Jim Park’s Opinion of the 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS’s Comfort:
The 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS is by no means luxurious, nor does it pretend to be. Our test vehicle came with the LS trim meaning cloth seats and a spartan interior. There is an LT trim available for SS models offering leather-appointed heated power seats.

Front and rear headroom and legroom are what one comes to expect in an SUV, and the TrailBlazer offers space to spare. The TrailBlazer’s front bucket seats offer adequate but not sporty bolstering. Larger drivers may find the seats to be on the tight side offering no thigh bolstering whatsoever. Accessing the front seat controls is difficult because of the intrusive armrests on the door panels, resulting in chafed arms as you blindly squiggle around in search of the buttons. The rear offers two bucket-like seats with an unbolstered center seat. The backrest angle of the rear seats is a tad too upright, most likely to maximize marketable storage volume of the smaller-than-expected cargo area directly behind. The rear seats would not be the seat of choice for extended trips. Our test model came with rear zone climate controls which offer the rear passengers some flexibility in comfort.

Like most SUV’s in the class, the TrailBlazer SS offers expansive views forward. I did find that I relied more on the side mirrors than the rear side windows to check for vehicles during lane changes. This is more indicative of the TrailBlazer’s riding height above most cars than any loss in visibility out of the rear side windows.

The TrailBlazer SS lacks any further refinement and comfort from available normal TrailBlazer trims. Pricing of the SS strongly suggests that most of the price difference between the SS and other trim levels lies solely in the LS2 powerplant, making the TrailBlazer SS financially accessible to those who appreciate the power increase over any improvements in luxury and comfort.

Christian Wardlaw’s Opinion of the 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS’s Comfort:
In terms of front seat comfort, I give the 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS a passing grade, but just barely. The front seats, covered in mousy fabric, have odd, concave bottom cushions with wide and firm outer bolsters that don’t hold you still so much as prop you up. It’s almost as if Chevy designed them for overweight people who tend to crush seats into submission over time – the target buyer, perhaps? The steering wheel rim is too thin for a performance vehicle, and though it lacks a telescopic feature, I was able to dial in a good driving position, sitting up high with a great view out. The upper door panel is padded and wide, a good place to rest your elbow or arm while driving, and there’s a soft center console armrest. Getting in and out is easy, thanks in part to the flat front seats and the TB SS’s lowered suspension.

The back seat is cramped, but passengers sit up tall and get rear glass that goes all the way down. Leg space is adequate, toe room is tight, and the seat cushions are a little too soft to provide long-term comfort. When loading the large rear cargo compartment, watch your head on the center latch if you’re taller than 5-feet, 10-inches tall. Folding the seatbacks is a hassle. You need to raise the bottom cushion first, and if the front seats are positioned too far back, they must be moved up a bit to allow the seatback to completely collapse for a flat load floor. The headrests, however, handily flip and don’t require removal.

Thom Blackett’s Opinion of the 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS’s Comfort:
Oddly enough, Chevy uses the term performance to describe the seats in the 2006 TrailBlazer SS. Interesting, given that the front chairs are large with bottom cushions that are too long and lack useful bolsters. Riding into hard corners on a small, flat seat is bad enough, but sliding around on an expansive SUV bucket gets tiresome. The Cobalt SS gets some great seats, so why can’t the TrailBlazer? And while they’re at it, maybe Chevy designers could add some upholstery that’s a few steps above rental-grade.

In everyday commuter traffic, where most SS drivers will likely find themselves, those big front buckets are more enticing, with firm cushions and multiple power adjustments. Padded armrests are appreciated during hours spent behind the tilting leather-wrapped steering wheel, as are the generous overall interior dimensions. Rear passengers plant their butts on a soft lower cushion and rest their backs against a comfortably reclined rear section. There are padded armrests on the doors, though there is no center armrest. Fan controls are located on the center console.