2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and striking appearance, diverging from the rugged look typical of many crossovers. It featured a low roofline with front and rear pillars leaned back, a large grille framed by stacked headlights, and a tall ride height that maintained the visual weight of an SUV. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with its blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a remarkably striking choice for a mainstream crossover. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, tweaked grille and LED headlight designs, and new wheel options. The interior boasted a sportier aesthetic with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. The Blazer RS model impressed with its material quality, featuring blue trim, chrome accents, and a dark blue and black two-tone upholstery scheme.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered a range of standard and Type S versions, each with trim packages that increased equipment levels. The Type S Ultra trim, with its Apex Blue Pearl paint and Orchid interior, set high expectations for quality, luxury, and driving dynamism. The fourth-generation MDX was the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, featuring chicane-design LED running lights and taillights, LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and 21-inch wheels. The Type S Ultra trim included quilted leather, aluminum interior trim, a Sport Appearance package, and a leather-wrapped dashboard. However, some design choices, like the gloss black plastic on the dashboard, made it challenging to use some controls. Despite these nit-picks, the MDX Type S remained an attractive luxury SUV.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. The base LT model featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A 3.6-litre V6 engine, standard on higher trims, delivered 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard in Canada. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some rivals with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS impressed with its quick acceleration and sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. Its weight and top-heavy design affected handling, but it offered a pleasant highway ride with Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for midsize SUVs.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S stood out with its turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), provided impressive performance. The MDX Type S featured an Integrated Dynamics System with multiple driving modes, including an exclusive Lift mode for increased ground clearance. However, the performance upgrades didn't fully integrate, resulting in an indecisive transmission, lack of ride compliance, and poor brake pedal modulation. The MDX Type S averaged 13.9 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, falling short of its official fuel consumption rating. While it offered quick acceleration and a great engine sound, the MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive driving experience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious interior with nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport. Rear-seat headroom was slightly below average, but better than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Blazer provided 864 litres of cargo space with rear seats in place and 1,818 litres with them folded, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite this, the Blazer felt spacious from the driver's seat, with short overhangs aiding maneuverability. Functional interior details included USB ports between large round air vents and a heated steering wheel standard on the RS grade.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered three rows of seats with flexible second-row configurations. The Type S Ultra trim featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions, wrapped in quilted leather. However, the seats didn't provide the expected support for enthusiastic driving. The MDX's second-row seat was comfortable and supportive, with heating available on all but the base model. The third row was best suited for children due to limited space. The MDX's cargo area offered 461 litres behind the third row, 1,107 litres with it folded, and a maximum of 2,021 litres with both rear rows down. Thoughtful features included a hands-free liftgate with Walk Away Close and hooks for securing grocery bags.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and wireless device charging available on all trims. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu layout. However, a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated. The Blazer's tech presentation remained competitive, with a large touchscreen matching segment leaders like the Hyundai Santa Fe.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a Digital Precision Cockpit with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen wasn't touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the centre console. While the TTI aimed to improve driver interaction, it added complexity and reduced storage space. The MDX offered Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In for voice commands. The top-tier ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers delivered impressive sound quality. The MDX also included a 10.5-inch head-up display with navigation instructions and driving assistance status.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered a standard Chevy Safety Assist Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Adaptive cruise control was now available on all trims. Optional safety features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings, with the IIHS awarding it "Good" ratings in crash tests and "Superior" and "Advanced" ratings for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a comprehensive suite of safety systems, including collision mitigation braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and Traffic Jam Assist. Standard features in Canada included rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Some trims added parking sensors and a surround-view camera system. While the latest Acura systems showed improvement, occasional false alerts and adaptive cruise control quirks were noted. The MDX received high safety ratings, with the IIHS naming it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA awarding it a five-star overall rating.