2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer Gets Three "Poor" Ratings From the IIHS

Per the nonprofit organization, the rear dummy chest protection was rated "marginal." The bad news continues with "poor" ratings for rear dummy kinematics and restraints, and that's especially interesting because GM apparently changed the rear seatbelt load limiters on 2026 models produced after February 2026.

General Motors made those changes to improve rear occupant protection in this exact crash scenario, but alas, it was not enough. On the upside, the rear dummy's head misses the front seatback. The Chevrolet Trailblazer does a much better job up front, with the driver scoring "good" for thigh, hip, lower leg, foot, chest, neck, and head protection in the moderate overlap crash test.

GM also revised the Trailblazer's side structure and thorax side airbag, all in the name of improving occupant safety in side impact crashes. Compared to the moderate overlap test, the small crossover earned a "good" rating in this evaluation. The small overlap frontal test also ended with a "good" rating.

As far as headlight performance is concerned, both the LS and LT get "acceptable" ratings for their front lights due to some glare. RS and Activ grades also use LED projectors, yet their headlights were deemed "poor" due to excessive low-beam glare and visibility issues for the high beams on the left side of straight roads and through the sharp right-hand curve.

The standard automatic emergency braking system of the Trailblazer is "poor" across the board in vehicle-against-vehicle scenarios, but curiously enough, the IIHS deemed it "marginal" in situations that involve pedestrians. For example, the system avoided a collision with a crossing child at 12 miles per hour and cut impact speed by 22 in the 25-mph scenario.

Based on the VSS-F platform, the Chevy-branded twin of the Buick Encore GX hails from the Bupyeong plant in South Korea. Previously made in China as well, the Trailblazer was refreshed in October 2026 for the 2027 model year. The redesigned Trailblazer is due to hit dealer showrooms next spring with numerous changes, including a standard 1.3-liter turbo I3.

Previously, a 1.2 served as the base engine. Its trims have been reduced from four to three, namely the base Trailblazer, the sporty-looking RS, and the off-road Z71 instead of the Activ grade. Chevrolet waxes lyrical about more than 20 standard safety and driver-assistance features, including reverse automatic braking, rear cross-traffic braking, and intersection automatic emergency braking.

For the time being, the 2026 model has to suffice. Prices kick off at $25,395 for the LS with the 1.2-liter engine or $26,990 with the larger mill. All-wheel drive will set you back $27,395 at the very least. LS ships with 11-inch touchscreen infotainment, an 8-inch driver information center screen, 17-inch alloys, a fold-flat front passenger seat, and an HD rear vision camera.

The LT levels up to nicer wheels, keyless open and start, remote start, deep-tinted rear windows and liftgate glass, and silver on the roof rails. The Activ and RS both ship with the 1.3-liter engine by default, with both starting at $28,200 as of this writing. Naturally, the priciest grades available for 2026 also come with the most desirable and usable of standard goodies.