I understand that as someone who reviews cars for a living, I’m a bit spoiled. I understand. However, that said, I tend to have a decent finger on the pulse of the market and as such where most vehicles fit into it. After a week of driving the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer, it started out as a shapeless, smooth, unremarkable crossover that didn’t seem like it belonged in the market. Crosses by this description number in what looks like trillions these days. However, upon reflection, I may have been wrong.
I’m not saying it’s bad. This is not the case. In fact, it’s probably okay, or maybe even good. However, as mentioned before, I am a spoiled fanatic. So, I had to sit and think about it without my snob hat. And, my friends, I am happy to report that I have understood it. Like Ariana Grande – or whatever youngsters love these days – I don’t have to love the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer to see the value it has. Again, like Ariana Grande, I think the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer is probably ideal for young drivers.
Is the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer a good car?
The 2022 Chevy Trailblazer is one of those vehicles that old folks like me will just have to shut up about. Yes, it shares a name with the beloved (and very different) Trailblazers of decades ago, but that’ll have to be correct. Things change.
Consumer Reports named it the third best subcompact SUV. It ranked highly on predicted reliability, high on fuel economy, and it’s safe. In that way, the new seal is a massive improvement over older, fresher Trailblazers.
Thing is, without the shadow of the looming old Trailblazer, the 2022 Trailblazer is a good crossover and frankly reminds me a lot of the ’90s cars my friends and I grew up driving. Once I started looking at it through that lens, I suddenly stopped caring about the Trailblazer and instead saw a friendly little four-wheeled box that needs nothing more than rolling windows, a loud stereo, and plenty of room for friends.
What’s a good SUV for young drivers?
There are only two aspects of a car that really matter to new drivers; safety and fuel economy. New drivers often lack the skills and awareness of seasoned drivers. as such, they could benefit from a safer car. Fuel economy is also key for young drivers who want to cover ground but may not have the big pockets to cover it in a V8.
The 2022 Trailblazer not only received a Top Safety Pick Plus from the IIHS, but also comes with helpful driver assistance features.
Forward collision warning and automatic city braking with pedestrian detection are standard. Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Warning are available as an option package. Owners can even pay a $24.99/month monthly subscription for OnStar Crash Notification.
What is a cheap SUV for teenage drivers?
Finding a cheap car or SUV is nearly impossible these days. The days of grabbing a 1999 Honda Civic with 40,000 miles for $4,000 are long gone. With the skyrocketing prices of used cars, you might as well consider the idea of a new car.
When it comes to new SUVs, there’s not much under $20,000 these days. The world has moved on, but given the situation we have, the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer is one of the best options that still falls into the modern version of “cheap”.
The 2022 Trailblazer starts at $21,800 and tops out at $27,400. The interior is as simple as you could ever want to see. The seats are upholstered in some kind of practical blend of synthetic fibres, the dashboard and door inserts have a slight touch of style, and the dashboard is vast and empty. That said, the 200 mile round trip I took from New York to Peekskill and back was much more comfortable than the inside looks.
For a 40-year-old man who commutes to work every day, this car could, like it did for me, become boring to drive. However, for a young teenage driver, there is no boring car. The evidence is piling up.
Is the new Trailblazer fast?
I want to be absolutely clear on this point; nope. The Trailblazer’s 155-horsepower 1.3-liter turbocharged engine is sure to be approved by nervous parents. It will take 9.5 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. However, it is a good engine. It accelerates smoothly, it’s not too loud, and it just sips fuel. Don’t expect too much when you put your foot down. If that 1.3-liter engine is still somehow a little spry for your youngster, Chevrolet would like to introduce you to an even more friendly 137-hp 1.2-liter turbo pot. Even though the engine options aren’t exactly fun, they are effective. The 2022 Trailblazer gets a total of 27 mpg. That’s it, “we’re going to drive on a Friday night” gas mileage.
However, the handling might need a bit of tweaking. Again, in a model like this, expecting precise handling is probably not realistic. The handling is a little soft, but the body remains rigid at the same time. It’s not the best feeling, but young drivers might be better off getting a crossover that requires slower cornering. That said, it tested well with Consumer Reports for handling and emergency braking.
Should You Buy Your Teen A 2022 Chevy Trailblazer?
Buying your child’s first car is a big decision. Many factors are at play, all deserving of equal weight. Research is the best way to find the right fit for you and your family, but the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer is a good starting point for the hunt. It’s a bit mundane, mundane in many ways mechanically, and not super exciting to drive. However, more importantly, the Trailblazer is also safe, reliable, roomy, easy to ride and (rather) cheap.
As much as I didn’t enjoy driving the Trailblazer as a stuffy adult, I still regularly miss cruising around with all four windows down and Zapp and Rodger on my boyfriend’s 1993 Honda Accord CD player. Like the Trailblazer, it was unremarkable in every way on paper. However, if you were to ask any of us back then, that – along with my 1995 Toyota Camry – might as well have been Ferraris. As far as we were concerned, they were the most remarkable cars in the universe because our parents left them to us.
Twenty years from now, I wouldn’t be surprised to find plenty of middle-aged people who sometimes fantasize about their “old” Chevy Trailblazer; windows rolled down, buddies piling up and blasting Ariana Grande, or whatever.
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