What Makes a Good First SUV
- Starting price: The lowest trim’s MSRP is where your loan math begins.
- Standard safety content: On an entry SUV, what comes included at no extra cost matters more than the options list, since it is the protection you get without moving up a trim.
- Drive options: All-wheel drive means choosing the Trailblazer. The Trax is front-wheel drive only, on every trim, with no all-wheel-drive version at any price. On the Trailblazer, all-wheel drive is available on all 4 trims and standard on none of them, so it is a choice you make on whichever trim you pick. Ordering it also changes the mechanicals underneath: an all-wheel-drive Trailblazer comes with the larger 1.3L turbo engine and a 9-speed automatic in place of the front-wheel-drive version’s continuously variable automatic, and it costs some combined MPG.
2026 Chevy Trax
The 2026 Trax is the price leader of the two. Its small turbocharged engine gives up outright power to keep the sticker down, which is the right trade if the monthly payment matters to you more than power does. The Trax comes only in front-wheel drive. If all-wheel drive is on your must-have list, the Trailblazer below is the one to look at.
| 2026 Trax | Detail |
|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $21,700 (LS) |
| Engine | 1.2L turbo 3-cylinder, 137 hp, 162 lb-ft, on every trim |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive only |
| EPA combined | 29 MPG |
| Standard safety | Chevy Safety Assist |
| Passenger volume | 99.8 cu ft |
| Cargo behind rear seat | 25.6 cu ft |
| Cargo, rear seat folded | 54.1 cu ft |
| Trax Trim | Starting MSRP at launch | What It Adds | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| LS | $21,700 | The content the whole ladder shares: Chevy Safety Assist, an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 4-speaker audio, a 3.5-inch driver display and single-zone manual air conditioning, on 17-inch steel wheels. | The buyer working to the smallest payment who does not want a stripped-out car. Every safety feature in Chevy Safety Assist is already here. |
| 1RS | $23,200 | Appearance and warm-touch equipment on the LS content: 18-inch black-painted machined aluminum wheels, black bowties, black grille insert and black nameplate, black fascia inserts, gloss black mirror caps, a wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated power mirrors and remote start, all standard. It adds no screen, speaker, climate or driver-assistance content over LS. | The buyer who wants the blacked-out look and the heated equipment, and is content with the 8-inch screen and 4 speakers. |
| LT | $23,200 | Equipment rather than appearance, for the same launch money as 1RS: an 11-inch HD touchscreen in place of the 8-inch, 6 speakers in place of 4, an 8-inch digital driver display in place of the 3.5-inch one, automatic climate control, push-button keyless start, rear charging USB ports, a cargo cover, roof rails and signature LED daytime running lamps, on 17-inch gray machined aluminum wheels. It is also the first trim on the ladder that can be ordered with adaptive cruise control or wireless charging. | The buyer who would rather spend that same step on screen, sound and comfort technology. |
| 2RS | $25,400 | Everything standard on LT, plus the seat and access step: an 8-way power driver seat with 2-way power lumbar, keyless open front doors, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated power mirrors as standard rather than inside a package, a wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel and a front passenger seatback map pocket, on 19-inch black machined aluminum wheels with 245/45R19 tires. | The buyer who wants the screen, the sound and the heated, powered equipment together, on the 19-inch wheel. |
| ACTIV | $25,400 | The same standard equipment and the same option list as 2RS, in a different look: 18-inch black-painted aluminum wheels on taller 225/55R18 tires, a round wrapped steering wheel rather than a flat-bottom one, a body-color grille insert, a chrome nameplate, Titanium Chrome fascia inserts and roof rails, and its own Cacti Green paint. | The buyer who wants that same equipment with the taller sidewall and the chrome-accented look. The ACTIV name here is appearance: it and 2RS are both front-wheel drive at 7.3 inches of ground clearance, with no off-road package on either. |
Starting MSRP at launch (2026 model year), destination excluded. Final price varies by configuration and current programs.
