General adds new string to bow

Chevrolet is firing directly at Toyota with its new Trailblazer, writes Lerato Matebese

GENERAL Motors SA has finally entered the seven-seat, Dsegment SUV market with its Trailblazer, which takes direct aim at the Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Pajero Sport models.

Launched in the picturesque town of George, the new Chevy is built in Thailand and, much like its rivals, boasts a body on frame type architecture similar to its bakkie sibling, in this instance the imminent new Isuzu KB.

Stocky in its design and boasting a rather bold front end with a trapezoidal, two-tier grille replete with the signature bow-tie emblem, the Trailblazer, though toned-down slightly compared to the concept model we ran in Motor News earlier in the year, is handsome at worst.

The actual design, particularly when viewed from the rear, is reminiscent of the Toyota Fortuner with the narrow rear light clusters and wraparound rear windscreen. So it was no surprise when Alastair Ironside, GM of marketing, mentioned in no uncertain terms at the launch that the Trailblazer’s existence is to upset the Fortuner’s apple cart as the company continues to try to push into Toyota’s market share.

According to Edgar Lourencon, president and MD at the company, the brief was to build a vehicle that conforms to the design ethos of the Chevrolet brand with a bold design, high comfort and safety levels, and good performance.

Much like its nemesis, the Trailblazer is offered in three model derivatives, namely the 2.5l turbo diesel with 110kW and 350Nm, a 2.8l turbo diesel with 132kW and 470Nm (440Nm with sixspeed manual gearbox), and a 3.6l VVT petrol model that has 176kW and 329Nm. The base model is only equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, while the

The looks have been toned down from the concept, but it still looks good, above. There are clear Toyota Fortuner echoes in the rear styling. The interior is a cut above its rivals.