CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER test drive since 2008 SUV

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Big car. Debuted for a long time, in 2001, but its design is quite relevant today. Balanced body proportions - classic off-road genre. Plus, harsh faces that enter the game with plastic sidewall, in particular, with wheel arches. It turned out a courageous appearance with a moderate fraction of aggression and pressure. This beautiful, stylish SUV is unlikely to get lost in the automotive stream (help here and impressive sizes). Impressive spectacular crocked lighting in front and beautiful bumper. But the quality of the assembly suffers. Take a look at the gaps between the front body panels (at the junction of the bumper, the wings and the falseradiator lattice). If it were not for reliable information about the zero state of the car, it would be possible to think that TrailBlazer was in the road alteration, and then was restored in the left auto repair shop. However, not looking around, you will not notice.

 
The interior of the creators of the fiction was not enough. The salon of the giant was clearly designed by the residual principle, and in the end it turned out somehow not very kept in time, even with a loaf at the date of the debut. Break-rounded panels and finishing materials are not the first quality of quality remind of cases of the long-lasting days - today they do not do this. At least in Europe.
 

However, everything is not bad. Surfaces for the most part soft, light gray color gamut can be called peaceful, and noise insulation is worthy. But Ergonomics is very fancy. Take, for example, a cunning steering wheel switch located on the right. It is the only one, and allows you to control multiple devices, ranging from janitors and ending with cruise control. Before starting the movement, it should be very comfortable with it so that in the way it should not have to sharpen how, for example, turn on the windshield washer. And do not attempt to activate the rear janitor with this switch - your attempts will be vain. Responsible for this button is located on the central panel, next to the handle of the selection of transmission operation modes. Wonderful business American!

 
However, all these oversight ergonomic oddities are quickly getting used to. Still, it will be necessary to master some time in soft impuluage chairs, which are known about lateral support. Although what are these sports elements? Turn in turns on such a car - just absurd, because it was created for another. Or for others - for those who put comfort, permeability and high landing. And, you know, there is a beauty in it - you are ourselves IMPORTANT, swaying and looking downward on the worldly bustle of the floor below.

 
Chairs have six electrical adjustments - more than enough, besides, you can vary the position of the pedal node and the height of the steering column. There is also separate climate control, there is an excellent BOSE sound system. Behind the spot is full. You can sit in the threesome, practically not crowned. By the way, for passengers of the second row there is a DVD player and the monitor built into the ceiling is a rare option even for expensive sedans. And I do not remember any other car that would have equipped with a voice recorder (recording for four minutes). So the trailblazer owner has reasons for pride.
 

The key turns the row 6-cylinder engine VORTEC with a volume of 4.2 liters. Motor cheerful, spinning well and gives 273 hp. Is this sufficient livestock for a massive car? In principle, it never happens a lot, but also in such an option TRAILBLAZER is quite dynamic. The peak of the torque is 373 nm, while 335 nm are available in the range of 1600-5600 rpm.


The advantage of the row six in front of the engine of any other configuration, including the V6 or V8, which are very often equipped with SUVs, is an excellent balance. The TrailBlazer motor at idle works so smoothly that the driver may well try to start it once again - it was necessary to provide a starter blocking.

 
The engine is good, but there are complaints to a 4-step automaton. I want more distillation. The gas pedal sharply into the floor, and the box is all inactive - as if he is thinking whether it is worth reacting at all. Finally, unhurriedly switch down, and, explosives, TrailBlazer resolutely rushes forward, hovering horror on others! This exercise will surely entertain passengers and sniffs the nerves to the driver. By the way, overclocking up to 100 km / h occupies about 9-10 seconds, which for such a massive apparatus is a good indicator.

 
Or maybe we caulate in vain to the box? This is in Russia TrailBlazer - a prestigious city car, and at its American homeland he has to carry the trailer - with a boat, for example, and horsepower on wheels. Hence the box settings. The mass of the trailer that can be towed trailblazer - 2.3 tons.

