2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Jeep Wrangler

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and modern aesthetic, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. It featured a low roofline with front and rear pillars leaned back, creating a streamlined profile complemented by a large grille and stacked headlights. Despite its road car styling cues, the Blazer maintained the visual heft of an SUV, thanks to its tall ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with its blackout trim, vibrant Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a striking choice in the mainstream crossover segment. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, and refreshed designs for the grille and LED headlights. These changes, along with new wheel designs and additional colour options, kept the Blazer's look fresh and appealing.

Inside, the Blazer's interior exuded a sportier vibe compared to other Chevy crossovers, with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. While cloth seats were standard, higher trims offered leather upholstery, and all models came with dual-zone automatic climate control. The Blazer RS interior featured blue trim, chrome accents, and a dark blue and black two-tone upholstery scheme, enhancing its upscale feel. The material quality in the high-end Blazer model impressed, adding to its overall appeal.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, embraced a rugged, no-nonsense design with its fourth-generation JL model. It featured a boxy shape with minimal curves, emphasizing its off-road capabilities. Available in both two-door and four-door configurations, the Wrangler allowed for door removal, and the optional Dual-Door Group provided half doors for enhanced visibility. The Wrangler's windshield could fold down, and various top options catered to open-air exploration. Signature design elements included wide fenders, Jeep's iconic seven-slot grille, round headlights, and exterior hood latches. The tailgate swung out, and the rear glass lifted for easy cargo access. The limited-edition "Reign" purple paint added a touch of flair to the rugged design, while the new "Earl" colour introduced a subtle aquamarine highlight.

Inside, the Wrangler prioritized practicality with easy-to-clean floor mats and seats. The interior featured straight lines and minimal frills, with a body-coloured dash, chunky HVAC controls, and a manual transfer case shifter. While ambient lighting and massaging seats were absent, the Wrangler offered a functional and straightforward cabin. The front seats were comfortable, but rear seating was tight, especially in the four-door models. Storage space for small items was limited, with a flat dash and small glove box and centre console. Larger cargo space was also constrained, though the Wrangler's various top options provided flexibility for open-air driving.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous model year. The base LT model featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. An optional 3.6-litre V6 engine, standard on higher trims, produced 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, while front-wheel drive (FWD) was available in the United States. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS test car remained in AWD mode most of the time to manage the power effectively. The Blazer's V6 engine provided impressive acceleration and a sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. Its weight and top-heavy design affected handling, but the Blazer offered a comfortable highway ride with standard Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for midsize SUVs, but its off-road capabilities were limited.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler excelled in off-road performance, thanks to its solid axles and optional differential lockers. It offered a range of engine options, including the standard Pentastar V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were available with an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The Wrangler also offered a 3.0-litre Ecodiesel V6 with 260 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque, and the high-performance Rubicon 392 with a 6.4-litre V8 engine producing 470 horsepower and torque. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid combined two electric motors with a 17.3-kWh battery for 35 kilometres of electric range. The Wrangler 392 test model delivered exhilarating performance, with a 0-100 km/h time of approximately 4.5 seconds. Different Wrangler models featured various off-road transfer cases, with the Selec-Trac 4x4 system providing a 2.72 low range. The Xtreme Recon package enhanced the crawl ratio to 58:1. On-road, the 392's brakes and steering had limitations, but other Wrangler trims offered better-suited brakes and steering.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat midsize SUV, offering a spacious interior without the bulk of a three-row model. It provided nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge, Honda Passport, and Nissan Murano, while rear-seat headroom was slightly below average. The Blazer excelled in front legroom and offered decent rear legroom. Cargo space measured 864 litres with the rear seats in place and 1,818 litres with them folded, trailing 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 air vents and a heated steering wheel on the RS trim.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler's front seats were comfortable, but rear seating was tight, especially in four-door models. Storage for small items was limited, with a flat dash and small glove box and centre console. Larger cargo space measured 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded, slightly less than the Ford Bronco. The Wrangler offered various top options, including a removable hard top, Sunrider option, and Sky One-Touch power soft top. The latter provided quick open-air access, even while driving. The Wrangler featured ample charging points, with USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, and a 115-volt outlet.

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, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Bose audio system were standard on RS and Premier trims. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a large touchscreen and optional 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect infotainment system, while the test model featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen. Uconnect offered off-road pages with detailed information, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. The Wrangler included a forward-facing camera for off-road trails and auxiliary switches for aftermarket accessories. However, it lacked advanced tech features like a digital key or over-the-air updates for vehicle performance.

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 available on all trims, and 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 safety rating from the latter.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler's standard safety features included a rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control. Advanced safety features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were standard on top trims or part of an option package. The Wrangler received mixed safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a four-star frontal crash test rating and a three-star rollover rating.