2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS: Roslyn Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: The 2026 Trailblazer RS
RS starts at $27,900 before destination, the same starting price as ACTIV, and the two trims are close cousins built around different priorities. RS trades ACTIV's off-road hardware for black 19-inch wheels and gloss-black exterior trim — a styling-first take on the same 155-hp, 174-lb-ft turbocharged 1.3-liter engine, which comes standard here rather than as a paid option like it is on LS and LT. Synthetic leather, heated front seats, a power driver's seat, and a heated steering wheel all come standard, and AWD is available across the trim with a 9-speed automatic in place of the CVT.
The styling trim, and it looks the part
19-inch wheels finished in black, gloss-black trim replacing the chrome and brightwork lower trims carry, and the RS badge itself sitting right on the grille where it's hard to miss. It's the same basic Trailblazer shape underneath — same wheelbase, same interior dimensions — wearing a noticeably more aggressive set of clothes. Paired with the standard 1.3-liter engine (18 more horsepower and 12 more lb-ft than the base LS/LT engine) RS reads as the sportier pick in the lineup even though, mechanically, it shares its drivetrain with ACTIV almost entirely.
Because RS and ACTIV land at the identical $27,900 starting price with the same engine underneath, the honest way to think about RS is: pick this one if the look matters more than the off-road hardware. Nobody's actually giving anything up on power or efficiency by choosing RS over ACTIV, or the other way around — it's black wheels and gloss trim versus all-terrain tires and a skid plate, full stop.
Roslyn drivers on their RS and Trailblazer experience
East Hills Chevrolet of Roslyn holds 4.76 stars across 962 Google reviews, and repeat and referral business shows up often in the Trailblazer reviews specifically. Alexandra Monahan's family has worked with the same salesperson across five years and multiple purchases: "Andy Boyes has helped my family with our cars over the past 5 years... He is honest and trustworthy, I recommend him to anyone that needs a vehicle. You never feel taken advantage of with Andy." Louis F. Lotito's review reads like a lot of the Trailblazer ones do — specific, unhurried, grateful for a salesperson who didn't rush the process: "Ricardo was helpful, understood what i was looking for and was so very patient. After we made the deal for my Trailblazer, he made the buying process so easy and seamless." That pattern — a named salesperson, a specific detail about the deal, genuine enthusiasm — runs through review after review at this location.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RS the sporty trim or just a styling package?
Mostly styling — black wheels, gloss trim, the RS badge — layered on the same 1.3-liter engine ACTIV gets standard. It's not a performance trim in the sense of more horsepower or sharper handling tuning versus ACTIV; the two share a drivetrain almost entirely. What RS changes is how the vehicle looks, not fundamentally how it drives.
Which is better, RS or LT?
Depends on budget and priorities more than one being objectively better. LT starts about $3,400 lower and runs the standard 1.2-liter engine; RS starts at $27,900 with the stronger 1.3-liter standard, plus leather-look seating, heated front seats, and the styling upgrades. If engine output and interior comfort matter more than saving money upfront, RS is the clear step up. If price is the priority, LT does the core job for meaningfully less.
Does RS come with all-wheel drive standard?
No, FWD is the $27,900 starting configuration; AWD is available as an upgrade and pairs with a 9-speed automatic instead of the CVT. East Hills Chevrolet of Roslyn can confirm current AWD pricing on a specific in-stock RS.
Compare RS against ACTIV in person
Seeing black wheels next to all-terrain tires, same lot, same day, is the fastest way to know which one you actually want — East Hills Chevrolet of Roslyn's inventory usually has both. Full lineup comparison is back at the 2026 Trailblazer overview; what an RS costs with Nassau County tax and fees is on the pricing & leasing guide.
MSRP excludes the $1,395 destination charge, taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; figures reflect published third-party pricing sources as of this writing and can move during the model year — confirm current pricing and available configurations with East Hills Chevrolet of Roslyn. Equipment and availability can shift with production timing. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of East Hills Chevrolet of Roslyn.