The 2024 Chevy Trailblazer is a complete overhaul compared to the previous year’s model. Interestingly, the Chevy Trailblazer (not to be confused with the larger midsize Chevy Blazer from previous generations) is a fairly new take on the nameplate. The newest iteration of the Trailblazer made its re-debut as a 2021 model year, so it’s fairly recent, yet Chevy has already revamped it yet again for the 2024 model year. It’s a gorgeous subcompact crossover SUV that represents the kind of forward-thinking design that many modern-day SUV shoppers are looking for out of a feature-rich vehicle.
More than anything, the tech that powers many of the vehicle’s infotainment and vehicle health services has also seen an improvement. How tech-rich is the 2024 Trailblazer, and what does that mean for you? There is a lot to cover and a lot of great discussions to be had around these features, and it all starts with the brand-new infotainment suite.
An Upgraded Infotainment Touchscreen
The 2021 model year of the Chevy Trailblazer launched with two different touchscreens: a 7-inch screen for the base trim and an 8-inch screen made available for the upper-end trims. This was a staple for the next two years of the Trailblazer’s model year outings, leading up to the 2023 model year. 2023, however, was the last year where the 7/8-inch touchscreen was included with the Trailblazer.
As part of the generational refresh for the 2024 model year, the Chevy Trailblazer now has an all-new 11-inch touchscreen. The diagonal design comes with many useful features and all of the standard functionality from the previous infotainment suite, only now it’s housed in a much larger screen. It should go without saying why a larger screen is important, but essentially, it makes it easy to see the screen better and the apps that are accessible on the screen and give you easier access for touching and opening apps quicker.
You also still have functionality for all the other features that many modern drivers love out of an infotainment suite, such as wireless Apple CarPlay support, wireless Android Auto integration, Bluetooth support for hands-free voice commands, and Bluetooth audio streaming for active devices. Even more than that, the new 11-inch infotainment suite is trim-wide, meaning no matter which trim you get – if it’s the LS, LT, RS, or ACTIV – the larger HD screen is standard on all trims. This removes the need to buy a specific trim that may come with features you don’t care about just to access the tech features you want.
A Customizable Digital Driver Display
Another very important tech feature that’s part of the 2024 Trailblazer’s line-up is the customizable digital driver display. Using the steering wheel controls, you can easily customize the look or layout of the accompanying 8-inch digital display for the driver. You have multiple display gauge cluster layouts to give the Trailblazer’s telemetry a specific look that appeals to you. You can also maintain info on the oil, fuel economy, odometer, warning gauges, and tire pressure.
Additionally, you can get information on the driver display related to the infotainment, which is great if you want to avoid looking over at the infotainment screen on the center console while driving. This tech implementation makes it easy to stay informed about the vehicle’s health with simple readouts and gauge displays. You can also have a very basic and clean digital display for the gauge clusters, which is great if you don’t want anything too flashy or colorful. Like many of the other tech features in the Trailblazer, this is standard across the trim line-up.
OnStar Wireless Connected Service Support
When discussing infotainment, it’s hard not to discuss the surrounding services that help bridge the connection between tactile interactivity and the backend services that make that interactivity relevant. For instance, when using the 11-inch touchscreen, you have access to all sorts of apps, navigation services, and support. This kind of media access can also be updated thanks to features like the OnStar Remote Access Plan.
With OnStar, you have features like Alexa commands – great for activating in-vehicle cabin services or navigating to a specific destination – as well as accessibility features like real-time navigation support and traffic updates. This gives you a lot of control and support for everything from basic in-cabin controls to destination and travel support. You also have access to connected features like Pandora and Spotify, which are useful for accessing some of your favorite podcasts and media channels.
But the OnStar services offer more than just media app access and travel features; they also include vehicle functionality access. For instance, you can utilize the OnStar support for the Trailblazer to utilize remote power locks, remote vehicle start, and features like fuel level checks and tire pressure monitoring via smartphone access. So you can remotely stay connected to your vehicle even when you’re not in it. The best part is that OnStar Connected Services comes standard across the trim line with three years of subscription access right from the start.
Seamless Convenience Tech
One of the more overlooked features of a vehicle’s offerings is its convenience tech. And by that, I’m not just talking about power windows and power locks, which the 2024 Trailblazer offers, but I am talking about convenience features like Active Noise Cancellation and a robust in-cabin sound system. Together, you get great audio and the ability to appreciate it without the outside noise ruining the experience for you.
Active Noise Cancellation is standard across the trim line, and it blocks and absorbs outside noise by dampening and eliminating noise vibrations. This means less noise from the engine, less noise from other vehicles you’re driving alongside, and less noise outside the vehicle. The Active Noise Cancellation also features in-cabin microphones to distinguish between noise and voices, so you can converse, listen to your favorite audio, or enjoy your favorite tunes without worrying about the cabin echoing unwanted sounds.
The available Bose premium speaker system also takes advantage of the Active Noise Cancellation system. With the seven-speaker setup available for the Activ trim, the speakers are carefully placed throughout the cabin to generate the clearest audio feedback without the sound escaping from the cabin or the outside sound drowning out the audio quality of the speaker system. Combine that with the SiriusXM trial subscription on every trim, and you have yourself a robust interior audio entertainment experience to buffer the value of the Trailblazer. It’s a nice synergy between tech designed to give you entertainment quality and tech designed to help you further enjoy that entertainment.
Wi-Fi, Data Ports, and Safety
Like all of Chevy’s vehicles, the 2024 Trailblazer comes packed with lots of built-in safety features, including Teen Driver, which offers parents the kind of tech safety you would want for a subcompact that is likely to attract the attention of many teen drivers out there. Having feedback on the teen’s driving capabilities and safety practices is a nice way to add some element of relief for many parents out there. The added implementation of the Chevy Safety Assist for lane centering alerts, automatic emergency braking, and collision alerts aligns with the Trailblazer’s already robust tech suite.
Added features like USB data ports for keeping your smart devices charged via USB A and USB C ports are great to have if you can’t live without your phones, MP3 players, or tablets. Now, if cords are a thing of the past for you, you can opt to have wireless charging included in the LT and above trims. So Chevy recognized the need for those who want to keep their devices charged without cords. Wi-Fi hotspot support via 4G LTE integration for multiple devices is also a great way to stay connected even when there are no other nearby networks.
Tech Savvy Enough for Modern SUV Drivers
If you’re wondering if the 2024 Chevy Trailblazer is tech-savvy enough for modern drivers, the simple answer is yes. From wireless smartphone device connectivity and charging to safety and infotainment, the Trailblazer appears to be getting better and better with each year when it comes to tech offerings. It’s an affordable subcompact with a focus on luring in the crowd of hip drivers looking for something that accommodates their focus on something sporty and tech-rich, and I think the Trailblazer manages to hit that standard without pricing itself outside of the demographic who would be most interested in a vehicle like this.
