It's all about the new style - the 2003 Trailblazer EXT

Author's Rating:

Pros: lots of space,rides excellent,tough, dependable,quiet,powerful,looks sharp

Cons: rear seats aren't removable,middle seats don't lean back all the way

The Bottom Line: 
This vehicle has all the best elements of an SUV: size, space, power,ride,dependability and toughness. The striking look of this new style should de-throne Explorer as best-seller

Author's Review
First I want to address the issue of handling, for all those who seem to want to drive these SUV'S like sports cars: NOTE the Ford Explorers that have had rolling problems in the past ten years, most likely due to people driving them like sports cars. This is an EXT - the longest and most spacious SUV in it's class. In fact, this striking looking vehicle is longer than Expedition/Navigator and Tahoe/Yukon. Only Yukon XL and Suburban are longer. Space - all kinds of it, more than any other in it's class, and for those who want the practicality of a mini-van but can't stand to own one, this vehicle is for you.

Chevrolet didn't just throw in a third row of seats to already existing cargo space. There is added length in the actual wheel-base, and is higher than the regular Trailblazer. When you're sitting in the third row, you're elevated above the rest of the seats. I actually prefer sitting there over the middle seats because of the limo-type feel. If you want something that handles more sporty, you can't get it with this kind of length and height, and that should not be held against this vehicle as some people do. If you want sporty handling try the regular size Trailblazer, or maybe a Ford Escape. (Or how about a sports car?)

This vehicle is about lots of passengers, and lots of cargo, with plenty of horsepower to carry the load(275 hp with the Vortec 4200 I6, and an available V8 with 290 HP) Even with all this brawn, the vehicle still has class, though some would complain about the interior, compared to it's sister the GMC Envoy. In my opinion, imitation plastic wood trimmings cheapen the overall image and look really tacky. The same applies here to build quality. Some have given a below-average rating to the trim and plastic interior parts, but neglect to acknowledge the the solid hydroformed steel frame side-rails, or the breakthrough in engineering with the powerful, fuel efficient (a relative term, keep in mind!) new Vortec 4200 I6 engine design, all of which are backed with Chevy's reputation for building tough, reliable vehicles.

Here's an SUV with the highest towing capacity in it's class(275 lbs of torque at under 3600 rpms),three different rear axle ratios to chose from, depending on your needs. If you want more of towing power, you can opt for the 4.10. Rather go with fuel economy? I would, and I took the 3.42. For long-distance driving, this SUV can't be beat, because the seats are ultra comfortable, front heated seats, toys toys and more toys. Plus there's plenty of space so one feels cramped, including the rear third row seated passengers (unless they're basketball players or professional wrestlers!) In comparison, NO OTHER SUV in this size has more third row leg and head room.

It has a 5 link rear suspension which gives it a great ride, especially with the EXT. For such a big vehicle, this one rides relatively quiet, especially for city driving. I got the loaded EXT with everything but side air bags, and with the BOSE system, you can't go wrong. There are of course rear-seat radio and climate controls with headphones. It is ultra-clear sounding, with all the ranges, and doesn't distort when turned up. You can get a DVD player if you wish, I opted for the sun-roof, an under-rated feature, and this is in my opinion and extremely under-rated vehicle, probably because it's newer than new, looks different, and is a size that separates it from other SUV'S.

If it's ultra sporty handling you want, get a smaller vehicle to romp around on the side of mountains. You can still off-road with this vehicle and utilize the standard Autotrac Automatic 4WD, and locking differential, also standard. I did notice the off-road performance was a little compromised due to the size, but you can barely fit five people in a noisy smaller SUV that rides like a jeep and can barely tow a dog-house. With this kind of gas mileage (27 mi/gal on highways) as compared to other larger SUV'S, you can't have your cake and eat it too. The solid feel of this vehicle will catch on as more and more people discover it. I give it two thumbs up!