Yet another “seemingly relevant” comparo is made here with the Jeep SRT8. This time it’s the Chevy Trailblazer SS. While it might be the model most suited to compare to Jeep’s heavy-hitter, it’s not in the same league.

The article is so-so, but until someone gets the two of these onto a drag strip and road course, this is as good as it gets…

As is the case with the SSR, the Trailblazer SS is saddled with a prehistoric four-speed automatic transmission. And unlike the SSR, the Trailblazer isn’t offered with a manual transmission. Shifts are slow and jerky, and the transmission downshifts with the slightest brush of the accelerator. Those downshifts aren’t smooth, either. Senior editor Joe Lorio elaborates: “There are mile-wide gaps between the gears and none of the sophisticated electronic controls [you find on many vehicles] that adjust the engine throttle to smooth out shifting. Consequently, any shift made with urgency causes a heaving ripple effect through the car.” The truck’s 395 horsepower can’t get to the ground with any urgency because of the long first-gear ratio, so city driving in the SS is hardly different than it is in the weaker, short-wheelbase, 5.3-liter V-8-powered vehicles offered on the same GM platform. In contrast to the Jeep, the Chevy is better to drive on winding roads, where it is able to stay in the power band of one gear. But even there, the spotlight doesn’t burn brightly on the SS…

Read the full story after the jump to automobilemag.com

The Chevy Trailblazer SS is the next best thing to the Grand Cherokee SRT-8.

And at almost 7 large LESS than the Jeep, it’s hard to argue that, even for brand-loyalists like us.

PLUS, it’ll tow more…

Well, be all that as it may, it’s still not a Jeep, now, is it?

Nope. It’s really just a very well put together collection of parts-bin items. It’s one of the few things the General seems to do right these days, too.

Stuff in the V8 from the Corvette, back it with a bulletproof 4 speed auto, lower it, strap on 20’s and enjoy! …and you know they make a TON of money on these “specials”.

James Healey at USA Today had this to say in a recent review: “To be clear: SS is not just a big-engine TrailBlazer or a mild makeover. SS is the standard-wheelbase TrailBlazer fitted with a Corvette-derived V-8 engine, 20-inch-diameter wheels, stiffened and lowered suspension, big brakes, different interior and exterior trim. If you’re looking for a conventional SUV that happens to be quick, SS is more than you want. It’s more appropriate if you want a full-bore sporting machine that happens to be an SUV.”

While it sounds like a great rig, it’ll never have the cache of the Jeep brand name…but, then again, no SRT-8 will ever go offroad (someone please prove me wrong… ) and live up to that name, either…

Neither truck is what you’d call efficient - the Trailblazer SS only managed around 11 mpg during the test drive.

To be truthful, though, economy is NOT why you buy one of these - you buy one because it’ll do it all: tow the boat, haul the family AND haul ass.

Read the full article after the jump.
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