | 13,375 | 3% | 6% |
| JEEP RENEGADE | +176.97% | 10,450 | 3,773 | 3% | 2% |
| BUICK ENVISTA | * | 7,917 | * | 2% | 0% |
| KIA NIRO | -28.09% | 7,215 | 10,033 | 2% | 4% |
| HYUNDAI VENUE | -31.37% | 5,140 | 7,489 | 2% | 3% |
| DODGE HORNET | * | 4,964 | * | 1% | 0% |
| MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT | -28.67% | 2,893 | 4,056 | 1% | 2% |
| FIAT 500X | +11.87% | 132 | 118 | 0% | 0% |
| BUICK ENCORE | -95.09% | 122 | 2,487 | 0% | 1% |
| TOYOTA C-HR | -99.95% | 1 | 1,828 | 0% | 1% |
| FORD ECOSPORT | -100.00% | 0 | 3,007 | 0% | 1% |
| TOTAL | +40.60% | 338,094 | 240,459 |
For the moment, there’s no clear reason to think the Trax won’t continue this impressive sales dominance, barring any sort of substantial disruption. What’s more, the Trax could be cannibalizing sales of the Chevy Trailblazer. Though the Trailblazer is showing decent sales performance by itself, recording 18,535 deliveries during Q4 2023, it isn’t selling nearly as well as the all-new Trax.
All this leads us to conclude that the Trax may have made the Trailblazer less relevant. Sure, the former is available exclusively in front-wheel-drive (FWD) while the latter is available in either FWD or AWD, but is that really enough to separate the two models? We think the more appropriate answer is to overhaul the Trailblazer as a substantially more rugged, off-road-oriented crossover.
2024 Chevy Trailblazer
For readers who may be unaware, the Chevy Trax was overhauled (redesigned and re-engineered) for the 2024 calendar year to become a sleeker, more car-like crossover. In addition, it’s only available in front-wheel drive, with the absence of an all-wheel drive option keeping overall costs low.
As such, the Trailblazer, which does offer all-wheel drive, could own the off-road angle left untouched by the all-new Trax. GM’s product team should take note of this, given the current Trailblazer is now in the second half of its lifecycle, which means planning will soon begin for the next-gen model.
The addition of a more rugged, off-roader approach for the next-gen Chevy Trailblazer will help it crawl out from under the shadow of the all-new Trax. Indeed a similar formula has already been used by GM’s crosstown rival, Ford, which introduced the Bronco Sport on the same C2 platform as the Ford Escape. At this point, we should note that although the Escape and Bronco Sport compete in the C-crossover segment, as opposed to the B-segment where the Trax and Trailblazer reside, the comparison is valid.
“Ford’s formula involves offering the Escape as its “regular car-like” entry in the segment, similar to the Trax, while designating the Bronco Sport as the off-roader of the segment. We suggest Chevy take a similar off-roader approach for the next-gen Trailblazer,” says GM Authority executive editor, Alex Luft.
“In this design, the Trailblazer would still remain a unibody crossover, but would get off-road-friendly features from the factory, such as high-cut front and rear fascias for greater approach and departure angles, more ground clearance, a more rugged-looking design, an advanced all-wheel-drive system, and a cabin optimized for outdoorsy activities like hiking, biking, or off-roading,” he added.
Put all that into the next-gen Trailblazer, and GM could have quite the offering. Indeed, as anyone who has driven the Bronco Sport will attest, the little rugged crossover is definitely capable in the rough stuff, despite its unibody construction. So why not do the same thing with the Trailblazer?
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Comments
They should have done that from the start. They knocked the Trailblazer into obsolescence with the introduction of the Trax. I think the only thing keep Trailblazer somewhat relevant is AWD, but even still, I live in NY and I have seen a lot more new Trax than Trailblazers.
Here on the SC Coast, I have seen FAR more TBs than Trax (about 20 TBs and 0 Trax). The TB is WAY overpriced, hence why they make it to the Eastern coast.
