Chevrolet Trailblazer test drive since 2000 SUV
Pioneer
Trailblazer can be translated into Russian as a pioneer. Indeed, in this machine, many technical solutions were applied for the first time in the history of Chevrolet SUVs. Unlike the classic Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, with the front torsion pendant, Trailblazer is equipped with a modern spring suspension with double A-shaped levers and persistent MacPherson. For the new SUV, a 6-cylinder, in-line aluminum engine was specially developed. By the way, for GM cars, a row six was installed for the first time in 20 years. The Chevrolet Trailblazer began to be produced since September 2001 at the Moraine factory in Ohio. In 2002, he defeated the SUV in the nomination of the year in North America, and in 2003 more than 300 thousand cars of this model came off the assembly line. What is the secret of the success of Trailblazer?
According to statistics, 90 % of SUVs never move from asphalt. And if so, then the cross -country ability of almost all cars of a similar class is redundant. Nevertheless, many customers like the juper appearance, therefore, recently, crossovers are increasingly appearing cars that occupy an intermediate position between conventional cars and SUVs.
This category also includes Chevrolet Trailblazer. Outwardly, it looks like a real SUV, and on the asphalt it is in no way inferior to a passenger car. From his off -road brothers, he inherited a powerful spar frame, which is now made using modern technology by hydraulic forming. Like most American cars of a similar class, Trailblazer can only have a drive on the rear wheels or an all -wheel drive transmission, quite interesting from a technical point of view. The branded system of the Chevrolet Autotrac Full -wheel drive includes a handout controlled by a computer. Depending on the state of the road, the driver selects one of the four modes of transmission, and the control is carried out by a simple turn of the switch located on the central console. In normal road conditions, the drive is involved only on the rear wheels 2HI; On roads with a mixed coating, it is recommended to use the A4WD mode when the front wheel drive is automatically connected when the rear wheels are slipped. For winter operation and off -road, a 4HI mode is provided for a permanent all -wheel drive with an equal distribution of torque along the axes. In the most difficult situations, the 4LO mode helps out, in which a reduced gear is turned on. For most real road conditions, the capabilities of the all -wheel drive system are quite enough, but the off -road abilities of Trailblazer should not be overestimated, since this machine has a relatively small 190 mm.
A 6-cylinder in a 24-valve Vortec4200 engine is ideal for a car of this class. With such a Trailblazer engine, you can disperse up to 100 km/h in just 9 s. The maximum speed limited by electronics is 192 km/h. The engine has an excellent description of the torque, a maximum of 372 nm is reached at 3600 rpm, and in the range from 1600 to 5600 rpm, the motor produces 90 % of the maximum torque. Therefore, in terms of traction characteristics, the Vortec4200 is not inferior to 8-cylinder power units, but at the same time significantly exceeds them in terms of economy. The reliability of the new engine also meets the highest requirements, in the tests of the mileage of cars exceeded 500 thousand km. For a high -class car, it is also important that the Vortec4200 works very quietly, because the in -line sixes are better balanced than the more common V8 engines. In addition, to improve noise insulation, the power unit is installed on shock absorbers. In a word, the designers overdid it: at low speeds, the engine is not heard at all, therefore, in order to exclude attempts to turn on the starter with a working motor, Trailblazer is equipped with a special Starter-InterrupPT system.
An effective brake system is quite consistent with the good speed characteristics of the car. Traiblazer has ventilated disc brakes on all wheels and ABS.
Although, in its dimensions (length 4872 mm), Trailblazer does not reach the full -sized American SUVs, it is not inferior to them in size. Four passengers are conveniently placed in its luxurious seats. A wide salon could have accepted the fifth passenger, but, alas, anatomical rear seats are designed for only two. The volume of the already rather big trunk (1162 l) will become twice as much if the rear seat is folded completely or partially.
For the American market, the modification of Trailblazer Ext is produced. It differs from the standard version of 407 mm with a wheelbase. Trailblazer Ext has three rows of seats, so the car is able to accommodate seven passengers. By order of EXT, you can equip the EXT with a more powerful V8 engine with a working volume of 5.3 liters.
Only the standard version of the machine (6-cylinder engine, 4.2 liters, an automatic 4-speed gearbox) supply to Russia, as in all European countries, as well as in all European countries. There are two options for configuration 1SD and 1SF. Moreover, already in the base the machine is well equipped, and additional options are relatively inexpensive. So, on Trailblazer in the 1SD version, there are: an audio system with a cassette and a CD player, external electric mirrors and heating, electric windows of the rear and front doors, immobilizer, alarm, a central lock with a DU, a steering wheel with a leather upholstery, a 2-zone air conditioner, a 2-zone air Cruise control, pillows of the driver and front passenger, fog lights, a grid for cargo and a curtain in the luggage compartment. Such a car costs 39,999 dollars. In the 1SF option, a rain sensor, a leather salon, a package for a driver (electronic climate control, an on-board computer with many functions), an electric heater of a driver and passenger seat, a memory driver with memory in two provisions are additionally provided. In addition, in the 1SF version, the front passenger seat has eight adjustments, while in version 1SD only the driver has such a chair. Trailblazer in the 1SF version is offered for $ 45,999. For a car of any configuration, the buyer can additionally order an audio system Bose Premium ($ 655), an audio system with a CD-changer ($ 525), an electric hatch ($ 1055), plastic submarines ( $ 430), an entertainment system for the rear passengers ($ 1530).
Currently, dealers have a 2004 machine that sell with significant discounts.
The test was provided by the Trailblazer car in the 1SF configuration. The driver's seat managed to accommodate quite comfortably, which is not surprising with such dimensions of the car and an armchair that has eight adjustments. Moreover, for the convenience of entering and output, you can use the function that allows you to push the front seat to the stop when the ignition can be used. Comfortable enough in the back seat. In terms of equipping the TRILBLAZER salon, even many higher -class cars surpasses. For the convenience of the rear passengers, a 12-volt outlet is provided, a tuner with two headphones for headphones, an individual ventilation control unit with the ability to adjust the direction of flows and the fan rotation speed.
Now let's try the car on the go: the 6-cylinder engine really turned out to be very good. When the car is moving, it is practically not heard. In terms of accelerated dynamics, the machine is not inferior to classmates with an 8-cylinder engine. By ease of control, Trailblazer is comparable to an ordinary passenger car. You get used to large dimensions quickly. Review is not bad both forward and back. Due to the larger corner of the rotation of the front wheels, Trailblazer has a fairly small diameter of the turn for SUVs of 11.7 m.
The suspension also works well, she does not notice small irregularities at all, and large pits cause only small swaying the body. Of course, with regard to the accuracy of management, Trailblazer cannot be compared with sports sedans, but it is quite worthy of the crossover cars.
Perhaps the only thing that I did not like is plastic steps installed as an option. They do not decorate the car, but significantly worsen the geometric cross -country ability of the machine. Moreover, there is no sense from them, the floor at the car is quite low from the road, so landing is quite convenient without footsteps.
Chevrolet Trailblazer showed that it is ideal for everyday city operation. In terms of convenience, it is almost no different from ordinary cars, and all -wheel drive is indispensable in winter operating conditions. On such a car, you can safely go on long travels. In terms of comfort, it is not inferior to the sedans of the business class, and its off-road abilities, although not endless, but they are quite enough to defeat several kilometers of a bad road on the way to the place of rest.
