One thing we’ve noticed about crossover offerings in the country is the amount of electronics crammed into one vehicle. This is obviously what consumers these days are looking for, and automakers predictably want to capitalize on this demand. It’s now quite difficult to stand out in this crowded market segment, but Chevrolet Philippines thinks it is up to the challenge with its new player.

It’s the all-new Trailblazer, and just by looking at the pictures, this is no longer some heavily reworked version of the ladder-frame vehicle which had ties with the previous-generation Isuzu Mu-X. It is now a smaller, more compact animal with a unibody frame which will give it car-like road manners.

What’s interesting is that instead of sourcing the Trailblazer from China like the Tracker, the vehicle actually comes from General Motors’s South Korea plant. This will likely help Chevrolet’s cause especially for customers who are averse to anything from the People’s Republic.

From these pictures, anyone can already make their own conclusions about the styling. So, we’ll go straight to the amount of tech in the Trailblazer, and there is quite a lot to talk about. We’ll start with the engine, which is a turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder unit making 155hp and 236Nm. A huge chunk of the torque is available from as low as 1,600rpm, so the CVT will likely be tuned to keep the revs in that range.

It is also equipped with an eight-inch MyLink infotainment system. And because the car comes from South Korea, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come with the package (hallelujah). The rear bench can be split 60:40, and the rear cargo floor has two levels. There are parking sensors and a reversing camera, as well as a tire pressure monitoring system. Weirdly, the front seats and the steering wheel are heated, which will be very useful especially during summertime.

Regarding safety, the Trailblazer is well and truly ready for the unexpected. Aside from the usual anti-lock brakes and stability control, it has a slew of driver aids starting with blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision alert and braking, and hill-start assist. It even has rear cross-traffic alert, which isn’t common in its class. For additional peace of mind, each vehicle comes with a five-year warranty and a three-year membership to Chevrolet’s 24/7 roadside assistance service.

Buyers will be happy to know that the above-mentioned features are standard equipment on the Trailblazer’s two variants. The only things that the base trim level misses out on are automatic climate control, a power tailgate, LED lighting, and front fog lamps.

Here are the prices of the all-new Trailblazer:

• LT – P1,488,888
• Premier – P1,621,888