2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors were a boon in tight parking spaces, making it easier to load toddlers into rear-facing seats. The Odyssey offered a comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpool kids without hassle. With ample cargo space, it rivaled larger SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban when the seats were folded down. Despite the minivan stigma, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, especially in the Touring trim with its dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and kinked sliding doors that added character to its design.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer was a compact SUV that stood out with its appealing styling and practical features. It offered a choice of four trim levels, with the RS trim providing a sporty look and feel. The Trailblazer's design included a two-tone roof option, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Trailblazer was equipped with a modern infotainment system and a comfortable cabin, although it was criticized for its use of hard plastics. Despite its compact size, the Trailblazer provided a surprising amount of interior space and functionality, making it a versatile choice for urban driving and light off-roading.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a robust 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey offered a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The minivan was praised for its driving dynamics, offering a responsive and enjoyable experience, although its brakes were noted to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer, on the other hand, was equipped with a turbocharged 1.3-litre three-cylinder engine, producing 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The Trailblazer offered a choice between a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for front-wheel drive models and a nine-speed automatic transmission for all-wheel drive versions. The AWD model also featured a more sophisticated rear suspension for improved handling. The Trailblazer was nimble and fun to drive, especially in urban settings, but it was noted for its loud interior noise on highways and a bouncy ride on uneven surfaces. It averaged 9.0 L/100 km during testing, slightly above the official rating.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey excelled in interior space and functionality. Its low ride height and wide-opening doors made entry and exit easy. Inside, the Odyssey Touring featured quality leather seats with power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The minivan offered impressive storage solutions, including a centre console tray and numerous compartments. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing passenger comfort and safety. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the Odyssey provided 929 litres of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat expanded the cargo area to 2,452 litres, and removing the second-row seats created a massive 3,984 litres of space.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite its compact size, offered a functional interior. It accommodated four passengers comfortably, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat in the RS trim. The rear seat provided ample legroom but was criticized for its flat cushions. The Trailblazer's cargo area held 716 litres, with a flexible load floor and additional storage slots. Folding the rear seat expanded the cargo space to 1,540 litres, and the front passenger seat could also fold flat to accommodate longer items.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with a range of technology features, although its infotainment system was considered outdated compared to rivals. It included an 8-inch touchscreen display, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. The Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink services, and a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen. CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies allowed the driver to monitor and communicate with rear passengers. However, the infotainment system's small screen and lack of a tuning knob were noted as drawbacks.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer featured a modern infotainment system with a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen display. It offered Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with Chevrolet Connected Services and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Trailblazer's system was praised for its user-friendly interface, appealing graphics, and effective voice recognition. The RS trim included a 7-speaker Bose audio system and wireless smartphone charging. The Trailblazer also offered a keyless entry keypad system and a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing was criticized for its lack of refinement and occasional false warnings. The Odyssey received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Optional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer's ADAS was praised for its accuracy and smooth operation. It also received top crash-test ratings from both the NHTSA and the IIHS.