2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Jeep Compass

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and road-car-inspired design, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. It featured a low roofline with leaned-back front and rear pillars, a prominent 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, creating a striking presence for a mainstream crossover. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, and revised designs for the grille and LED headlights. These changes, along with new wheel designs and additional colour options, kept the Blazer's styling fresh. Inside, the Blazer's sportier aesthetic was evident with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro. The RS model featured blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme, showcasing impressive material quality.

The 2023 Jeep Compass embraced a refined and upscale design ethos, moving away from the rugged Jeep look. It shared design elements with larger Jeep models like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. The Compass Sport and North models received new 17-inch wheel designs, while the Trailhawk's wheels were painted gloss black. In Canada, the Compass was available in seven trim levels, with the Trailhawk trims being ideal for off-road adventures. The Compass's pricing ranged from just over $35,000 to more than $45,000, making it a costly choice in the small SUV segment. Our Limited test vehicle, equipped with various packages, had an MSRP of $54,775. The Compass Limited resembled a scaled-down Grand Cherokee, with a two-tone black and gray cabin featuring caramel accents, digital displays, and metallic trim. However, the high price raised concerns about its value compared to small luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer retained 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, delivering 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, was optional on the LT and standard on other trims. 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 test car felt quick and had a sporty exhaust note, but its handling was affected by its weight and top-heavy design. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for midsize SUVs, but its off-road capabilities were limited.

The 2023 Jeep Compass introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The engine's peak torque was available across a broad rev range, and it was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Jeep Active Drive AWD system. The Compass Trailhawk featured a more advanced AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio, along with off-road enhancements. The new turbo engine transformed the Compass's performance, making it more capable on highways and off-road. However, the engine's power was tuned for fuel economy, resulting in a slightly lower output compared to larger Jeep models. The Compass's fuel economy improved, and the new engine was quieter and smoother. While the Compass's handling was improved, its tall and narrow design contributed to body motions on uneven surfaces. The Trailhawk's off-road capabilities were impressive, but the standard tires limited its performance in challenging conditions.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat midsize SUV, 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 the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, which was less than some competitors. Despite this, the Blazer felt spacious and easy to maneuver, with functional interior details like USB port placement and temperature controls integrated into air vents. A heated steering wheel was standard on the RS trim but not available on lower models.

The 2023 Jeep Compass accommodated adults in both rows, offering decent comfort for four people despite its narrow design. Standard features included an air filtration system and available dual-zone climate control. Cloth upholstery was standard, with leather options available on higher trims. The Limited test vehicle featured premium leather, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and heated front seats. The rear seat provided enough space for adults, with generous foot room and supportive cushions. Interior storage was adequate, but the centre armrest bin was small. The Compass offered 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 1,693 litres with the seats folded. Some models featured a foot-activated power liftgate and a foldable front passenger seat for carrying long items.

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 wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Blazer's tech presentation was modern, with a large touchscreen and optional 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting Bluetooth pairing for two devices, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM services. The system received OTA updates and offered an optional 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, navigation, a nine-speaker Alpine sound system, and Alexa Built-in. The Limited test vehicle had these features, with Alexa proving responsive and accurate. The Alpine audio system was bass-heavy, and the parking assist system was available but not essential for the Compass's size. The surround-view camera was useful.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered the 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 features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder. Standard ADAS included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were available on higher trims. The Compass's lane-keeping inputs were sometimes intrusive, and adaptive cruise control was not always smooth. NHTSA ratings were unavailable, and the IIHS had incomplete results, but the Compass previously qualified for a Top Safety Pick rating.