 
Hanging quality without surprises. The suspension (anterior independent, behind - a hard bridge) is designed with an eye on comfort and off-road, where the pressure is not needed - the more move, the better. Hence the minuses that manifest themselves on the solid coating are distinct rolls in turns and clips when overclocking and cutting braking. Yes, and high-profile tires do not add accuracy in control. But if you forget about the skills of sports driving and just try to understand what this car likes, then after a while you can already go fast enough and even get some pleasure from it. On straight line, the car confidently leaves 170-190 km / h, and if at low speed it is felt that the chassis does not cope with unsappressing masses, passing tangible shoes on the body, then when quickly driving the road as if smoothed. In the turns first scare large rolls, nevertheless, the reaction of the machine as a whole is projected.
 

However, it is necessary to be always ready for the fact that the car can feel quite unpleasant in the running turn, jump from the trajectory. It is time to reset the speed, reminding himself that it is stupid to study the limit possibilities of this vehicle on the asphalt, since the car opens its best quality off-road. Anyway there is a complaint. The brake pedal could be more informative - you will give it to her, and it goes deep into it, and it seems that the motor compartment will fall completely soon. But the car slows down confidently, although he pecks the nose.
 

And I would also like more feedback on the steering wheel. However, fans of American frame off-roads here will have to do. The rabbar is lightweight, and almost four turns from the stop until the stop is not annoyed at all in the parking lot - there is always the opportunity to practice in high-speed taxiing.

 
To complete the minuses in the behavior of TRAILBLAZER on the asphalt, you just need to move on a real off-road one. The pioneer, the one who paves the way - is approximately so translated into Russian word TRAILBLAZER. American SUV properly justifies its name. On rough terrain, you can only applaud.

 
Autotrack 4x4 full drive system is a dispensing box controlled by electronics. The default rear drive mode is set. It is better to use it with urban ride. If the conditions of movement are slightly difficult, you can translate the selector to the A4WD position - in this case, the front axle will be automatically connected by the electronics command when slipping the rear wheels. The third mode is called 4HI - this is the distribution of torque over the axes in the proportion of 50/50. Already in this form, TrailBlazer appears to be an excellent rift, and in most cases, when its capabilities were limited, summer road tires were to blame. The reduced transmission (4LO) allows you to attack even more serious off-road, naturally, in the presence of certain skills. In general, it is necessary to really try to post all-time qualities TrailBlazer - the car confidently exports its owner from most of very complex roadless situations.

 
Now it is clear why this car is often found on the Moscow streets. An attractive design, a large number of options, a powerful engine, willingly consumes 92th gasoline, a moderate price, as well as a reliable, time-tested design. This ratio of consumer characteristics will appeal to many. Not by chance in 2002, TrailBlazer was recognized in the United States an SUV year.

 
 

CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER Prices and Prices

 
In the Russian market, the car is offered with one engine and with one automatic transmission, and the final cost generates a list of options. Basic 1SD equipment Offers the following: Driving seat electric drives, side and front airbags, air conditioning, electric windows, audio system (CD), cruise control, steering wheel, digital voice recorder in the ceiling console, anti-theft system, central locking with DF, washer Headlights, alloy wheels R17 with tires 245/65, fog lights.

 
The cost of such a car, depending on the additional equipment hesitates from $ 40.645 to $ 42.867. Prices for TrailBlazer in a complete set of 1SF begin with $ 48.804 and ends at $ 49.279. What did eight thousand differences gone? On the leather interior trim, the electric drives of the front passenger seat, heated the front seats and the memory of the driver's two positions, on the automatic two-zone climate control, an intra-alone mirror with a built-in compass, an audio system control unit from a second row of seats, a multifunctional steering wheel, an on-board computer, rain sensor (Just do not look at how it is attached to the glass!). And there are such options like steps, electric hatch, Bose audio system, ETR AM / FM radio, RDS, automatic equalizer, 6-disk CD changer, digital clock, sound level compensation system, DVD player, electrically regulating a pedal node, SOLAR toning -Ray, two-color body painting ...
 

Text: Nikolai Ilyin

 
 
 

A source: Motor magazine [№06 / 2005]