CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER test drive since 2000 SUV
1000 kilometers on TrailBlazer
The novelty GM houses us from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 7 hours.Do you want Andrei, go to Peter, take TRAILBLAZER there and come to Moscow? Want! I replied without thinking by the representative of General Motors. Because, for shame, it was never in St. Petersburg, and because I really wanted to get acquainted with the new SUVROLET SUV
In the northern capital
And there was snowfall, ice and penetrating the wind. And there was still a huge snowdrift under which Traiiblazer hid. As it was filmed, I estimated the appearance of the novelties and I liked it more and more. It seems that there is nothing left of the well-known Blazer. Rather, it is slightly reduced Tahoe, but not heavy, but dynamic, even elegant.
However, while excavations were carried out, I am thoroughly Oblog. And therefore, with the first opportunity, he climbed inside and turned on the engine. The stove turned out to be excellent after a few minutes later I was as if in an oasis in the middle of the cold desert. Freed from the jacket and heating, I was inspected. The first thing that rushes a huge number of buttons, levers, switches. However, very soon I realized that they were all in place, at hand, and to find out what the same button is intended for, the problems does not constitute each has an icon and it is impossible to confuse.
Leather chairs are very convenient and have the highest possible set of electrical adjustments. The computer remembers the settings of the last driver, and when you start the motor, TrailBlazer adjusts to it. And remembers the car not only the position of the seat back, but, for example, a radio wave or a song on which the CD playback was interrupted. In general, the possibility of adjusting the machine is practically inexhaustible. So, with the help of special buttons on the steering wheel, you can make the front headlights can be lit by driving the key and leaving the car. And they can burn up to 20 minutes. And about the battery worry at the same time, according to representatives of the company, his service life is so great that the battery can survive the car itself. In addition, this unworthy long-lived is capable at the time of launching a cold engine to issue a charge of 600 amps. The audio system also deserves the highest praise all the same BOSE knows the sound in sound. GM representatives asked to grab something from the equipment with them. It turned out that it was about the bench, which in folded form, though even took almost all the useful place of the trunk, but it was easily fit into it. Brought it, by the way, three, man.
First winter. Then Moscow
Having spoiled from the dealer site and refueling at the nearest nuclear power plant, where the map was bought, and we decided to go on the road to the Winter's expensive Bolsheviks. Immediately notice the excellent dynamic characteristics of the machine. Despite the American origin, the PPC does not hesitate, and the steering wheel is noticeably heavy with a growing speed. The suspension copes perfectly even with the irregularities of St. Petersburg roads, providing comfort. At the same time, with sharp maneuvers, the bunks are not so great. The new 6-cylinder engine has a volume of 4.2 liters and power of 273 hp It provides a car excellent acceleration. Honestly, do not expect from a big jeep such a bump. By the way, the culture of drivers in the northern capital on the head is higher than in Moscow. No one is trying to cut or not miss during rebuilding. The left row in most cases remains free for overtaking. In a word, the metropolitan drivers have something to learn from Petersburgers. We gladly ride in the center, inspected everything that was supposed to and visited Peterhof.
And the next morning they went to Moscow. On the country roads, however, by the way, a four-wheel drive came. On the central panel, a slightly right of the instrument panel, the switch is located responsible for the operation of the AutoTrac transmission. It has four modes 2HI, A4WD, 4HI and 4LO. If there is no dry road under the wheels and there is no special need for a full drive, then the switch is recommended to be installed in the first position 2HI. In this mode, TrailBlazer is a typical rear-wheel drive car. 4HI and 4LO modes are already designed for off-road. In this case, the torque will be distributed equally between the front and rear wheels. A4WD mode involves electronics, which when the rear wheels is slipped instantly connects the front axle. And it happens very correctly and very quickly. There is a feeling that for some fraction of a second to demolish the rear of the car, the front wheels are connected, saving position. It was this mode that allowed me to maintain a very high speed in difficult areas of the E95. For the entire trip, the speedometer arrow rarely fell below 130-140 km / h. There were plots, what to hide, in which Trailblazer was confidently and under 200. At the same time, the control over the car was not lost for a second, and we did not leave the feeling of comfort. Unfortunately, such a movement mode has the opposite direction: gasoline in the tank was enough for only 350 km. Fortunately, the computer reports on time to refuel and how else can you drive on the remains of fuel.
The road from St. Petersburg to Moscow took a total of about 7 hours. Of course, there were plots with potholes, and with pits, which, however, are not terrible for the SUV. We lost more time on the plot from Tver to the capital (about 160 km). Here are the Moscow rules here: the scored left row, sharp reluctance to skip the car forward and so on in the same spirit.
Prospects in the market
Chevrolet TrailBlazer costs about 42 thousand dollars. More, of course, than Blazer, but also we are talking about a completely new car. By and large, these two models are simply incompatible. And in any case, TrailBlazer is staffed better. Therefore, although he has competitors in the market with Japanese to German cars, prospects are very good. The price for a car of this class is quite moderate. In addition, the car is perfectly suitable for both operation in the city and for roads off-road.
Andrei Osipov
A source: Newspaper "Car Izvestia" [№3 (3), 2001]
