Trailblazer

Chevrolet introduced this nameplate for the 2002 model year as a midsize SUV, part of the truck-based Chevrolet utility lineup of the early 2000s. The original version was closely associated with GM’s midsize SUV platform and became known for offering six-cylinder power, available V8s in some trims, and a more traditional body-on-frame SUV character than many crossovers of its era. That first production run continued through the 2009 model year before the nameplate disappeared from Chevrolet’s U.S. lineup. The badge later returned for the 2021 model year on a very different vehicle: a smaller, car-based crossover aimed at the compact SUV market. Because the nameplate was discontinued and later revived, the history spans two distinct production periods rather than one continuous run. Enthusiasts still remember the original SUV for its midsize proportions and performance-oriented SS variant, while the modern revival repositions the nameplate as a practical, entry-level crossover with a much more urban focus.