Quick answer
- All-wheel drive on the Trailblazer requires the 1.3L turbo three-cylinder and the nine-speed automatic. You cannot order AWD with the standard 1.2L engine.
- The 1.2L makes 137 hp and 162 lb-ft with a CVT in front-wheel drive; the 1.3L steps up to 155 hp and is a $395 option.
- In front-wheel drive the 1.2L returns 30 city / 31 highway / 30 combined mpg.
- Four trims: LS from $23,300, LT $24,500, and RS and ACTIV both $27,900 in front-wheel drive.
- AWD versions run $25,300 (LS), $26,500 (LT) and $29,500 (RS/ACTIV).
If you want all-wheel drive in a Tulsa Trailblazer, you are also choosing the 1.3L turbocharged three-cylinder and the nine-speed automatic — the two are packaged together, and AWD is not available with the standard 1.2L engine and CVT. Knowing that up front saves you from building a car online that cannot actually be ordered.
It is the most common configuration surprise on this vehicle, and it is genuinely good news once you understand it, because the engine you are forced into is the better one. Our Chevrolet Trailblazer research hub has the complete picture. The drivetrain decision is what shapes a daily commute here.
The two powertrains, and how they pair
- 1.2L turbo three-cylinder, 137 hp and 162 lb-ft, CVT, front-wheel drive. The standard setup, and the mileage champion at 30 city / 31 highway / 30 combined. EPA ratings by configuration are at fueleconomy.gov.
- 1.3L turbo three-cylinder, 155 hp, nine-speed automatic. A $395 option on front-wheel drive, and mandatory if you want all-wheel drive. The step from 137 hp to 155 hp is noticeable, but the bigger change is the conventional nine-speed automatic in place of the CVT.
That transmission swap is the part people underrate. A stepped nine-speed feels more decisive merging onto I-44 at speed than a CVT does, and if your commute involves real highway pace rather than surface streets, it is worth the $395 on its own even without AWD.
Do you actually need all-wheel drive in Tulsa?
Honest answer: many Tulsa-area drivers do not, and a front-wheel-drive Trailblazer on good tires handles most of what this climate produces. But the case for AWD is real for a specific set of people, and it is worth knowing which one you are.
It earns its money on the handful of genuine ice mornings we get each winter, when the ramps and overpasses on I-44 glaze before the surface streets do. It helps if your commute runs out past Utica Square and the Woodland Hills corridor early, before anything has been treated, and the climb away from Utica Square is exactly where a front-driver scrabbles. And it matters more if you regularly drive further out — a run down toward Muskogee in bad weather is a different proposition from a five-mile midtown hop.
If none of that describes your year, the front-wheel-drive LT with the 1.3L is arguably the smartest build in the range: the better transmission, the extra power, the higher mileage, and none of the AWD cost. The trim-by-trim breakdown is on our 2026 Trailblazer overview and the Trailblazer FAQ.
What the trims cost, both ways
The ladder is easy to read because the AWD step is consistent:
- LS: $23,300 front-wheel drive, $25,300 all-wheel drive, before destination.
- LT: $24,500 front-wheel drive, $26,500 all-wheel drive.
- RS and ACTIV: $27,900 front-wheel drive, $29,500 all-wheel drive. RS is the sport-styled one, ACTIV the outdoorsy one, and they are priced identically — pick on looks and equipment, not capability.
Every trim gets the 11-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration, so you are not trading technology for drivetrain. Our Trailblazer 11-inch touchscreen guide covers what it does on each trim.
See which Trailblazers we have in stock — we will tell you which engine and drivetrain is in each one, because that is the detail the window sticker buries.
So which Trailblazer should you order in Tulsa?
For most commuters here it is an LT with the 1.3L. Route it off your winter and your drive:
- If you want the best mileage and mostly drive surface streets, the 1.2L in front-wheel drive at 30 combined, starting from $23,300 on the LS.
- If your commute is highway-paced, spend the $395 on the 1.3L and the nine-speed. It is the best value decision in the whole range.
- If ice mornings or longer rural runs are part of your year, order all-wheel drive, which brings the 1.3L and the nine-speed with it automatically.
- If you want the look, RS for sport styling or ACTIV for the rugged treatment, at the same price.
If you are cross-shopping the segment, we put the two side by side on our Trailblazer vs Honda HR-V comparison. And if you decide all-wheel drive is not needed after all, the Trax research hub covers the front-wheel-drive-only option below it. Running costs and intervals are on our Trailblazer maintenance and service guide, and you can schedule service whenever you are due.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a Chevy Trailblazer with all-wheel drive?
Yes, but it requires the 1.3L turbocharged three-cylinder and the nine-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is not offered with the standard 1.2L engine and CVT.
What is the difference between the 1.2L and 1.3L Trailblazer engines?
The 1.2L makes 137 hp and 162 lb-ft and pairs with a CVT in front-wheel drive. The 1.3L makes 155 hp, pairs with a nine-speed automatic, costs $395 as an option, and is required for all-wheel drive.
What mileage does the Trailblazer get?
The 1.2L in front-wheel drive is EPA-rated at 30 city / 31 highway / 30 combined mpg.
How much does a Trailblazer cost?
From $23,300 for the LS in front-wheel drive. LT is $24,500, and RS and ACTIV are both $27,900. All-wheel drive versions are $25,300, $26,500 and $29,500 respectively.
What is the difference between RS and ACTIV?
Appearance and equipment, not capability. They cost the same: RS is the sport-styled trim and ACTIV is the rugged-look trim.
Come drive both in Tulsa
The CVT and the nine-speed feel genuinely different, and five minutes back to back tells you more than any spec comparison. We are at 4924 S Memorial Dr in Tulsa.
Browse the new Trailblazer inventory, schedule a test drive, or call 918-921-4885. To keep the visit short, value your trade and get pre-approved first. Our contact page reaches the team directly.
Starting MSRP excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. EPA estimates; your mileage will vary. Confirm current pricing, option availability and configuration with our team.
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