2021 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, despite being updated in 2018, still felt somewhat dated in its third generation. Introduced in 2011, the Sienna's design and features occasionally appeared upscale but often seemed outmoded. The hollow "thud" of the front doors and the simplistic instrument panel, reminiscent of Toyota's 2010 parts, highlighted its age. However, this simplicity also made the controls user-friendly. The Sienna offered various trims, including CE, LE, SE, and XLE, each with distinct features like alloy wheels, climate control, and infotainment systems. The SE trim stood out with its power liftgate, while the XLE Limited added premium touches like leather seats and a JBL audio system. The Nightshade Edition aimed to appeal to those prioritizing style with its dark accents and wheels.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer was praised for its striking exterior design, reminiscent of a Lamborghini Urus. Its wedgy profile, slim windows, and aggressive front end with sawblade 20-inch wheels made a bold statement. The Blazer's styling was a departure from Chevy's typically utilitarian SUVs, drawing inspiration from the Camaro's dynamic design. The Blazer offered customization options across its trims, including LT, True North, RS, and Premier, with unique grille designs and packages like Redline and Midnight/Sport. However, the interior was criticized for its low-rent feel, with dark, unsupportive seats and downmarket materials, which seemed incongruent with its price point. Despite these drawbacks, the Blazer's exterior design left a lasting impression.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a Sport mode for enhanced throttle and shift response, providing robust acceleration. The Sienna's powertrain was primarily front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on most trims, albeit with a trade-off in seating capacity. The AWD option was a unique selling point in its class, offering improved traction in adverse conditions. The Sienna's fuel efficiency varied, with the FWD model achieving 12.6 L/100 km in the city and 9.1 on the highway, while AWD versions returned slightly higher figures. Despite its size, the Sienna handled well, with a low centre of gravity and broad base, though its steering response was twitchy at higher speeds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered two engine options in Canada: a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder with 227 hp and 258 lb-ft, and a 3.6-litre V6 producing 308 hp and 270 lb-ft. The V6, standard on RS and Premier trims, provided a strong performance with a sport-tuned suspension and mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle on the RS. The Blazer's handling was commendable, with good grip, steering, and braking, drawing comparisons to BMW. However, the transmission calibration had issues, with slow responses in Sport mode and a convoluted manual mode. The Blazer's fuel consumption ratings were average, with the AWD V6 achieving 12.0 L/100 km city and 8.7 highway. Despite its sporty promise, the Blazer's driving experience was not fully realized due to transmission shortcomings.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 4,247 litres, surpassing competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which could be cumbersome. The Sienna's third-row seats folded seamlessly into the floor, but accessing the backseat was challenging due to awkward seat mechanisms. Toyota also offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, enhancing its appeal for those needing accessibility options.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, as a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four, with seats mounted lower for easy entry and exit. However, its sightlines were poor, a trade-off for its stylish design. The Blazer offered 1,818 litres of cargo space with the rear seat folded and 864 litres when raised. It could tow up to 2,041 kilograms with the right configuration. The Blazer featured simple controls, like movable rings around air vents for temperature adjustment, and conveniences like a hands-free power tailgate. The infotainment system was fast and user-friendly, with options for heated and cooled seats and a digital speedometer.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna's base CE trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, a long-awaited addition. It also included Bluetooth connectivity and five USB ports. Higher trims offered an 8-inch screen, navigation, and a JBL audio system. The Limited trim included Driver Easy Speak, an intercom system for communicating with rear passengers.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, known for its simplicity and speed. It supported Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. The RS trim added wireless charging, LED headlights, 360 cameras, and adaptive cruise control. The infotainment system offered navigation, onboard apps, and cloud-based settings transfer. GM's Safety Alert Seat provided subtle collision warnings, enhancing driver awareness.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna included standard safety features like lane-departure alert, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and dynamic cruise control as part of the Toyota Safety Sense suite. It earned five stars from the NHTSA and top ratings from the IIHS, with additional features like blind-spot monitoring available on higher trims.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered standard safety features, including forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic high beams. It received five stars from the NHTSA and top ratings from the IIHS, though its headlights were rated poorly. The Blazer lacked semi-automated functions and certain airbags but featured enhanced forward emergency braking on top trims.