Want to do more with your crossover than pick up groceries and visit your buddies? The 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV might be the right vehicle for you. Of all the Chevy SUVs for sale today, those with the ACTIV trim may be the most intriguing. By taking the everyday on-road practicality an SUV is known for and infusing it with solid off-road capabilities, you can do whatever you want whenever the mood strikes.
A Chevy Trailblazer ACTIV shows this approach can even carry over to a subcompact crossover. You may not be able to imagine a small vehicle charging up a mountain or fording a swamp, but that’s only because you haven’t gone ACTIV. It’s an unmistakable upgrade that sets this vehicle apart from any other Trailblazer trim and proves you can do light and moderate off-roading without needing a full-blown, full-size SUV.
What Is Chevy’s ACTIV Trim?
The ACTIV was introduced by Chevy in recent years as a trim for people who want to use their crossover SUVs the way a “sport utility vehicle” was originally intended: by getting off the pavement. The rise of the crossover SUV has been profound; as of June 2022, nearly 46% of US light vehicle sales were crossovers. But although these vehicles make the SUV style more accessible and are still fine for overlanding adventures, it comes at the expense of being able to do crawling, mudding, and other technical off-roading.
With an ACTIV trim, Trailblazer owners get a series of tunings and add-ons to gear up for tackling trickier trails and mountains. In addition to the Trailblazer, the Chevy Trax is also available in the ACTIV trim, and the Traverse and Equinox are expected to receive the ACTIV treatment for the 2024 and 2025 model years, respectively. Though there may be small variations in the exact parts and tunings each model has when you make it ACTIV, the objective remains the same: being able to tackle tough terrain with the same crossover SUV that works so well for going to work, enjoying nights out, or heading into the hills for the weekend.
How the Trailblazer ACTIV Helps You Stay Active
So, what exactly does the 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV include that other trims don’t? Join us as we unpack this machine and see how it’s made for straying from the path most traveled…
Added Pull & Grip
You’re going to need a little more power and acceleration when you’re off-roading; going up hills and over obstacles is a lot tougher with a puny engine. While the 1.3L turbocharged engine is an optional upgrade for the Trailblazer LS and LT, it’s the standard powerplant for the 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV. This increases horsepower and torque from 137 and 162 on the base models to 155 and 174, respectively. That can be the difference between reaching a hill’s summit and coming up just short. Also, a dual-outlet exhaust improves efficiency and emits a pleasant roar as you stampede into the wilderness.
The ACTIV is available with all-wheel drive (AWD) that can distribute power to both axles for more grip on slippery surfaces like dirt, grass, ice, and snow. Switching between AWD and front-wheel drive (FWD) is easy using a button on the dashboard. (Although you can order a Trailblazer ACTIV with FWD only, we think that would be counter-intuitive.) The AWD models have a nine-speed automatic transmission to find the right gear ratio for any situation.
Off-Road Performance
Anyone who has driven another Trailblazer—such as the LT, LS, or RS trims—will notice the Trailblazer ACTIV rides much differently. This is because GM has tuned the suspension to optimize it for rough roads and trails. In particular, the shocks are much stiffer, so they can handle frequent bumps and jolts while still having solid ride quality around town.
Each 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV also has what Chevy calls “sport terrain” tires instead of the all-season tires that come on the other trims. These tires will give you more grip on slippery surfaces like dirt, mud, ice, and snow. They’re mounted on durable, lightweight 17-inch aluminum wheels with a high-gloss black finish and stylish machined face.
Protection From Hazards
When you’re venturing away from highways and city streets, there are a lot of things that can jump up and bite your SUV: large rocks, tree branches… the list goes on. The Trailblazer ACTIV is designed to shield important components from direct impacts, with a heavy-duty skid plate on the underbody being the first thing any debris will hit. If you’ve never had a hard off-road encounter, believe us: you’d much rather have a bent skid plate than have a busted oil pan, fuel tank, or exhaust system.
The ACTIV AWD also has a little extra ground clearance as well to get over obstacles: 8.0 inches versus the 7.5 inches on FWD Trailblazers. That half-inch might not seem like much to on-road loyalists, but experienced off-roaders will tell you it means a lot. On cloudy days, LED daytime running lights keep you visible to wildlife and other off-roaders; the taillights are LED as well for a brighter, longer-lasting shine.
Comfort for Every Adventure
Even on the roughest land, you’ll feel good and look good in your Trailblazer ACTIV. Synthetic leather seating is cozy while resistant to water damage and dirt stains. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel keep you warm when Mother Nature turns the thermostat down. The interior also has a rear center armrest, driver power lumbar adjustments, and a wrapped steering wheel for all-day comfort. Roof-mount side rails let you carry everything from luggage pods to bicycles.
In addition to the standard features, many others are available to give you even more off-roading satisfaction. Add all-weather floor and cargo mats and liners, automatic climate control, a hands-free liftgate, a seven-speaker Bose sound system, a vertical cargo net, and much more. Tech tools such as a wireless device charging pad and a Wi-Fi hotspot help you stay connected in case of emergencies. Off-roaders like us love customization, and Chevy offers a lot of choices right from the factory.
Last but not least, Chevy has given the ACTIV special badging and styling. It comes with a front and rear fascia plated in titanium chrome, black Chevy bowtie emblems, and a chrome ACTIV emblem on the right rear bumper. For a final flourish, accent your ACTIV with a two-tone iridescent pearl roof to echo vintage SUVs. Will any of this make the Trailblazer better at off-roading? Probably not, but it will feel more like an off-roading machine, and that counts for plenty.
Stay Active With a 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV
Not everybody needs a full-size Suburban or Tahoe to get their off-roading fix. If your plans primarily involve cross-country exploration and designation trails with some rock crawls, dune jumps, or trips through the mud, a 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV will fit the bill. This trim gives Chevy’s subcompact crossover a healthy dose of the original “sport utility” soul while keeping it ready for the everyday driving and overlanding that crossovers do so well.
Casual and semi-serious off-roading enthusiasts—along with people dipping into the off-roading waters for the first time—will find exactly what they’re looking for in the 2024 Trailblazer ACTIV; it certainly won’t feel like an ordinary crossover, that’s for sure. With the amount of personalization options, you can splurge a little (or a lot) and drive a Trailblazer that was made for you.
