2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a unique aesthetic that diverged from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. It adopted styling cues more akin to road cars, featuring a low roofline with slanted front and rear pillars, creating a sleek profile. The Blazer maintained the visual heft of a traditional 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, which were newly designed for 2023, making it a striking choice among mainstream crossovers. The 2023 updates included subtle styling changes, such as new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, and revised designs for the grille, LED headlights, and daytime running lights. These updates, 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 muscle car. The RS model featured enhanced interior details, including blue trim, chrome accents, and a dark blue and black two-tone upholstery scheme, showcasing impressive material quality.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 offered a range of trim levels in Canada, from the RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited, with an off-road-friendly trim available in the mid-range. The design remained consistent with the 2019 model, particularly in the Trail trim, which featured a distinctive two-part face. The US equivalent of the Trail trim included a more aggressively styled grille, blacked-out wheels, and additional rugged elements like a faux skid plate and bridge-type roof rails. However, these features were more for show than actual off-road capability. Inside, the Trail trim added orange accents, with seats featuring a central stripe and contrast stitching. The RAV4's interior included a frameless rearview mirror, adding a touch of premium feel. The RAV4 offered various upholstery options, with fabric on the LE and XLE trims and synthetic leather on the XLE Premium package. The Limited trim provided heated and ventilated power-adjustable seats with memory settings, enhancing comfort and convenience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer retained its powertrain options from the previous year. The base LT model came with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A 3.6-litre V6 engine was optional on the LT and standard on other trims, producing 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 AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors that automatically switched between front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD. The V6-powered Blazer RS test car was often left in AWD mode 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 design affected handling, but it offered a comfortable highway ride with 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 Toyota RAV4, with AWD now standard across all trims, featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the RAV4's performance was more "unobjectionable" than "exciting." While not the quietest, it was less noisy than some competitors. The RAV4 Trail trim included 19-inch wheels with all-season tires and shared the same suspension setup as other RAV4 models. The RAV4's engine and transmission combination provided adequate performance for everyday driving, but it wasn't particularly thrilling.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious feel from the driver's seat. Front-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport, while 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 the air vents. A heated steering wheel was standard on the RS trim but not available on lower models.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and offered 958 millimetres of front headroom and 1,001 millimetres in the rear with the moonroof. It provided more rear headroom than the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester but less in the front. Legroom was 1,039 millimetres in the front and 960 millimetres in the rear, comparable to the CR-V but less than the Forester. The RAV4's interior included convenient storage options, such as a shelf above the glove compartment and large door pockets. Cargo space measured 1,059 litres behind the second row and 1,977 litres with the seats folded, placing it in the middle of the pack.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM were standard. The RS and Premier also offered built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive menus, though a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen standard and a 10.5-inch screen for the Limited trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with voice command and connected services. The Limited trim also featured an 11-speaker JBL audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version for the Limited trim. The Trail and Limited trims included a wireless charging pad.

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, and optional features included blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a five-star overall rating from the latter.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came with standard safety features like lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The updated TSS 2.5 suite included Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with top scores in crash-testing.