Which Is Chevy's Smallest SUV?

Chevrolet has cornered the market for SUVs. The iconic American car manufacturer delivers all sizes of excellent SUVs filled with advanced driver assist features, impressive performance, great connectivity, and comfortable cabins. Chevy even makes a battery electric SUV—their Bolt EUV. Ranging from subcompact models that handle like sedans to midsize SUVs that offer a nice balance of drivability and room to full-size and three-row SUVs, Chevrolet has something for every SUV driver, no matter what they're looking for. As your local Chevrolet Dealer in Marlow Heights, we'd be glad to show you the full lineup of these SUVs to help you decide which one is best for your needs.

One of the questions our visitors often ask is, "Which of these is Chevy's smallest SUV?" In fact, in the year 2023, this question came up a lot—and for good reason. The Trailblazer is now Chevy's smallest SUV. We say "now" because, as recently as 2022, it was the Trax. However, at one point, many shoppers preferred the Trailblazer over the Trax—both of which sit in the subcompact SUV category. So for 2022, Chevy pulled the Trax off the lineup, put some serious thought into how to make it stand out, and is bringing it back for 2024. The car forums are buzzing, too, because Chevy did an excellent job with its redesign—and one of the most noticeable differences was the size. The Trax returns in 2024 larger than the Trailblazer, making the latter the current smallest Chevy SUV.

The Trailblazer might not be getting as much buzz as the Trax because it never went away, but it's an excellent vehicle. It is a nimble subcompact SUV that achieves excellent mileage and comes in a number of exciting trims. Here's what to know about it.

Just How Much Smaller Is the Trailblazer Than the Trax?

The wheelbase of the 2024 Trailblazer is 103.9 in. Meanwhile, the wheelbase of the new Trax is 106 in. Additionally, the 2024 Trailblazer's overall length is 173.5 in., whereas the Trax's overall length is 178.6 in. So the 2024 Trax is nearly five inches longer than the Trailblazer.

Overall passenger volume is also larger in the Trax compared to the Trailblazer; this figure is 99.8 cu.ft. in the Trax and 98 cu.ft. in the Trailblazer. The trunk space is a bit larger in the Trax, too, at 25.6 cu.ft. compared to 25.3 cu.ft. in the Trailblazer. With the rear seats folded, you get a maximum of 54.1 cu.ft. of cargo space in the Trailblazer, compared to 54.4 cu.ft. in the Trax.

The front leg room for the Trailblazer is 40.9 in. compared to 41.9 in. in the Trax. Rear legroom is actually a little more in the Trailblazer at 39.4 in. compared to 38.7 in. in the Trax. The Trailblazer also has more front headroom than the Trax, at 40 in. compared to 39.6 in.

The front hip room is a little bigger for the Trax compared to the Trailblazer, at 52.3 in. compared to 52.1 in. Interestingly, the Trailblazer is taller than the Trax, at 65.7 in. compared to 61.42 in. However, in the end, the Trailblazer has a shorter length, shorter wheelbase, and smaller cargo and passenger volume, making it the smallest Chevy SUV for the upcoming model year—even if only by a matter of inches.

Ultimately, the overall frame of the Trailblazer is smaller than the Trax. However, with slightly more headroom and rear legroom, as well as a taller height, the Trailblazer will accommodate slightly taller passengers more comfortably than the Trax.

A Closer Look at the Great Features of the 2024 Chevy Trailblazer

The Chevy Trailblazer is an energetic vehicle with sporty handling and excellent fuel economy. While Chevy hasn't officially announced 2024 MPGs, the 2023 model got up to 29 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highway in the front-wheel drive model, and 26 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway in the all-wheel drive model.

The 2024 Trailblazer will have two EcoTec Turbo I-3 engine options—a 1.2L and a 1.3L—which will let you experience some great acceleration and power while still delivering that impressive fuel efficiency. You can even tow up to 1,000 lbs in the Trailblazer, so you can use it to tote modestly-sized campers and similar adventure units for weekend excursions.

The Trailblazer has four distinct trims, starting with its base level LS which has only the essential—albeit still high-quality—driver assistance features as well as the connectivity and configurable cargo area people loved of previous Trailblazers. These features go all the way up to the ACTIV trim, which adds performance-forward features like off-road suspension tuning and a functional skid plate, plus roof rails to stash adventure gear and cool style details like a color contrast roof and black bowtie emblems.

Configurability Where It Counts

While the Trailblazer is Chevy's smallest SUV, it certainly does not lack in configurability. You can do a lot with the compact dimensions of this vehicle; for instance, you can fold down the front passenger seat, creating space for you to store longer items, like snowboards or kayaks, from front to back. Plus, there's a two-level reversible load floor, giving you even more versatility when it comes to storing your belongings. The second row of seats features a 60/40 split, giving you several ways to arrange the seating to meet your passenger and cargo needs.

You can even adjust the way you experience this vehicle's performance with three available drive modes: Normal, Sport, and AWD. So when you want zippier acceleration, more precise handling, and an energetic feel, go for Sport. If you're driving over uneven and unpredictable terrain, switch to AWD to distribute torque to all your tires for better traction. Normal mode is ideal for city streets, highways, and paved roads in general.

Inside are plenty of available features that let you make the Trailblazer your own. You can add a wireless charging dock to power up your smartphone, tablet, and similar items without cords making a mess of your driver center area. You can also opt for a Bose audio system to get best-in-class sound for your music, podcasts, and more.

It May Be Small, But It Isn't Limited

It's understandable that there is confusion surrounding which is Chevy's smallest SUV. It was the Trax for many years, but an interesting shift is happening at this specific point in history. The Trax disappeared for one year and is returning in 2024 with slightly—albeit undeniably—larger dimensions than the Trailblazer, making the Trailblazer Chevy's official smallest subcompact SUV.

Some people might argue that the Trax is still the smallest, but that's just because the 2022 model is still dominating dealerships—and it is noticeably smaller than the Trailblazer. Some 2024 Trax models have started showing up at select dealerships, however, making the Trailblazer the official smallest for 2024.

If you are unsure which model is right for you, our team would be happy to take you for a test drive in both so you can feel them out for yourself. While they are both subcompact SUVs, they are different in important ways that our sales team would be glad to walk you through—the way they handle, the way their interiors are arranged, etcetera. Luckily, they both come in at really attractive price points, making them exciting options for drivers on a budget who still want a high-quality, fun-to-drive, and powerful subcompact SUV.

Chevrolet delivers their drivers two solid subcompact SUV options with these two vehicles. Visit us today and check out the 2024 Trailblazer or the all-new Trax. We're already so excited about both of these new models and can't wait to show them off to our drivers.