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Chevy Trailblazer
The Chevrolet Trailblazer has come a long way before becoming a family-friendly subcompact SUV. It debuted in the market around 1999 as a high-end variant of the S-10 trim. Then in 2002, launched its own platform.
Since then, it has undergone major upgrades. Today the Chevy offers more than just a spacious cabin. You expect to get safety features, tech features, and a fuel-efficient engine when you buy it.
But if you are an adrenaline junkie, you will find the 1.2-liter engine or 1.3-liter engine of the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer a tad sluggish. The tiny 1.2-liter engine delivers a modest 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet torque. When you go too fast, it will become jittery.
Sending you a stern warning that it is not a race car. You’ll be happy to know that the Chevy is one of the most fuel-efficient SUVs. It has an EPA rating of 33 MPG highway and 31 MPG combined.
The exterior
On the outside, the Trailblazer is not a disappointment. It is available in classic white Chevy Trailblazer, black Chevy trailblazer colors, and more. You won’t miss its slim halogen headlights.
Although you always get LED lights if you go for an Activ or RS trim. The entry-level trim comes standard with a 17-inch wheel, while the top-of-range trim has 18-inch wheels.
The cabin
The spacious cabin is a consolation to the lack of speed. You’ll have up to 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats upright and 54.4 cubic feet when you fold your seats. This space will be enough to load your luggage and grocery.
This four-door SUV comes with only four seats. You get an option to upgrade it with heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. Interestingly, you’ll get enough legroom on the front seats.
Three kids or two adults can sit nicely in the rear seat. Hence, some car reviewers save it’s a five-passenger car.
Infotainment and safety features
The Trailblazer comes with an easy-to-use 7-inch infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlayand Android. You also get Bluetooth and navigation. Safety features like forward collision warning and lane-keep assist are a boon.
And if you’re one of those few drivers who get sweaty palms when parking, you will find this car relatively easy to park. You can get additional features like remote keyless entry, automatic climate control, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, remote start, cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, and a power liftgate if you pay more.
Price
When it comes to price, the Trailblazer is affordable. It has a starting price of $19,000, but if you are looking for more perks, expect to pay up to $27,000.
Here are some of the cars that are fierce competitors to the Chevy Trailblazer:
1. Kia Soul
The Kia Soul is one of the affordable compact SUVs for small families. The Soul has also undergone a few upgrades to become the futuristic machine that we see today. Inside, you’ll find a 10.3-inch touch screen that supports a myriad of features.
They are there to make your driving experience comfortable and safe. Kia Soul offers automatic climate control, automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, wireless charging, and more. The only disappointment is that the latest Kia Soul doesn’t offer a manual transmission.
While most Kia Souls in the U.S take gasoline, you can find Kia Souls EVs in European countries. The gasoline option has an EPA rating of 35 MPG for highway driving and as low as 27 MPG.
How fast is the Kia Soul?
When it comes to speed, Kia Soul is not disappointing. Compared to the Chevy Trailblazer, the Kia Soul seems to pack some punch. The base option comes with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which delivers 147 horsepower.
A Kia Soul X-Line can even sprint up to 60 mph in 8.0 seconds, which is pretty fast.
What’s the cargo space of the Kia Soul?
The Kia Soul is roomy. The boxy shape of the Soul makes for a space-efficient interior. There is also enough space for your passenger passengers.
This could be your friends or kids. Expect to find up to 24.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. When you fold them, you get up to 62.1 cubic feet.
As you can see, you won’t have trouble loading your luggage. The only challenge you will get is that the rear seats don’t fold completely flat. But you can always level them with the dual-level cargo board.
Price
The all-new Kia Soul starts at $19,190, whereas the top-of-the-line Turbo will cost you $27,790.
The seats
The Kia Soul accommodates up to five passengers. As a driver, you get good visibility, thanks to adjustable seats. The Soul has a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a four-way manually adjustable passenger seat.
The seats are also comfortable for you to sit for those long drives. You can also consider available comfort features like upgraded cloth upholstery, synthetic leather upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, genuine leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Kia has also considered the safety of your child.
Hence, it comes with two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the back middle seat.
