18 Feb 2008 04:53:24 | James Raia
With the addition of the 5.3-liter, 325-horsepower V8 extended
cab (EXT), eight Chevrolet Trailblazer models are on the road in
2005. And as the largest and most powerful Blazer available, the
new EXT has plenty to offer.
It's comfortable and provides a confident drive. It offers vast
cargo space, has an attractive two-tone interior, a
well-designed console and boasts of plenty of impressive option
packages.
But sometimes subtle qualities or subtle deficiencies are more
impressive or problematic than a vehicle's overt characteristics.
So it is with the new Blazer. While recently showing the car to
several friends, one sat in the second row of seats.
Surprisingly, his head easily hit the roof. My friend is
6-foot-3, and while that's tall, he's not a giant by any stretch.
"I've got a Scion and there's plenty of rear seat headroom," my
friend commented.
The quick analysis made a good point. As the largest and most
powerful Blazer available, shouldn't a 6-foot-3 person sit
comfortably in the middle of the car's three rows?
Conversely, an SUV hardly seems like a vehicle for a remarkable
sound system. But the Bose premium sound system available in the
Blazer's Sun, Sound and Entertainment Package is superior. The
combination AM/FM stereo, six-disc changer, XM satellite radio
and eight speakers are arguably the finest music package I've
experienced in any test car in the past two years.
Beyond a curious space limitation and a wondrous sound system
options, the Blazer offers an odd mixture. It's a well-designed
SUV with plenty of space for family and cargo. It has adequate
steering and handling, and it offers a quiet ride considering
its status as a large SUV with 17-inch tires.
Yet, the Blazer falls short in other key areas.
The vehicle's braking system seems uneven - fine in some
circumstances, soft in other scenarios with far-too-long
response time. The Blazer maneuvers well in traffic and its
turning radius is surprisingly tight and efficient. But again,
for each of the vehicle's strengths, there's a weakness. The
Blazer's fuel rating of 14 mpg (city) and 19 (hwy) is hardly
impressive.
Standard features are adequate: power mirrors, heated daytime
running lamps, remote keyless entry, tinted rear glass, 65/35
second and third-row folding seats and a rear window defogger,
among other standard items.
Three options packages, the aforementioned Sun, Sound and
Entertainment, as well as the Luxury and V8 Power Play packages,
can add nearly $7,000 to the base sticker, pushing the total
price to more than $41,000.
Some options are worthwhile, including the OnStar Emergency
System (with one year of free service) and leather-appointed
seats. Other options – cruise control, leather-wrapped steering
wheel and steering wheel audio controls – are standard for other
manufacturers' SUVs.
A Preferred Equipment Savings reduction of $3,150 lowers the
top-of-the line Blazer's price, after a $685 destination charge,
to $38,515.
As such, the Blazer isn't the most expensive or most economical
SUV on the market. But certainly, for nearly $40,000, good
brakes and sufficient second-row headroom shouldn't be issues.
2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Safety features -- Dual-stage driver and front passenger
airbags. Antilock brakes.
Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 14 mpg (city), 19 mpg
(highway).
Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Power
train, 3 years/36,000 miles; Corrosion, 6 years/100,000 miles;
24-hour free roadside assistance, 3 years, 36,000 miles
Base price -- $34,270.00
About Author :
James Raia is a Sacramento, Calif., journalist who writes about
sports, travel and lifestyle topics as well as the automotive
column, The Weekly Driver Review.
