2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS: Kirkland Buyers Guide

The RS look, piece by piece

Chevrolet describes the RS as the Trailblazer that gets hearts racing and heads turning, and the styling does most of that work. The mesh grille is finished in High Gloss Black and wears a small RS badge, the roofline is a two-tone contrast, and the wheels grow to 19 inches in the same black finish. Of everything in the lineup, those wheels change the look of the car most. A small SUV on 19-inch rims has a planted stance that the 17-inch trims do not quite match.

The color list includes a new one for 2026 called Apex Red, which Chevrolet shows on an RS in its own photos. The blue RS in the trim photo above gives a sense of how the dark roof and black wheels contrast with brighter paint.

Inside the RS

The RS cabin is set apart by red accents, and the photos Chevrolet publishes show an RS logo stitched in red on the headrests with red thread running along the seat bolsters. The steering wheel is heated, wrapped and flat-bottomed, which gives the driver a sportier grip and, on the cold mornings that do arrive in Kirkland, a bit of warmth in the hands. The rest of the interior is shared with the other trims: an 11-inch touchscreen, an 8-inch driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, push-button start and a front passenger seat that folds flat.

What is under the hood

Unlike the LS and LT, the RS does not ask you to pay extra for the bigger engine, because the 1.3-liter turbo three-cylinder is standard. It produces 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque, and with front-wheel drive the EPA rates it at 29 city, 33 highway and 31 combined mpg. Choose all-wheel drive and you get a nine-speed automatic transmission, with a rating of 26, 29 and 27 mpg. It is a small engine in a small SUV, so think of the RS as the one that dresses sporty rather than the one that races, and test drive it on a stretch like the on-ramp from NE 85th Street to I-405 to see whether the power suits you.

RS or ACTIV?

Both cost $28,200 to start, and each uses the 1.3-liter turbo. The ACTIV has off-road suspension tuning, a skid plate and 17-inch wheels. The RS has the larger 19-inch wheels, a heated flat-bottom steering wheel and sport styling. Drivers who spend most of their time on city streets and freeways usually find the RS the better fit, and those who head to trailheads often lean toward the ACTIV.

What Lee Johnson Chevrolet customers say

Chris A. bought a Trailblazer from the store and wrote about the experience in January: "They also let my little one play with some cool Lego cars while waiting for us grown-ups to finish with the real cars." The review thanks Thomas Huddleston and Andrew Wight by name, and adds that the team "made purchasing a vehicle smooth and pressure free." The review is about a 2026 Trailblazer without naming a trim, but it captures the way the dealership treats families who come in to shop.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 Trailblazer RS?

The RS starts at $28,200 MSRP, and the $1,795 destination charge brings the starting total to $29,995. Taxes, title, registration and options are extra.

Which is better, the Trailblazer RS or LT?

The LT costs less and covers daily conveniences, while the RS starts $3,400 higher and adds the 1.3-liter turbo, 19-inch black wheels, a heated flat-bottom steering wheel and red interior accents. If styling and the stronger standard engine matter most, the RS is the closer match.

What engine does the Trailblazer RS have?

The RS comes standard with the 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, which makes 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque.

Is the Trailblazer RS all-wheel drive?

Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available. The all-wheel-drive version pairs the 1.3-liter turbo with a nine-speed automatic.

What wheels does the Trailblazer RS have?

The RS has 19-inch High Gloss Black machined-aluminum wheels, the largest wheel size offered on the Trailblazer.

Compare, then drive

Read the ACTIV guide for the other 1.3-liter trim, the LT guide for the step below, and the overview for the full lineup. The pricing and leasing guide covers Washington sales tax. Then browse the new Trailblazer inventory or call sales at 425-296-7553.