2026 Chevy Trailblazer
The 2026 Trailblazer is the step up. It starts $1,600 above the Trax, and for that you get a vehicle you can order with all-wheel drive and a ladder that reaches a larger engine. In front-wheel drive with the 1.3L engine it is also the more efficient of the two, edging the Trax on combined MPG, so the Trax’s case is its lower starting price rather than its fuel bill.
| 2026 Trailblazer | Detail |
|---|---|
| Starting MSRP | $23,300 (LS) |
| Engine | 1.2L turbo, 137 hp, 162 lb-ft, standard on front-wheel-drive LS and LT; 1.3L turbo, 155 hp, 174 lb-ft, standard on ACTIV, RS and every all-wheel-drive Trailblazer |
| Transmission | Continuously variable automatic with front-wheel drive; 9-speed automatic with all-wheel drive |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive standard on all 4 trims, all-wheel drive available on all 4 |
| EPA combined | 31 MPG (1.3L front-wheel drive) / 27 MPG (1.3L all-wheel drive) |
| Standard safety | Chevy Safety Assist |
| Passenger volume | 98.2 cu ft |
| Cargo behind rear seat | 25.3 cu ft |
| Cargo, rear seat folded | 54.4 cu ft |
| Trailblazer Trim | Starting MSRP at launch | What It Adds | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| LS | $23,300 | The baseline the whole ladder shares: Chevy Safety Assist, an 11-inch HD touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch digital driver display, an HD rear vision camera, LED headlamps, push-button keyless start and Wi-Fi hotspot capability, on 17-inch silver-painted aluminum wheels, with 4-speaker audio and the 1.2L turbo engine in front-wheel drive. | The buyer who wants the bigger screen for the smallest Trailblazer money. |
| LT | $24,500 | For $1,200 over LS: keyless open with extended-range remote keyless entry, remote start, deep-tinted rear windows and liftgate, heated power-adjustable mirrors, signature LED daytime running lamps, roof-mounted side rails, 6-speaker enhanced-performance audio, sliding covered vanity mirrors, gloss black machined wheels and silver-painted fascia inserts. LT also opens options the LS cannot be ordered with at all, among them the panoramic sunroof, the power liftgate, adaptive cruise control and the cold weather package. | The buyer who wants the convenience and comfort equipment without stretching to the top. It is also the Trailblazer that opens below a top-trim Trax. |
| ACTIV | $27,900 | The $3,400 step over LT makes 14 items standard that LT either cannot have or must pay for inside a package. Headed by the engine: the 1.3L turbo at 155 hp and 174 lb-ft, against the LT’s 1.2L at 137 hp and 162 lb-ft. Also standard here: heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a wrapped steering wheel, a wrapped shift knob, an 8-way power driver seat, 2-way power lumbar, a rear center armrest, LED tail lamps, dual-outlet exhaust, Evotex seat trim in place of cloth, trailering wiring, a reinforced heater defroster and a higher gross vehicle weight rating. ACTIV then takes the rugged path: off-road suspension tuning and a functional skid plate, neither offered on any other trim, on 17-inch gloss black machined wheels with sport terrain tires, Titanium Chrome fascia inserts and trapezoidal exhaust tips. | The buyer who wants the larger engine and the heated, powered equipment as standard, in the ruggedized version with the sport terrain tires. |
| RS | $27,900 | The same 14 standard gains as ACTIV, including the 1.3L turbo engine, the heated seats and steering wheel, the power driver seat and the Evotex trim, in the sport-styled treatment instead: 19-inch gloss black machined aluminum wheels on 245/45R19 all-season tires, the only 19-inch wheel in the lineup, plus black fascia inserts, gloss black mirror caps, round exhaust tips and Jet Black Evotex seats with red accents. | The buyer who wants everything the ACTIV carries but on the 19-inch wheels and the sport look rather than the off-road suspension and skid plate. If your budget reaches here, drive the two and pick the one you want to own. |
Starting MSRP at launch (2026 model year), destination excluded. Final price varies by configuration and current programs.
