Introduction

The Chevy TrailBlazer is among the best of the truck-based midsize SUVs. It's capable of hauling heavy loads and negotiating rugged off-road terrain. Yet it's also smooth, comfortable and civilized. These are benefits of its rigid chassis, sophisticated suspension, and powerful brakes. Curtain-style side-impact airbags with a rollover sensing system are available for increased head protection. For 2006, GM's excellent StabiliTrak electronic stability control system comes standard across the TrailBlazer lineup. StabiliTrak helps drivers maintain control by reducing or eliminating skidding in emergency handling situations. 2006 TrailBlazer models have been upgraded with a revised brake system designed for improved responsiveness along with sound-deadening measures designed to reduce noise. The TrailBlazer is stable and maneuverable. It handles washboard surfaces well, a nice benefit on unpaved roads. The TrailBlazer is also quite capable off road when equipped with its sophisticated four-wheel-drive system and optional skid plates. The extended-wheelbase TrailBlazer EXT adds substantial cargo space and seven-passenger seating, but it's longer than a Tahoe, and we prefer the standard TrailBlazer for its superior handling and stability. TrailBlazer comes standard with a superbly smooth and modern Vortec 4200 inline six-cylinder engine, which has been upgraded for 2006, and it's our first choice unless towing is a big part of the picture. The Vortec 5400 V8, with its Displacement on Demand technology promising improved fuel economy is available as an option on all 2006 TrailBlazer models. Equipped with the V8, a 2WD TrailBlazer EXT can tow up to 7,000 pounds. A new TrailBlazer SS has joined the line-up for 2006, featuring the 395-horsepower, 6.0-liter LS2 V8 derived from the Chevy Corvette, along with a sport-tuned suspension and competition brakes. The SS gets unique exterior and interior trim and is available with all-wheel drive.

Walkaround

TrailBlazer's styling helped blaze the trail for the latest Chevy Truck design. It's an aggressive look with bold headlamps and a split grille. The horizontal bar that splits the grille, headlamps and turn signals is chromed on the LS, body-colored on the LT, and black on the SS. The front bumper features a large opening with two vertical slats, and the optional foglights are mounted down low. The front end of the TrailBlazer makes it look like a scaled-down Suburban or Silverado. Overall, TrailBlazer looks neat and sturdy, with confident lines that express utility. The pillars and window lines are graceful, while the big fender flares are visually bold. At the rear is a convenient step in the center of the bumper. The seven-seat TrailBlazer EXT is 16 inches longer between the front and rear wheels than the standard five-seat TrailBlazer and looks disproportionately long and narrow. The easiest way to tell the TrailBlazer from the TrailBlazer EXT is to look at the rear passenger doors; they're full-size doors on the EXT but the rear wheel wells cut into them on the standard-length model. For 2006, the antennas for the optional OnStar assistance system and XM Satellite Radio are combined in a single unit.

Interior Features

The Chevy TrailBlazer's cabin is comfortable and convenient. Seats on the LS are manually adjustable. Eight-way power operation with memory and seat heaters is available on LT models. Power adjustable pedals on the LT allow shorter drivers to move the brake and accelerator pedals up to three inches closer for better positioning and comfort without having to move too close to the airbag-equipped steering wheel. It's a good safety feature and popular among women. The TrailBlazer seats five, the TrailBlazer EXT seats seven. Second-row space is nearly identical between TrailBlazer and TrailBlazer EXT. First and second row hip and leg room is comparable to the Ford Explorer, though the TrailBlazer does offer an inch more headroom throughout the cabin. Cargo space in the EXT is generous. Fold the second- and third-row seats and TrailBlazer EXT offers 107 cubic feet of packing room, more than the TrailBlazer (80), Ford Explorer (86), and comparable to the full-size Chevy Tahoe (105). The cargo floor isn't as flat as we'd like, though, and a gap between the two third-row seats makes it less dog-friendly. Space in the EXT third-row seats, is a bit cramped, as it is with most third rows. The Explorer has more third-row legroom. Also, we put some an adult and a teenager back there and they complained about tunnel vision. Up front, the driver gets complete and clean instrumentation. Heating and air conditioning can be controlled separately by the driver and front-seat passenger. EXT models add separate climate controls for rear-seat passengers as well. Interior lights abound, including reading lights. Optional on the four-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel are handy buttons for climate, audio, cruise control, and the driver information center. The center console includes an open storage bin, an enclosed compartment and two cup holders forward of the gear lever plus two cup holders for the rear passengers. There are pockets in the front doors and behind the front seats, though none in the rear doors. Behind the rear seat is a small hidden compartment under the floor. A cargo net, a scrolling tonneau cover, and power outlets are available. An overhead console on the LT includes a sunglasses holder plus Travelnote digital recorder. For 2006, Chevy TrailBlazers get an enhanced sound-mitigation system, including an acoustic windshield to minimize wind noise, and additional sound insulation within areas of the body that can transmit engine and road noise. Safety is improved from the available head-curtain side-impact airbags, which unfold from the roof rail between the A-pillar and side window header. When the bag deploys in a moderate-to-severe side impact, it is angled somewhat toward the window to help provide protection for front and rear outboard passengers. The 2006 system replaces the previous seat-mounted system, which protected the driver and front-seat passenger only. TrailBlazers equipped with head-curtain airbags also feature a new rollover sensing system that triggers both the side-curtain airbags and safety belt pretensioners. The rollover-sensing module uses a complex algorithm based on lateral and vertical accelerations, roll rate and vehicle speed to determine whether to deploy the safety systems. GM's Passenger Sensing System (PSS) is standard on the TrailBlazer, which deactivates the front-passenger airbag if it senses an unoccupied front passenger seat or the presence of a smaller occupant. A status indicator on the instrument panel alerts occupants that the passenger airbag is on or off. Even with this system, however, we strongly recommend carrying under-age passengers in an appropriate child seat placed in the second or third row of the vehicle. We found the premium 275-watt Bose system offered outstanding sound quality and adjustment versatility. Most of the available audio systems include RDS (Radio Data Systems) technology, allowing the listener to search for stations