2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV Review & Road Tests

Hard to tell what kind of speed you can get away with when GM lets you drive its new high-performance SUV around the Tech Center in Warren, Michigan. When John Heinricy and Tom Wallace represent GM, it turns out to be a lot.

"Take that road," Wallace prods, pointing to a less-traveled thoroughfare on the sprawling postmodern-design campus. It's early and there's no traffic, so we punch the throttle, and the LS2 responds with a muscular burble and a smooth and progressive burst of power. Quick, not neck-snapping. Okay, that was good. How about a standing start? Heinricy, in the front-passenger seat, punches the traction-control off button with his right index finger. We launch it, again smoothly, with no wheelhop or smoky-misty burnout. The 20-inch rear tires on this black, early build rear-drive prototype (which isn't production-correct, as some parts and specs have changed) just grab and off we go. A sub-six nada to 60 feels entirely possible.

We truck around the Tech Center for 10 minutes, Heinricy and Wallace assuring us the hired constabulary won't pay close attention to compliance with a 30-mph limit. There are no handy esses or fast corners to get a feel for the handling, but the pie crusts and road imperfections back this Dynamic Duo's assertion that the TB SS's ride and handling are nicely balanced. The SS is lowered about one inch from the standard TrailBlazer. From the firm, yet comfortable ride, it seems the engineers have done a good job of building a poor-man's BMW, but not, according to Heinricy, an X5.

"It's good on the track," he says of the Bimmer, "but it's abominable on the road." On another standing start, we punch it again and the tires spin, the rear fishtailing, until the standard-equipment (for the SS) StabiliTrak kicks in. Even with the button off, some of its control remains, Heinricy says. Steering appears as described, quick and precise, with good feedback and heavier feel than normal. Bottom line is that the TB SS isn't as edgy as most sports cars or sport sedans, but it seems like it could take a decent run at the title of best-handling performance sport/utility.