2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from conservative styling to a more modern SUV-focused lineup. Historically, Buick's designs were characterized by softer lines and functional interiors, catering to an older demographic prioritizing comfort over cutting-edge design. However, the Enclave marked a significant shift, reflecting the broader North American market's move towards SUVs. The 2022 model, part of a mid-cycle refresh, featured exterior enhancements like a new grille and updated fascias, while the Avenir trim boasted unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave offered upgraded materials, a restyled centre console, and climate-controlled seating, particularly in the Avenir trim, which added a touch of luxury with its exclusive seat patterns and piping.

In contrast, the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented a more compact and rugged aesthetic, reminiscent of a mini Chevrolet Blazer. It balanced SUV toughness with upscale details like intricate lighting elements and dark chrome trim. The Activ and RS models offered distinct styling cues, with the Activ featuring a rugged front fascia and roof rails, while the RS embraced a sportier look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The Trailblazer's interior, though not overtly adventurous, included design touches like grab handles and a creased dashboard, adding character. Despite its smaller size, the Trailblazer managed to offer a distinctive and retro look, especially with its contrasting roof options.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all trims came standard with all-wheel drive, offering a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave was renowned for its quiet and smooth ride, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. This setup allowed the Enclave to handle various terrains with ease, providing a serene cabin experience thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, offering good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform with the Buick Encore GX, featuring a standard 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-litre turbo-three increased output to 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The Trailblazer offered a choice between front-wheel drive with a CVT and all-wheel drive with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Our Activ test car, equipped with the 1.3-litre engine and AWD, provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. The Trailblazer's ride quality was generally good, with dampers tuned for gravel roads, although some bouncing was noted over road imperfections. The selectable AWD system required manual engagement, unlike competitors' automatic systems, and the drive modes offered limited noticeable differences.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated, with tri-zone climate control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably across all three rows, with ample headroom and legroom. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row, which could comfortably seat six-footers. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, and the Enclave provided generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with all seats folded.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though one of the smallest SUVs, offered decent utility with generous headroom and mid-pack legroom. It surpassed the Buick Encore GX in rear legroom and headroom. The Trailblazer's rear seats were comfortable for short trips, but flat cushions made long journeys less appealing. Cargo space measured 716 litres with the second row in place, expanding to 1,540 litres with seats folded. While respectable, these figures trailed behind some competitors. Up front, the Trailblazer maximized space with a covered storage bin, deep tray, and cupholders, though the small dashboard carve-out's purpose was unclear.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with Premium and Avenir trims offering an 8-inch version. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The system supported up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims boasted a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though it lacked power for back-seat passengers. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator and HD rear vision camera, with notable available features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. An 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a Bose audio system were optional. While the Trailblazer's tech offerings might not satisfy the most tech-savvy buyers, the available 8-inch touchscreen was well-sized for the dashboard, with easy-to-read graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information, aided by smart design touches like a person-shaped icon for pedestrian detection.

The 2022 Buick Enclave's safety features were significantly updated, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Premium trims added enhanced automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer was named a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating, with high marks in frontal and side crash tests.