General Motors has outdone itself recently in terms of safety. During the initial months of the COVID-19 outbreak, the automaker practically halted production and switched gears to construct critical care ventilators to relieve hospital shortages. On top of that, at least one of its models has landed on the Car and Driver 10Best list in the past few years. On Tuesday, IIHS gave us another reason to applaud GM’s aim for excellence. The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer earned Top Safety Pick+ award, the highest esteemed rating in the automotive industry.
Learn more about the Chevrolet Trailblazer and what features bumped up the small crossover to a top safety vehicle in 2o21.
What safety features come standard in the Chevrolet Trailblazer?
There once was a time when innovative safety features were a thing of luxury. Buyers couldn’t get the type of protection without paying top dollar. Today, consumers will find standard safety features in every trim. You can drive a Chevy, Mercedes, or Toyota and recognize most of the same safety functions.
While we admire the more attainable approach to safety, some models go above and beyond. The 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer does exactly that, while starting at a lower MSRP for frugal buyers.
Chevrolet is going all-in on SUVs 🙌
The new 2021 Chevy #Trailblazer is the latest addition to the automaker’s sport-ute lineup, slotting in beneath the popular Equinox as a new entry-point for younger and more cost-conscious consumers.
What do you think? 👀#SUV @chevrolet pic.twitter.com/YASs8jW0cn
— CarGurus (@CarGurus) September 10, 2021
The Chevrolet Trailblazer comes equipped with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, knee airbags, and an advanced security system to prevent intruders. Not only does the exterior sport an edgier look to its previous counterparts, its MPG is remarkable. Drivers can enjoy up to 29 City / 33 Hwy, which is a major attraction for buyers who dread the rising gas prices in 2021.
How headlights raised the stakes
With more automakers focused on advanced safety, the number of IIHS Top Safety Pick awards has increased in recent years. The competition is tough. While the commitment to safety is commendable, there is one feature that continually makes or breaks whether a vehicle will reach the Top Safety Pick+ status. Headlights!
As headlight enthusiasts, we advocate for the importance of headlight safety and push automakers to include the highest grade headlamps on their vehicles. However, there are still some automakers that treat this highly prioritized safety feature as an afterthought, according to the IIHS. It goes without saying that the new and improved Chevrolet Trailblazer would need some pretty acceptable headlights to earn the recognition it’s recently received. In fact, among earning a “Superior” rating for preventing crashes, the Trailblazer scored an “Acceptable” headlight rating for 2020-2021 models.
Joining the competition
Small crossovers dominate the IIHS Top Safety Pick awards. It’s not a total surprise that the Chevy Trailblazer was able to refine and improve its safety standards to get a seat at the table this year. Some top competitors include the 2021 Mazda CX-30 and 2022 Hyundai Tucson. All vehicles that have made an impressive reemergence in the automotive market with a set of niche buyers.
While the Trailblazer has been around since 1999, it’s nice to see it take a more compact, sporty form. Perhaps more in tune with the times. If you’re a young professional looking for a safe and affordable ride, the Chevrolet Trailblazer is worth checking out. Take the safety ratings seriously, this small crossover will have your best interests on the road.