SCbeachbum can’t figure out why he doesn’t see off road suvs on sunny south Carolina beach roads. What else is new
With the new updated Trailblazer Chevrolet has an opportunity to stratify marketing between it and the Trax, while increasing presence in urban areas on both coasts. The Trailblazer should be marketed as a rugged compact crossover with AWD which should be a emphasized selling point. I honestly believe both compact crossovers can exist in the segment. The first time I saw the new Trax I knew it would be a hit, the Trailblazer should be positioned for those who want off-road capabilities with their compact crossover.
What they really need to do is to turn it into a real off road capable machine now that they have the Trax.
The new Trax looks decent, the last gen is just an economy hauler that doesn’t do much besides act as cheap transport.
I want the next Generation Trailblazer to go back to being a Trailblazer SUV. Use the platform from the Colorado give it a 4 cylinder turbo base, but make a decent inline 6 and a LS based 8 available, and give it both towing and good r wheel drive optional 3rd row and about a $33-$35k base price put the 6 cylinder starting price $38k about $40k well equipment and loaded with the v8 starting at 40k. It’ll probably eat equinox and traverse sales but with decent quality and styling it will also eat Explorer sales pull a nice chunk out of Pathfinder and Rav 4 sales. You still see a lot of the old envoys and trailblazers on the road simply because it’s hard to find something new with decent towing that isn’t a truck or huge.
You keep mentioning compact vehicles like Rav4. Nobody is going to jump two size classes, $10k and lose 10 mpg.
You’re also dreaming with the prices. It wouldn’t be much cheaper than a Tahoe.
It’s like we can read each other’s minds. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking. It’s time that GM reentered the ICE powered off road segment and now could not be a more perfect time. Chevy PLEASE make this TrailBlazer a thing, it could have a V6 engine and even a hybrid and PHEV option. I know this will sell very well.
I think you will find that GM has this already coming.
The Trax was made y to be better, lighter, better mpg and cheaper but only FWD. it has succeeded. This will be important as the auto market is headed for tough times.
I expect the Trailblazer to take on a more butch off road AWD path. It will be a little more up scale and body more for those that want more.
It was kind of obvious where this was going when it was made the same size as the TB.
I agree the TB needs to be differentiated from the Trax a bit more than it currently is. I see two ways of doing this. Making it more off-road oriented as this article mentions and or making it truly sporty. Throw the turbo 4 from the Colorado in it and change the AWD system to a rear biased configuration. Add some suspension and steering tweaks and it would essentially be the rebirth of the Typhoon.
Just an idea I keep having as I drive around in my ’23 TB RS. It would be so much more fun with more power and RWD
This is compelling but will never happen. Making the TB larger And more expensive would leave to much of a gap in the line up. You can’t have the Trax at the entry level and the next step be an Equinox. I think your vision is better suited to the Blaze which should have always been based off the Colorado.
If they can make a more rugged off road Trailblazer at it’s current price point, then I think it would be successful.
GM Shelved a BOF GMC Jimmy SUV in favor of the ICE pivot. Start it up again and make the Trailblazer a Colorado based off-roader.
Wake up, product planning!
I think you mean EV pivot.
I’m afraid that ship has sailed.
They already launched the “redesigned” Colorado/Canyon on the old platform, which us unsuitable for a swb SUV. It would spawn an SUV splitting hairs between Traverse and Tahoe in size and price- definitely not a Bronco or Wrangler compeditor.
Kinda weird how you included Jeep Compass, but not the similarly-sized Ford Bronco Sport?
That would seem to be as natural a compeditor for this as Compass, Subaru CrossTrek, etc.
The Trax sells (a lot) better than the Trailblazer because it has a dramatically lower price, what you propose would only make that difference grow, increasing the cost of the Trailblazer would further erode sales.
I suspect GM will raise the prices of the Trax or quietly decontent moving standard features into additional cost option packages.
How about bringing back the Trailblazer SS? These so called “rugged” mall crawlers are a joke!!! I had a 2006 Superior Blue SS Trailblazer and loved it. Towed my boat fantastic, it was pretty darn quick, and could haul 5 people in it! GM needs to bring back their performance vehicles!