2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer: Monroe Buyers Guide

A small SUV with a surprisingly full dashboard

Most vehicles at this price make you climb the trim ladder to get a screen worth looking at, and the Trailblazer simply skips that step. The 11-inch touchscreen and the 8-inch driver display are on the $23,600 LS exactly as they are on the $28,200 RS, so the choice between trims is about looks, wheels and drivetrain rather than about whether you get a modern cabin. Wireless phone projection, push-button start and a rear camera round out the basics, and the front passenger seat folds flat, which stretches the cargo floor to as much as 8.5 feet according to Chevrolet.

That fold-flat seat matters in Monroe more than a spec sheet might suggest. A pair of skis for a Saturday at Stevens Pass, a rolled-up rug from a Snohomish antique shop or a kayak paddle that would not otherwise fit all slide in without dropping the back seats, and five adults still fit when you are not hauling anything long.

Two engines, and the rule that connects them

Chevrolet offers the Trailblazer with two turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The 1.2-liter makes 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque and shows up only on front-wheel-drive LS and LT models, where it is paired with a continuously variable transmission. The 1.3-liter, rated at 155 horsepower and up to 174 lb-ft, is standard on the ACTIV and RS and is an extra-cost option on the LS and LT. The part that trips people up is all-wheel drive: choose it on any trim and you automatically get the 1.3-liter and a nine-speed automatic, so AWD never comes with the smaller engine.

On fuel economy, the EPA rates the front-drive 1.3-liter at 29 city, 33 highway and 31 combined mpg, the front-drive 1.2-liter at 30, 31 and 30, and the all-wheel-drive version at 26, 29 and 27. The 1.2-liter's EPA record also lists E85 as an allowed fuel alongside gasoline, while the 1.3-liter is a regular-gasoline engine. Chevrolet lists three drive modes as available.

Tech and safety that come with every trim

Every Trailblazer carries Chevy Safety, which Chevrolet describes as a suite of six features including forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, a following distance indicator and IntelliBeam automatic high beams. A Bose audio system, wireless charging and a hands-free power liftgate are offered as available extras, and so is a Driver Confidence Package that adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. The safety systems help on the stop-and-go stretch of SR-522 toward Woodinville at rush hour, though they do not replace attention behind the wheel.

Choose your 2026 Trailblazer

Where a Trailblazer fits in Snohomish County

Monroe sits at a crossroads, with SR-522 running southwest toward Woodinville and Bothell, US-2 heading west to Snohomish and Everett, and the same highway climbing the other way toward Stevens Pass, which is roughly 45 miles from town. A small SUV that sips fuel on the commute and still offers optional AWD for a mountain weekend makes sense here. Wallace Falls State Park is about twenty minutes up US-2 near Gold Bar, so a Discover Pass on the mirror and a daypack in the back is a very Trailblazer way to spend a Sunday, and in winter the pass reports from WSDOT decide whether your plans change.

Where the 2026 sits in Chevrolet's plans

People who search for this SUV sometimes land on news about a newer one. Chevrolet's website shows a 2027 Trailblazer as an upcoming model with a different trim lineup and an availability date of late spring 2027. Today the 2026 is the one Chevrolet lists with live inventory and a build-and-price tool, which means a 2026 Trailblazer is the version you can drive home this fall.

What Speedway Chevrolet customers say

Speedway Chevrolet holds a 4.7-star average across 1,145 Google reviews. Reviews that name the Trailblazer are few, since most buyers write about the people they worked with rather than the model. Debbie N. wrote that "Joseph was amazing with helping me get the perfect Trailblazer!" and recommended Joseph Rodrigues in sales and Joe Harvey in finance by name. Raymond R., describing a recent purchase at the store, said "we felt no pressure and they welcomed our business."

Buying a Trailblazer in Monroe

Washington does not tax wages at the state level and relies on sales tax instead. The Department of Revenue's fourth-quarter 2026 table lists Monroe at 9.3 percent for motor vehicles (6.5 percent state plus 2.8 percent local), and dealers collect an additional 0.5 percent motor vehicle sales tax, so the combined figure is 9.8 percent of the selling price. The pricing and leasing guide works through the numbers, and the service and repair guide covers life after the purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 Chevy Trailblazer a good car?

It is a good fit for drivers who want a low starting price, a large standard touchscreen, wireless phone projection and an available all-wheel-drive system in a package that is easy to park. Because both engines are small turbo three-cylinders, a test drive on your own commute will tell you more than a spec sheet about whether the power feels right.

How much is a fully loaded 2026 Trailblazer?

Starting prices run from $23,600 MSRP for the LS to $28,200 for the ACTIV and RS before the $1,795 destination charge, and the final figure depends on the trim, the drivetrain and which packages you add. Chevrolet's build-and-price tool or a written quote from the dealership gives you the exact number for the vehicle you want.

Is Chevy discontinuing the Trailblazer?

No. The 2026 Trailblazer is on sale now, and Chevrolet previews a 2027 model for late spring 2027, so the nameplate is continuing even though the trim lineup is changing.

What is better, an Equinox or a Trailblazer?

The Trailblazer is the smaller and less expensive of the two, which helps in tight parking and on a tighter budget, while the Equinox is larger and costs more. Sitting in both back to back is the quickest way to decide whether you need the extra room.

Which Trailblazer trim is best?

It depends on what you value. The LS keeps the price lowest, the LT adds black wheels and convenience features, the ACTIV leans toward the outdoors with tuned suspension and a skid plate, and the RS leans toward styling with 19-inch wheels and red accents.

Is the Chevy Trailblazer all-wheel drive?

Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available on every trim. Choosing it brings the 1.3-liter turbo and a nine-speed automatic transmission along with it.

See the Trailblazer in person in Monroe

Speedway Chevrolet is on West Main Street near the roundabout by Monroe High School, with easy access to SR-522, and the team welcomes drivers from Snohomish, Sultan, Duvall, Woodinville and Lake Stevens. Browse the current Trailblazer inventory, check the new Chevy specials, or start a finance application before you visit. You can also meet the sales and service team online, and the store's Drive With Confidence page explains the warranty and return policies on new vehicles.