For leg room, the TrailBlazer offers 44.6 inches in front (0.7 more than Explorer) and 37.1 inches in the rear (0.1 inch less). Working with a vehicle width that exceeds the Explorer by 2.5 inches, the TrailBlazer's rear seats offer slightly less shoulder room but 3.8 inches more total hip room.

The seats come standard in fabric (LS), cloth (LT), and rich-feeling leather (LTZ); adjustment is manual in LS and gains in trickery all the way up to eight-way power operation with memory (including outside mirror adjustment) and optional heating on the LTZ. The front buckets are designed to accommodate heights ranging from 4'10" to 6'2", but there is a noticeable lack of side bolstering. The front seats don't do justice to the ride, allowing the occupants to feel a side-to-side jouncing that doesn't exist in the 2002 GMC Envoy with the same chassis and suspension but better seats.

Interior lights abound, including reading lights. GM calls the interior lighting "world class," developed by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Lighting Research Center in Indiana.

The instrumentation is complete and clean. A big tachometer is on the left, speedometer in center, and on the right are smaller gauges for water, battery, gas and oil. Brushed nickel is the basic trim, while wood comes with the leather interior. The four-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel (standard on LTZ, optional on LT) has eight buttons, for climate, sound, cruise control and driver information center in eight languages.

The console includes an open storage bin, an enclosed compartment and two cupholders forward of the gear lever (plus two more for the rear passengers). There are pockets in the front doors and behind the front seats, though none in the rear doors. Standard behind the rear seat is a small hidden compartment under the floor, while optional features include a cargo net, scrolling tonneau cover and power outlet.

The overhead console includes a standard sunglasses holder, plus Travelnote digital recorder (optional with LS, standard with LT and LTZ), which might be considered an important safety feature, as it allows the driver to orally take phone numbers while on a cellphone, thus keeping at least one hand on the wheel. Heating and air conditioning can be controlled separately by the driver, front and rear passengers (which might be considered a safety feature because it too allows the driver to keep both hands on the wheel, instead of having to use one to fight with his passengers).

Depending on the trim level, the sound systems include radio/CD, radio/CD/cassette, six-disc in-dash CD, or six-speaker 275-watt Bose system. Our test model was equipped with the Bose, offering outstanding sound quality and adjustment versatility. All the systems include RDS (Radio Data Systems) technology, allowing the listener to search for stations by type, display information including song and artist information, and provide traffic and weather updates. Rear seat controls and headphone jacks are standard with LTZ, optional with LT and unavailable with LS.

The OnStar communications system is standard with LT and LTZ, optional with LS. It includes GPS navigation, hands-free cellphone communication including free first year safety and security service-automatic crash and theft reporting, as well as remote unlocking if you lock yourself out. Mind-boggling possibilities include everything from having your email read to you by a computerized voice ("Virtual Advisor") to getting directions to the nearest ATM.

Also available is a rear seat DVD entertainment system, with a seven-inch flip-down screen and wireless headphones.