Towing capacity
The Kia Soul has towing capability of up to 2,000 pounds, making it one of the strongest compact SUVs.
Why is the Kia Soul similar?
Both Kia Soul and Chevy Trailblazer offer more or less the same legroom and headroom. When you are inside the Kia Soul, you will get 39.5 inches of headroom in the front and 41.1 inches of legroom. In contrast, Trailblazer offers almost the same space, 40.0 inches headroom and 40.9 inches legroom.
Also, both compact SUVs accommodate five passengers. They also offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features.
2. Hyundai Kona
The 2022 Hyundai Kona is one of the few fierce competitors of the Chevy Trailblazer. The Korean machine offers superior performance and comfort. Open the door, and you’ll find an 8-inch touch screen.
The screen supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Hyundai has a 10.25-inch touch screen as an available option. The Hyundai Kona comes with extra security with the standard Hyundai SmartSense™ system.
It has a Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Driver Attention Warning Rear Occupant Alert, Lane Following Assist, and driver-assist features. The Kona takes gasoline. It has an EPA-estimated 29 city and 35 highways MPG.
Price
On the price front, the Hyundai Kona seems to be affordable. Even more so, if you consider what it offers. It starts at $21,150, which is what you’ll usually pay for a subcompact SUV—the top-of-the-line costs around $34,200.
How fast is the Hyundai Kona?
The Hyundai Kona is not a lazy SUV. Thanks to its 2.0-liter inline-4 engine, the Kona can accelerate up to 149 mph and go from 0 to 62 in 5.5 seconds.
What’s the cargo space of the Hyundai Kona?
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Unfortunately, the Kona is not as spacious as its rivals. You will only get a mere 19.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. When you fold them, you will only 45.8.
The seats
At least five passengers can fit in nicely inside a Hyundai Kona seat. Cloth upholstery seats come standard, whereas leather upholstery is available with a power-adjustable driver’s seat. There is enough leg and headroom for the driver and passengers.
The rear seats also have two sets of LATCH connectors for your child’s safety.
Towing capacity
The Hyundai Kona with a 2-liter Inline 4 can tow up to 5000 pounds. It will easily haul your boat or pickup truck.
Why is the Hyundai Kona similar?
Both the Chevy Trailblazer and Kona offer more or less the same features. You can get Apple CarPlay and Android, and safety features like forward collision warning and lane-keep assist come standard. They also have a standard Bluetooth connection, standard keyless ignition, standard cruise control, and standard heated seats.
3. Mazda CX-30
If all-wheel drive is the first thing you consider in an SUV, then the Mazda CX-30 is your car. The CX-30 offers you comfort on the ride. The cozy cabin gets an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, which comes as an option.
You also get Apple CarPlay® technology. Safety features include Anti-lock Brake System, Dynamic Lane Departure Warning System, Lane-keep Assist, and more. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 186 horsepower comes standard.
A six-speed automatic transmission changes your gear according to driving conditions. You have the option of going for a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that releases 250 horsepower. The Mazda CX-30 takes only gas, and it is not a gas guzzler.
It has an impressive EPA score of 33 MPG on the highways for 28 MPG combined.
Price
Expect to pay anything from $23 425 for baseline trim or $35 625 for the top-line trim.
How fast is the Mazda CX-30?
Unfortunately, the Mazda CX-30 is not that fast. It can only speed to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds, slower than a turbocharged Kona.
What’s the cargo space of the Mazda CX-30?
The Mazda CX-30 also offersan average space of 20.2 cft, but you will get 45.2 cubic feet more space when you fold the seats.
The seats
A family of five can fit inside. The CX-30 provides five seats for five people. Plus, there is ample leg and headroom at the front, for you and your passenger.
Towing capacity
The All-Wheel-Drive Mazda CX-30 can town up to 2,000 pounds. This power is enough to tow your boat or another compact SUV.
Why is the Mazda CX-30 similar?
Both Mazda CX-30 and Chevy Trailblazer offer more or less similar cargo space and tech features. The Mazda CX-30 also takes five passengers and has safety features like forward collision warning and lane-keep assist come standard.