Trax vs. Trailblazer
| Spec | 2026 Trax | 2026 Trailblazer |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (LS) | $21,700 | $23,300 |
| Engine / horsepower | 1.2L turbo, 137 hp, on every trim | 1.2L turbo, 137 hp, on front-wheel-drive LS and LT; 1.3L turbo, 155 hp, on ACTIV, RS and all-wheel drive |
| EPA combined MPG | 29 | 31 (1.3L front-wheel drive) / 27 (1.3L all-wheel drive) |
| All-wheel drive | Not offered | Available on all 4 trims, standard on none |
| Standard safety | Chevy Safety Assist | Chevy Safety Assist |
| Passenger volume | 99.8 cu ft | 98.2 cu ft |
| Cargo behind rear seat | 25.6 cu ft | 25.3 cu ft |
| Cargo, rear seat folded | 54.1 cu ft | 54.4 cu ft |
Starting MSRP at launch (2026 model year), destination excluded.
On interior and cargo space the two are nearly identical, within roughly a cubic foot and a half in every measure, so room is not the deciding factor. Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every trim of both. Pick the Trax for the lower price. Pick the Trailblazer if you want all-wheel drive, or if you want the 1.3L engine that ACTIV and RS carry as standard.
Crash-Test Ratings
Crash ratings come from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency that runs the tests, rather than from the manufacturer or from us. Here is how these two scored for the 2026 model year.
- 2026 Trax: 4 stars overall for frontal crash, made up of 5 stars on the driver side and 4 stars on the passenger side, plus a 4-star rollover rating with no tip in the rollover test.
- 2026 Trailblazer: 5 stars overall for frontal crash, made up of 5 stars on the driver side and 4 stars on the passenger side, plus the same 4-star rollover rating and the same no-tip result. Front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive Trailblazers score the same.
Both SUVs also come with electronic stability control, forward collision warning and lane departure warning as standard equipment on every trim, so the systems that help a new driver avoid a crash are included rather than optional.
NHTSA has not published a single combined overall star for every configuration of these 2 SUVs, and ratings are added and revised over time, so check NHTSA.gov for the current entry on the vehicle you are shopping.
Which Trim Should You Choose
Once the model is settled, the trim decision is a short one on both ladders, because the prices bunch rather than climb evenly.
- If the payment decides it: Trax LS. It is the lowest starting figure on this page, and because Chevy Safety Assist is standard on every trim, the core driver-assistance equipment is not what a step up buys you. Adaptive cruise control is: it can only be ordered on LT, 2RS and ACTIV.
- If all-wheel drive is on your list: a Trailblazer, at whatever trim your budget reaches, since it is available on all 4 of them. Ordering it brings the 1.3L engine and the 9-speed automatic with it, whichever trim you start from. No Trax offers all-wheel drive, so climbing the Trax ladder will not get you there.
- If you are choosing between the two Trax trims that launched at $23,200: take LT for the equipment or 1RS for the look, because neither is the upgraded version of the other. LT moves you from the 8-inch touchscreen and 4 speakers to the 11-inch HD touchscreen, 6 speakers, an 8-inch digital driver display, automatic climate control, push-button start and rear USB ports, and it is the one of the pair that can be optioned with adaptive cruise control. 1RS spends the identical money on 18-inch black machined wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, heated front seats, a heated flat-bottom steering wheel, heated mirrors and remote start.
- If you are choosing between the two Trax trims that launched at $25,400: the standard equipment and the option list on 2RS and ACTIV are the same, so this one honestly is a wheels-and-look choice: 19-inch black machined wheels on 245/45R19 tires and a flat-bottom steering wheel for 2RS, 18-inch black wheels on taller 225/55R18 tires, a round wrapped wheel, a body-color grille insert and Titanium Chrome accents for ACTIV. Buy whichever look you want and do not worry that you are giving something up.
