CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER test drive since 2000 SUV

The Sandpit Generals

Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Ford Explorer - impressive appearance, solid possibilities
 
Compared to the BLAZER model, a new one (of course, a relatively new one - the car is sold from us since 2002) a medium-sized SUV Chevrolet looks much more solid. In the guise of TRAILBLAZER, it is clearly read by the features of the elder brother - Tahoe: two-storey headlights, a horizontal falseradiator grille, convex wings with wide wheeled arches. Explorer is also more serious than the predecessor, radically updated in the same 2002. Former roundness in the exterior changed hard chopped forms, aggressive was the design of the front. However, the main changes affected the chassis - the SUV received a fully independent suspension, radically changed the behavior of the car on the asphalt.
 
However, we will talk about the driving characteristics of our heroes below. In the meantime, look into their spacious salons. Against the background of frankly archaic interior of Chevrolet, the Ford panel looks modern and even as if European. Adapted to the tastes of car enthusiasts of the old world and TrailBlazer. Unlike Explorer, the driver of Chevy does not have to get used to the steamer Kocherge selector of the automatic transmission - it is located in the usual location next door to the handbrake (Ford is typical for American car scissor).
 
And yet, despite some deviations from the canon, both of our heroes are one hundred percent Americans. Huge leather seats without pronounced side support, large buttons and keys, overloaded instrument panels, the mass of shelves, boxes, cup holders ... The chevrolet steering wheel is slightly thin, but falls into the hands no worse than the plural of Explorer ramp. The steering speakers are adjusted only in height, but any growth drivers will be able to quickly find a comfortable landing - the benefit of the movement ranges of the chairs is large enough. The visibility is not bad (although the mirrors have a more successful shape). In addition, both manufacturers offer such a useful option as a pedal node adjustable with the help of an electric drive - a large help for low-speed drivers.
 
About ergonomics claims a little. It is inconvenient by the only subwoofer, overwhelmed with functions, is again the typical American solution is present on both SUVs. (By the way, attempt to the creators of Chevy partially unload the lever, moved the rear wiper control to the center console, can hardly be recognized as successful: the switch is located in the blind zone.) There are questions and Ford. The transmission mode indicator is almost not visible due to the beam hub, you will not call the perfect and electromechanical adjustments of the seats (only part of the settings are provided with electric drives). And so the person who has installed seats heating switches next door to the seats setup keys, I want to look into the eyes especially intently: accidentally activating this option in the process of adjusting the wheel, the author of these lines for a long time and painfully spinning as already in a frying pan, unsuccessfully looking for a glood button all over Salon
 
Rear is quite convenient: to the backs of the front seats far, the ceiling is high. Chevrolet passengers are an individual tuner with two headphone jacks and ventilation control unit with the possibility of adjusting the flow direction and the fan speed.
 
But Explorer is roomy. The extreme chairs of the second row are folded (only the back is lowered), providing access to the trunk, on the third row of seats, where two adults can accommodate well. If you wish, all passenger seats can be turned into a convenient, almost perfectly smooth cargo platform. For ease of loading, light boosted both SUVs are equipped with lifting glasses of fifth door.
 
Well, what are our Americans on the go? The powerful 275-strong six allows the TrailBlazer driver to actually start from the traffic light and confidently pulls at high speeds. True, the four-stage automatic machine works rudely, with obvious lags when switching down. Unfortunately, not only the box suffers thoughtfully. Quitely Chevy responds and turns on the turn of the steering wheel. In the otoloneal zone, the ram is absolutely empty: in order to achieve a sharp change in the trajectory with an extreme detachment of obstacles (permissive maneuver), it has to rotate with interception to large angles, to which time in critical situations does not often have. Yes, and rolls in turns, alas, are great - to keep the two-ton mahuen from them with a high center of gravity is not able to even the most powerful transverse stability stabilizers ...
 
In general, behind the wheel of Chevrolet TrailBlazer it is better not to striking: you can drive himself leisurely, enjoying the typical American smoothness. Passengers are concerned only to fluctuations in huge wheels when driving out of frankly large bumps and pits.
 
But Explorer turned out to be harsh: saddles shakes tangible even on small irregularities (at the same time on asphalt waves, the SUV swirls like an ocean liner). However, in general, the car behaves on the road very well. Listing the Chevrolet engine in power, the V-shaped eight Explorer takes the excellent coherence with transmission: the delays of the five-speed box are minimized that it distinguishes it from familiar American machines.
 
At high Ford rates, it is not only steadily on a straight line, but also allows you to confidently rebuild from a number of in a row. Reactions are calm and accurate, and the steering provides stable feedback. Of course, an absolutely passenger behavior of Explorer will not call - this is still an SUV. The high center of gravity provokes tangible rolls in turns. Fortunately, in the Ford limit behaves very correctly: there is no pronounced leaning towards the demolition of the front wheels, nor to the back of the rear, for which you need to thank competently tuned independent rear suspension.
 
It is known that the overwhelming majority of the owners of SUV leave asphalt only in exceptional cases. In general, it is properly done: driving off-road drive - separate science. And not any machine can conquer the real Off-Road. To find out what the future owners of our heroes can count on, we tried in one of the near Moscow careers. It must be said that the test of sand is one of the heaviest soils - both SUVs withstood with honor. It is enough just to connect the front axle (4x4 High mode). In this case, the 4x4 Low mode remains in the reserve (a four-wheel drive and lower transmission in the dispensing box) and the automatic locking of the rear axle differential. Also confidently cars stormed deep ruts of blurred primer
 
By and large, we liked both participants in this test. Americans are superbly equipped, and they are asking for them on off-road standards are not marking money. Locking prices for cars in various versions of the performance reader will find in the table. Well, our TrailBlazer and Explorer will cost $ 48 804 and $ 51,720.
 
Text: Andrei Tsybulcsky
 

A source: Mkmobile magazine [23.05.2005]