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2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer Safety Review

February 21, 2009

SAFETY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

nearly-uninterrupted view through 360 degrees
Kelley Blue Book

thick pillars can block over-the-shoulder and aft sightlines
ConsumerGuide

airbags deploy with varying force depending on crash severity
Cars.com

Three stars, front impact--driver; four stars, front impact--passenger; five stars, side impact; four stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA

TheCarConnection.com's experts report that in terms of safety, the 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer comes up short.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash-test results for the 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer are decent but not inspiring. NHTSA awards the TrailBlazer three stars for front impact protection of the driver, four stars for rollover resistance in the four-wheel-drive version (but only three stars on the 2WD) and passenger protection in frontal impacts, and five stars on only the side impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the TrailBlazer 2009 Chevrolet as "acceptable" on frontal crash tests and "marginal" on side impact crashes.

Cars.com indicates that "side curtain airbags are now standard on all models," and "dual-stage front airbags deploy with varying force depending on crash severity." Car and Driver reports a plethora of safety equipment for the TrailBlazer: "dual front and curtain airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, stability control, ABS, and tire-pressure monitoring are standard across the TrailBlazer lineup." In addition, "OnStar emergency service is standard on all TrailBlazers."

ConsumerGuide remarks that visibility in the Chevrolet 2009 "is good to the front and sides, but the headrests and thick pillars can block over-the-shoulder and aft sightlines." Kelley Blue Book, on the other hand, says the Chevrolet TrailBlazer has "enough glass to give the driver a nearly-uninterrupted view through 360 degrees."

Conclusion

The 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer falls behind competing SUVs and crossovers in crash safety.

SAFETY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:nearly-uninterrupted view through 360 degreesKelley Blue Bookthick pillars can block over-the-shoulder and aft sightlinesConsumerGuideairbags deploy with varying force depending on crash severityCars.comThree stars, front impact--driver; four stars, front impact--passenger; five stars, side impact; four stars, rollover resistanceNHTSA TheCarConnection.com's experts report that in terms of safety, the 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer comes up short. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) crash-test results for the 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer are decent but not inspiring. NHTSA awards the TrailBlazer three stars for front impact protection of the driver, four stars for rollover resistance in the four-wheel-drive version (but only three stars on the 2WD) and passenger protection in frontal impacts, and five stars on only the side impact tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the TrailBlazer 2009 Chevrolet as "acceptable" on frontal crash tests and "marginal" on side impact crashes. Cars.com indicates that "side curtain airbags are now standard on all models," and "dual-stage front airbags deploy with varying force depending on crash severity." Car and Driver reports a plethora of safety equipment for the TrailBlazer: "dual front and curtain airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, stability control, ABS, and tire-pressure monitoring are standard across the TrailBlazer lineup." In addition, "OnStar emergency service is standard on all TrailBlazers." ConsumerGuide remarks that visibility in the Chevrolet 2009 "is good to the front and sides, but the headrests and thick pillars can block over-the-shoulder and aft sightlines." Kelley Blue Book, on the other hand, says the Chevrolet TrailBlazer has "enough glass to give the driver a nearly-uninterrupted view through 360 degrees." ConclusionThe 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer falls behind competing SUVs and crossovers in crash safety.  2009 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER STYLING | [6 out of 10] Edmunds: "Aging design" Kelley Blue Book: "rugged yet refined" ConsumerGuide: "generic fabrics and unappealing hard, molded plastics" Cars.com: "similarities with Chevrolet's larger Tahoe and Suburban" Car and Driver: "one of the ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer is part of what once was the heart of the SUV market, but these best sellers are gradually being replaced by carlike crossovers. The TrailBlazer is nearly identical to the GMC Envoy, which sells at a similar price, but is more trucklike. Only the Durango feels as cumbersome and uncomfortable as the TrailBlazer, but it's a bit more of a workhorse. The Liberty, Pathfinder, and 4Runner all have better off-road-focused models. The Liberty is smaller and more maneuverable, while the Pathfinder stands out as having a better ride and a more luxurious interior. Then there's the formerly best-selling Ford Explorer, which is still perhaps the most direct competitor to the TrailBlazer. Ford has done a much better job keeping the Explorer updated in recent years, and though it also has trucklike underpinnings, the Explorer handles far better than the TrailBlazer.

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See the Chevrolet TrailBlazer in Other Years:

2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002

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