Should GM do the same?
There is a revival in compact trucks in America, as the Ford Maverick (and the Hyundai Santa Cruz) are both well-known. Both trucks are popular in the market. The Santa Cruz was hailed as the fastest selling new car in August 2021 while the Maverick received 100,000 reservations the month after its launch.
However, it is possible to speak of the emergence other players in the same market as the Maverick or Santa Cruz. A Trailblazer-based pickup is one of the most talked about.
The Chevy trailblazer is a compact crossover that returned in 2019 but is not the most competitive. Although its powertrain options may not be as powerful as those of the Ford and Hyundai, it is still a strong case in terms both popularity and efficiency, as TFL Car highlighted in its recent Ask Nat series.
GM has sold 80,000 Trailblazers so far. This is a great number for a compact crossover. What will that mean for a pickup truck counterpart to the Trailblazer? It will again depend on the numbers.
A Trailblazer-based pickup should be less expensive than the Maverick, and it should have a comparable fuel economy. The Maverick Hybrid currently scores 42 mpg in the area, according to EPA. Its starting price is $19,995 (without destination).
It would be a great buy if Chevy comes up with a small pickup for around $18,000 that has mpg numbers comparable to the Maverick.
However, this is a big “if”, and something we’ll be watching in the months ahead.