Ace of Base: 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer L

Let’s be clear: sometimes an Ace of Base post is written purely to help shoppers of a particular make and model determine if the entry level option is worth considering. We are quite certain there are plenty of readers who will deride today’s entry simply because they don’t like the vehicle or its name. That’s fine; not everyone is a big fan of the compact crossover segment.

But they do sell, otherwise manufacturers wouldn’t be building the things. We can argue until we’re blue in the face about how OEMs sometimes wag the dog in terms of market demand but, for now, let’s see if the new-for-’21 Chevrolet Trailblazer is worth considering at its cheapest price point.

Unlike some of its competitors, the Chevy is offered with all-wheel drive, though it understandably doesn’t appear on the base L trim. Powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged inline-three, a GM-estimated 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque should be enough to permit this bite-sized conveyance to get out of its own way. A continuously variable transmission is the sole gearbox option — a revelation sure to deflate gearheads but likely to go unnoticed by this car’s target market.

A 7-inch color touchscreen serves as a dutiful butler for infotainment chores, permitting audio streaming for two active devices plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Seats are manual cloth but six-way adjustable for the driver, while the expected air conditioning is of the manual variety. One glaring omission is the absence of cruise control, seemingly not available for any price on the L, according to Chevy’s own build and price tool.

Automatic emergency braking and forward collision alert will let the driver know of impending doom, and one can expect lane keeping but not rear park assists in the L. There are 10 airbags and a federally mandated rear camera, proving just how far base Chevys have come in the last few years.

Those are sixteen-inch steel wheels on the L, by the way, paired with a single sad-sack color. No, really; you can have any color you want so long as it’s Summit White. At least the interior is black, not beige.

For a fiver under twenty grand, then, is the base Trailblazer an Ace of Base winner? Not quite, given it’s only available in white and the steering wheel blank will forever remind you that the thing doesn’t have cruise control (that, and your tired-after-four-hours right leg). Shop carefully in this segment, folks.

[Image: General Motors]

Not every base model has aced it, even the ones featured here. The ones which have? They help make the automotive landscape a lot better. Any others you can think of, B&B? Let us know in the comments and feel free to eviscerate our selections.

The model above is shown with American options and priced in American Dollars. Your dealer may sell for less.