Chevrolet has officially launched the 2025 Trailblazer in South Korea, enhancing its market appeal with new options including OnStar, and full-scale sales begin today.
According to Yoon Myung-ok, Communications General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer of GM Korea, “The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a core model for GM’s Korean operations and a global success in overseas markets. We have significantly upgraded the product’s value by introducing new options with this model update, and we anticipate that the domestic launch of the 2025 Trailblazer will serve as a positive momentum for local sales.”
The 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer comes equipped with new connectivity services and exterior color options. Notably, GM’s OnStar feature has been newly integrated, providing expanded digital experiences via mobile app that include remote control (start, door lock, horn, hazard lights), vehicle status information (mileage, tire pressure, fuel level, engine oil life, fuel efficiency), and vehicle diagnostics.
Launched in 1996 before smartphones became common, the OnStar service emerging from GM’s combination of automotive and communication technology has expanded its service from the USA and Canada to China, South America, the Middle East, and now boasts over 5.6 million paid members globally.
To ensure that South Korean consumers can easily and quickly access mobile connectivity services, GM has introduced Digital Activation, making it the first among GM’s global markets. This allows OnStar users to conveniently experience the service without the time-consuming sign-up process of speaking with representatives, taking advantage of a digital mobile app verification method instead.
Additionally, Chevrolet has introduced a new color, Marina Blue, for the 2025 Trailblazer. This fresh blue color debuted on the 2025 Trax crossover, receiving positive responses from consumers. It evokes images of the Mediterranean yacht harbor with its color palette.
The Trailblazer, enjoying great success in global markets, epitomizes the ‘true SUV’ concept. Unlike competitors that focus on urban driving, the Trailblazer features a mid-size rigid body capable of off-road performance, advanced all-wheel drive systems, excellent ground clearance, and tough designs.
To achieve this, GM dedicated significant effort to the body design of the Trailblazer. By combining GM’s computer simulation technology, known as ‘Smart Engineering,’ the design achieved a lightweight yet robust body structure that meets both outstanding performance and efficiency. The simulation method identified high-load areas, allowing for reinforcement, while eliminating unnecessary material from low-load zones, resulting in a high-strength and lightweight body.
To ensure off-road capabilities, 22% of the body utilizes POSCO’s GIGA Steel, a high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel applied to a wide range of parts, totaling 78% of the body. This approach provides excellent off-road driving stability and superior crash safety.
The hallmark all-wheel drive system, a symbol of true SUVs, combines efficiency on-road and powerful off-road capabilities. GM’s patented technology, Switchable AWD, allows seamless switching between FWD (front-wheel drive) and AWD (all-wheel drive) modes with a single button press whilst driving, capturing both performance and efficiency.
The powertrain configuration also optimally balances performance and efficiency. The 1.35-liter E-Turbo engine delivers a powerful 156 horsepower and maximum torque of 24.1 kg·m, leveraging GM’s latest light-sizing turbo technology to achieve performance exceeding that of a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine, alongside improved efficiency from the electrification of engine components. A 9-speed automatic transmission, the highest number of gears in its class, is matched to maximize efficiency across all driving ranges.
Trailblazer’s global success can also be attributed to its differentiating premium options. It features the only panoramic sunroof in its class, active noise cancellation (ANC) to counterbalance noise from within the cabin by analyzing and generating the opposite phase sound, and a Chevrolet bowtie projection hands-free power liftgate, among other high-end options that are hard to find in small SUVs.
The interior includes an 8-inch color cluster and a central 11-inch color touchscreen, as well as the wireless phone projection feature that allows smartphone connection to the vehicle’s infotainment system for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without needing USB cables, and a Bose® premium 7-speaker audio system, enhancing convenience further.
The pricing for the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer is set at ▲Premier 27,990,000 won, ▲ACTIV 30,990,000 won, and ▲RS 30,990,000 won. Despite external pricing pressures, including OnStar and currency appreciation, Chevrolet has kept its product prices stable.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr