2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and modern aesthetic, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. Its design featured a low roofline with slanted front and rear pillars, a prominent grille, and stacked headlights, giving it a road car-like appearance. Despite this, the Blazer maintained the visual heft of an SUV, thanks to its tall ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS model, with its blackout trim, striking Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, stood out as a particularly eye-catching option. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with unique twisted elements, refreshed grille and headlight designs, and additional wheel and colour options. Inside, the Blazer's sporty interior drew inspiration from the Camaro, featuring an upright dashboard and large round air vents. The RS model boasted enhanced materials and a two-tone upholstery scheme, adding to its appeal.

The 2023 Lexus GX, with its imposing spindle grille and substantial ground clearance, commanded attention on the road. Its front end exuded a sense of readiness, complemented by large headlights that framed its distinctive face. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colours, including the exclusive Nori Green Pearl. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's design leaned towards a sleeker aesthetic compared to Toyota's blocky designs. The interior, however, was marred by an abundance of plastic materials, which detracted from its luxury status. Nevertheless, the GX offered heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery. While the GX's design had not seen a generational update in 14 years, it continued to deliver a capable off-road experience, aided by its Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and other off-road technologies.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer retained its powertrain options from the previous year, offering a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque as standard on the base LT model. A 3.6-litre V6 engine, producing 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 competitors 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 handling was affected by its weight and top-heavy design, but it offered a comfortable highway ride with standard Active Noise Cancellation. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for its class.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its naturally aspirated 4.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque through a 6-speed automatic transmission. While not the most powerful on paper, the V8 provided a satisfying driving experience with its linear power delivery and distinctive sound. The GX's 2,948-kilogram towing capacity surpassed most three-row crossovers but lagged behind other SUVs. Its fuel economy, however, was less impressive, with estimates of 16.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 12.3 on the highway. The GX's weight affected its handling, but its roll was predictable and controllable. The GX featured a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential, distributing power in a 40:60 front-to-rear split, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

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. While rear-seat headroom was slightly below average, it outperformed the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Blazer provided 864 litres of cargo space with the 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, such as USB port placement and temperature controls integrated into air vents, added to its appeal. A heated steering wheel was standard on the RS trim but unavailable on lower models.

The 2023 Lexus GX offered ample cubby space for small items, with a deep centre console bin and convenient cupholders. However, it lacked modern USB-C ports, relying on older USB-A ports. The GX retained physical controls, which some drivers preferred over touchscreens. The centre console lid featured adjustable sliding mechanisms for added comfort. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and fold-out cupholders, while the third row was cramped and best suited for emergencies. The GX's side-hinged trunk door required effort to open and offered limited cargo space, with 328 litres behind the rear seats and 1,832 litres with both rows folded, less than a Toyota RAV4.

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 connectivity, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. While the Blazer's tech wasn't the newest, it remained competitive, with a large touchscreen and optional 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 Lexus GX's infotainment system, updated in 2022, already felt dated compared to other Lexus models. The 10.3-inch touchscreen was an improvement, offering SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and smartphone compatibility. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was present but unnecessary due to the touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. However, the tech lagged behind newer Lexus models, with slower touchscreen response and less crisp graphics. The GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System for improved handling.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered a comprehensive array of safety features, with 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, and optional 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 Lexus GX had not been crash tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it featured the Lexus Safety System+ with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and more. While missing some advanced features, the GX's safety systems were significantly newer than its 2010 engineering. It included parking assist, blind spot monitoring, and rain-sensing wipers, enhancing its safety profile.