Chevrolet Trailblazer vs Subaru Outback: Specs Compared
Also searched as Subaru Outback vs Chevrolet Trailblazer specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 31 mpg combined versus 29 mpg for the Subaru Outback, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Chevrolet Trailblazer leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2021–2026
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 17 configurations
2018–2027
Subaru Outback
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 26 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Chevrolet Trailblazer | Subaru Outback |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 31 mpg ✓ | 29 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 30 mpg ✓ | 26 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 33 mpg | 33 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,000 ✓ | $2,100 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 287 g/mi ✓ | 308 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI, SIDI; FFV | SIDI, 2.5, 3.6 |
| Transmissions | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Automatic (AV-S8), Automatic (AV-S7), Automatic (AV-S6) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Gasoline or E85 | Regular |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2021–2026 | 2018–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 17 | 26 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Chevrolet Trailblazer vs Subaru Outback dimensions and size
The Subaru Outback is 18.1 inches longer than the Chevrolet Trailblazer on a wheelbase 4.3 inches longer, and 952.4 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Chevrolet Trailblazer (2026) | Subaru Outback (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 173.6 in | 191.7 in | 18.1 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 71.3 in | 74 in | 2.8 in |
| Height | 65.7 in | 67.3 in | 1.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 103.9 in | 108.3 in | 4.3 in |
| Curb weight | 3,014 lbs | 3,966 lbs | 952 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Chevrolet Trailblazer vs Subaru Outback: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Chevrolet Trailblazer burns about $2,000 of fuel annually against $2,100 for the Subaru Outback. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Chevrolet Trailblazer is the stronger commuter at 30 mpg city, while the Subaru Outback pulls ahead on the interstate at 33 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Chevrolet Trailblazer is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, SIDI; FFV), the Subaru Outback with 3 (SIDI, 2.5, 3.6). Across 17 recorded Chevrolet Trailblazer configurations and 26 for the Subaru Outback, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Chevrolet Trailblazer is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Subaru Outback with All-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Chevrolet Trailblazer emits 287 g/mile of CO2 versus 308 g/mile for the Subaru Outback. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Trailblazer vs Outback: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Chevrolet Trailblazer or the Subaru Outback?
The Chevrolet Trailblazer is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 31 mpg combined versus 29 mpg for the Subaru Outback, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Chevrolet Trailblazer runs about $2,000 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,100 for the Subaru Outback — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the Trailblazer and Outback offer?
Chevrolet Trailblazer: SIDI, SIDI; FFV. Subaru Outback: SIDI, 2.5, 3.6.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Chevrolet Trailblazer as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and the Subaru Outback as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
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