When it comes to small compact SUVs, there are plenty crowding the market. To be a leader in sales, these vehicles need to stand out from the crowd. Chevy has done that with the 2021 model of the Chevy Trailblazer. 

The automaker has come up with the one feature that will set the Trailblazer apart from the rest of the group. GM Authority’s Blog explains what that feature is and how it stands up to others in its class. 

What does the Trailblazer have that its rivals don’t? 

We can answer this with one word: space. The Trailblazer not only has decent elbow room in the front, but it also has plenty of space in the rear seats and cargo area as well. Many of its rivals also have roomy front seats, but few have room for full-grown adults to stretch out in the rear seat section. 

GM Authority’s blog lays out the measurements on their chart. The Trailblazer leads the pack with its rear-seat legroom coming in at 39.4 inches of space. Following just behind it is the Honda HR-V and the Kia Soul. When it comes to front legroom, though, it falls behind with only 40.9, which isn’t the best in the group, but it’s also not the worst. 

However, it’s among the top for front and rear headroom coming at 40 inches and 38.9 inches. Cargo space is also impressive. With the rear seats up, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer has 25.3 cubic feet of room and 54.4 cubic feet if you fold down the back seats. 

Why are leg and headroom such a big deal?

Car and Driver calls the Trailblazer a “people mover;” and it’s an apt nickname. Chevy offers plenty of room for at least four full-size adults to sit back and comfortably handle a long-distance ride. With the large amount of cargo space it has, you will have more than enough room to store all your items and then some. 

The primary reason why Chevy’s compact SUV has more room is because of the wheelbase. They build both the Trailblazer and the Buick Encore GX off the same platform, but Chevy’s wheelbase is 103.9 inches while Buick’s is only 102.2 inches. It doesn’t sound like there’s much of a difference, but you can tell when you ride in both. The legroom for the Buick Encore is only 36 inches compared to the 39.4 the Trailblazer has. 

What do we know about the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer so far?

The Chevy Trailblazer has two engine options. The base offers a 1.2-liter three-cylinder that runs 137 hp. You can also opt for the 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder motor producing 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. 

Paired with both the engines as a standard option is a continuously variable transmission. As an alternative, you can choose a nine-speed automatic transmission if you choose the 1.3-liter motor and AWD.

Car and Driver tested its acceleration on a 0 to 60 run and clocked it at 9.4 seconds, which didn’t impress them at all. A quarter-mile run ran a sluggish 17.1 seconds, which isn’t the best in the subcompact crossover class. 

The Trailblazer has an EPA rating of 30 mpg on the highway, 26 in the city, and 28 mpg combined. But Car and Driver managed to get 31 highway mpg and 23 city mpg during their testing. 

The base model comes in around $20,000, while the higher trims run about $30,000. 

The 2021 Chevy Trailblazer leads the pack with its ample head and legroom in the rear seat area and cargo space. Those who do a lot of traveling with family or friends will appreciate the elbow room they will get to stretch out comfortably while they wait to arrive at their destination.