What? You say you haven’t heard about the 2023 Chevrolet Seeker SUV? It is Chevy’s newest compact SUV, slotting between the smaller Trailblazer and larger Equinox. It debuted this week in China, which is its primary market. But the chances are pretty good that it will be hitting our shores sometime soon.
That’s because Seeker prototypes have been spotted in the U.S., too. And we know GM has bigger plans than only China. And while it looks similar to some of Chevy’s other SUV offerings, note that the silhouette is lower, giving it a sportier appearance. But size-wise, it hits the compact SUV market with a bull’s eye at 178.6-inches long, 61.6-inches tall, with a 106.3-inch wheelbase.
Power comes from a 1.5-liter LP5 EcoTec I4 with 177 hp on gas, according to CarNewsChina. It’s tied to a CVT transmission, and Chevrolet hasn’t confirmed if that spins two or four wheels. We expect a hybrid version, though that information doesn’t reveal this.
In the cabin, two 10.25-inch screens handle the digital dash and infotainment displays. The seats feature perforated leather with red stitching. A charging pad and Xiaoxue OS wireless system are incorporated for things like CarPlay and over-the-air updates. There is also a panoramic sunroof for those with their heads in the stars.
Development was a combined effort between GM and SAIC-GM in China. The design uses many of the current Chevrolet SUV styling cues, again, aided by the lower top. The front end looks similar to the Blazer and Trailblazer. An interesting whisker of chrome breaks from the main band running through the grille, toward the parking lights flanking the sides.
Heavy side sculpturing below the beltline ties into the rear window line. It ends with creased shoulders in the rear. More crisp breaks and black rockers tied into black plastic wheel arches ties the package together.
In the back, the rear window leans heavily toward the front. It’s not as extreme as, say, a Mustang Mach-E, but looks a lot less boxy than some other compact SUVs. Large taillights and black vents intrude far into the rear quarters, which helps to visually shorten the look of the rear.
The version shown here is the RS version, which includes 18-inch alloy wheels and black paint accents including the roof. Two RS Seeker will come in two versions in China.
Chevrolet has yet to reveal pricing for the Seeker, but that won’t have much relevance to a U.S. version, especially if hybrid power happens. If it is, there’s a good chance the Seeker could be all-wheel-drive. Compact SUVs are a hot segment, so it makes sense that Chevy would want to fill in as many gaps in the market as possible.