- If your budget lands near the top of the Trax ladder: look hard at the Trailblazer LT. It launched at $24,500, below the top of the Trax ladder, carries the same 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital driver display, adds keyless open, remote start, heated mirrors, roof side rails and 6-speaker audio, and it is the one of the 2 models you can order with all-wheel drive. Its standard front-wheel-drive engine matches the Trax’s 137 hp, so the 1.3L means choosing all-wheel drive or stepping to ACTIV or RS.
- If you are weighing Trailblazer LT against ACTIV or RS: the $3,400 step is not a trim-badge step. It makes the 1.3L turbo standard, 155 hp and 174 lb-ft against the LT’s 137 hp and 162 lb-ft, and it makes standard what the LT can only reach through packages: heated front seats, a heated wrapped steering wheel, an 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar, a rear center armrest, LED tail lamps and Evotex seat trim. Between the pair that both launched at $27,900, ACTIV brings off-road suspension tuning and a functional skid plate; RS brings the 19-inch wheels and the wider tires.
Why Buy New
A used car can look cheaper on the sticker, but a new entry SUV comes with things a used one does not. New Trax and Trailblazer buyers at Gordon Chevrolet get free paintless dent repair in the first 90 days, which covers the small dings of early ownership. Roadside assistance runs for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
Gordon Chevrolet is the Home of No Bull Pricing: competitive prices, no huge add-on stickers or equipment packages, no gimmicks or games, and trades wanted but not required. The number on the window sticker is the number you work from.
Our finance center works with buyers in every credit situation: strong credit, credit still being built, or no history yet. Find out what you qualify for before you shop.
The quickest way to settle the choice is to drive both back to back at our Orange Park showroom, on the Money Saving End of Blanding Blvd. Check this month’s specials before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Among the Chevrolet models we sell, the Trax has the lowest starting price. The 2026 Trax LS listed at $21,700 at launch, destination excluded.
The Trailblazer does, and the Trax does not. On the Trailblazer it is available on all 4 trims and standard on none of them, so it is a choice you make on whichever trim you pick rather than a reason to climb the ladder. Ordering it also brings the 1.3L turbo engine and a 9-speed automatic in place of the front-wheel-drive version’s continuously variable automatic, and combined MPG goes from 31 to 27.
For a first-time buyer focused on starting price, yes. It starts below the Trailblazer and includes Chevy Safety Assist as standard equipment, so a new driver gets that protection without paying up for a higher trim. Mechanically it is a simple package: a 6-speed automatic and front-wheel drive.
Both include the Chevy Safety Assist package at no extra cost: Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, IntelliBeam auto high beams, and a Following Distance Indicator.
Folding the rear seat more than doubles the space in either SUV, from 25.6 to 54.1 cu ft in the Trax and from 25.3 to 54.4 cu ft in the Trailblazer. The two land within half a cubic foot of each other at both settings, so a bike, a bookshelf, or a full move-in load is the same job in either one. Cargo room is not what separates these two.
Yes. Both offer a Flex Fuel configuration that takes gasoline or E85. The Trax Flex Fuel is rated 28 city / 32 highway / 30 combined MPG, and the front-wheel-drive Trailblazer Flex Fuel is rated 30 city / 31 highway / 30 combined. Both land at 30 combined, so the fuel-economy gap between the two models closes in these configurations.
The Trailblazer is rated to tow 1,000 pounds, and it needs the accessory hitch to do it. That is small-trailer territory rather than boat or camper capability, so if regular towing is part of what you need, start your shopping higher up the Chevrolet lineup instead.
MSRP is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, the price Chevrolet suggests for the vehicle. “Starting” means it is the lowest trim’s figure, so the prices in this guide are where each model’s ladder begins rather than what a loaded example costs. Every MSRP here is the launch figure for the 2026 model year with destination excluded, meaning the manufacturer’s separate destination charge sits on top. The figure that settles your deal is the out-the-door price on the exact vehicle, and we will walk through it with you on any Trax or Trailblazer you are considering.