2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs Blazer vs Trailblazer

An SUV is a fun vehicle to drive since it offers owners the opportunity to cross various surfaces without a hassle. Furthermore, the ample cabin space is a highlight that people with families would appreciate. Chevrolet has an exceptional range of SUVs, including the Traverse, Blazer and Trailblazer.

To discover which SUV is ideal for you and your lifestyle, we’ll note the essential features that you should know about these vehicles.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Blazer vs Trailblazer: What Are The Main Differences?

If you had to line up these three Chevrolet SUVs, the smallest of them is the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, a subcompact SUV, while the Blazer is about a foot and a half longer than its little sibling. The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse is the largest of the three and offers more cargo and passenger space. The Trailblazer delivers better gas mileage than the other two, but that’s purely because it has smaller engines and they have a lower starting price. Having said that, there are several overlapping features across the three models.

2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse is the bulkier of the three but is excellent for moving people and cargo. This vehicle is undoubtedly ideal for people with larger families who benefit from its three rows of seats. Hopping into this SUV will drive you to test its performance when you feel the responsive power.

Engines Specs & Fuel Economy

The Traverse is equipped with a massive V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower, which is more than enough for its size. Its engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that delivers slick-shifting when you require it.

Fuel economy is a sticky point for most buyers, and with an SUV of this size, both in body and engine, gas mileage figures are relatively decent, with 18 mpg** for city driving and 27 mpg** while on the highway for front-wheel drive. Opting for all-wheel-drive drops the rating to 17 mpg** and 25 mpg** for city and highway driving, respectively.

Performance & Handling

Chevrolet designed the Traverse to provide a comfortable ride. It may not be as agile as the other two SUVs in this review, but what it may lack in handling prowess, it delivers in comfort. The car is relatively easy to drive and control, and it can handle all types of surfaces.

Safety & Technology

Standard safety features in the Chevrolet Traverse include a rearview camera, buckle-up reminder, rear-seat reminder and a Teen Driver, which allows you to establish parameters when lending your car to your teenage children. While these features are standards, there are a plethora of advanced elements that are available.

On the technology front, Chevrolet loaded the Traverse with the Infotainment 3 interface. The seven-inch touch screen is highly responsive and navigating through the menus via smartphone connectivity is simple.

Exterior Size & Length

Even though it’s ultimately a sports vehicle, the Traverse is bulky, measuring 17 feet long and 70.7 inches high.

Interior & Cargo Space

Premium materials make up the interior of the Traverse with cloth upholstery for the base levels. You’d be hard-pressed to find flaws with this SUV’s interior. You could comfortably fit eight people in its standard configuration, which decreases to seven if you opt for the second row of captain’s chairs. It’s relatively easy to get in and out of each row, making the Traverse ideal for long road trips.

Talking about trips, when you need to pack the vehicle, expect a cargo capacity of 23 cubic feet behind the third row of seats. If you require additional space, fold down those seats to increase the capacity to 57.8 cubic feet, while folding down the second row of seats takes your cargo space to 98.2 cubic feet.

Pricing

The base-level Chevrolet Traverse starts from an MSRP of $29,800*, reaching $50,900* for its High Country trim.

Side profile of Chevrolet Trailblazer

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a nifty SUV that still delivers on space with an intuitive infotainment system. One of the benefits of this vehicle is its ability to squeeze into tight parking spots while it’s small and powerful enough to zip through the city streets. If you don’t have a large budget to work with, this SUV is ideal for you.

Engines Specs & Fuel Economy

There are two engine options for the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer: the 1.2-liter turbocharged, three-cylinder engine that delivers 137 horsepower and the 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder block returning 155 horsepower. This power is good enough for cruising around, especially if you’re fuel-conscious. On that note, the EPA estimates that the smaller engine can return 28 mpg** while in the city and 31 mpg** when you’re on the highway. Meanwhile, the 1.3-liter engine increases fuel economy and delivers 29 and 33 mpg** for city and highway driving.

Safety & Technology

The Chevy Safety Assist suite is standard in the Trailblazer, which includes various elements such as automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and automatic high-beam headlights. A rearview camera and Teen Driver are also basic features for the Trailblazer, and higher trim levels offer more safety features. As with most vehicles today, the Trailblazer comes with a seven-inch touch screen for its infotainment system. You can integrate your smartphone into the system using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Remote keyless entry and two USB ports are expected in the base level Trailblazer.

Towing Capability & Powertrain

All-wheel-drive trims are available when you’re thinking of heading off the beaten path. In terms of towing capacity, you can haul a load of up to 1,000 pounds with the Trailblazer.

Exterior Size & Length

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is far shorter than the Traverse as it measures 14.5 feet long but still offers plenty of cabin room.

Interior & Cargo Space

You can expect an upscale and stylish interior with the Trailblazer as it sports a mixture of hard and soft-touch plastics. With the higher trim levels, you can expect synthetic leather upholstery. This SUV can fit five people and is roomy enough for taller people to sit in comfort. In terms of cargo space, with the rear seats in an upright position, you can expect 25.3 cubic feet of space while that figure goes up to 54.4 cubic feet when you’ve folded the seats.

Pricing

The entry-level Trailblazer L starts from $19,000* and reaches $25,500* for the range-topping RS trim.

2021 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer is the middle child of these three SUVs, but you can expect more of the same in terms of space, ride, and size.

Engines Specs & Fuel Economy

There are three engine options for the Blazer – the standard four-cylinder 2.5-liter engine with 193 horsepower, the turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-liter block with 230 horsepower, and the 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering a smashing 308 horsepower which offers enough power for the majority of driving scenarios. On a front-wheel-drive Blazer, the base engine returns 21 mpg** in the city and 27 mpg** on the highway, while the 2.0-liter block will fetch 22 mpg** for city driving and 29 mpg** out on the highway. These figures take a knock with all-wheel-drive at 22 and 27 mpg** for city and highway driving, respectively. The V6 engine naturally decreases these numbers to 20/27 mpg** with FWD or 19/26 mpg** with AWD.

Safety & Technology

Chevrolet made Teen Driver available as a standard feature across the range, giving you the power to control the vehicle’s limits. A rearview camera is also standard across the trim levels. The company added the eight-inch touch screen with a six-speaker stereo, four USB ports, and smartphone integration for every Chevrolet Blazer. Other enhanced technologies included as standard are the dual-zone automatic climate control and proximity keyless entry.

Towing Capability & Powertrain

All-wheel drive is available for all Blazers except the L and 1LT trims, and when it’s properly equipped, this vehicle can tow up to 4,500 pounds.

Exterior Size & Length

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer is about 16 feet long and has a curb weight between 3,782 to 4,078 pounds.

Interior & Cargo Space

The Blazer interior might be familiar to previous Camaro owners with eye-catching materials that offer a sleek finish. Cloth upholstery is standard, but there are extras available such as leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated and ventilated front seats. This two-row SUV can seat five passengers in total, but the sloping roofline might be tricky for taller people at the rear. However, the seats are highly supportive, making it comfortable for all types of journeys. In terms of cargo space, there are 30.5 cubic feet of space behind the seats, while that figure reaches 64.2 cubic feet behind the front seats.

Pricing

The entry-level Blazer L trim has an MSRP of $28,800*, which rises to $43,000* for the Blazer Premier, while an all-wheel-drive costs a further $2,800*.

Test Drive These SUVs at Classic Chevrolet of Texoma
You should have all the information to point you in the right direction regarding which SUV suits you. However, nothing replaces physically testing out your favorite Chevrolet SUV firsthand. Visit the friendly team at Classic Chevrolet of Texoma to take the Blazer, Trailblazer or Traverse for a test drive.

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Pricing Disclaimer:

*MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $955 destination charge, and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include a $395 charge for select premium colors. $395 charge only applies to 2021 models.

**EPA estimates for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary.