2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2024 Lexus TX

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and road-car-inspired design, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. Its low roofline and leaned-back pillars contributed to a streamlined profile, while the tall ride height and body sides maintained the visual weight of an SUV. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with its blackout trim, vibrant Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, creating a striking presence for a mainstream crossover. The 2023 updates included new taillights with twisted elements, subtle tweaks to the grille, LED headlights, and daytime running lights, along with fresh wheel designs and additional colour options, ensuring the Blazer's styling remained contemporary. 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 enhanced materials, blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme, offering a more upscale feel.

The 2024 Lexus TX, based on the Toyota Grand Highlander, distinguished itself as a luxury SUV with a more upscale appearance. The TX's styling was conservative, appealing to those who found previous Lexus designs too bold. The TX 350 Executive package included 22-inch silver-finished wheels, enhancing the SUV's presence. The TX series offered various models, including the TX 350, TX 500h F Sport Performance, and TX 550h+ plug-in hybrid, with prices ranging from $72,036 to $87,486. The TX 350, likely the most popular version, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and standard all-wheel drive. The Ultra Luxury package added premium interior features, though the dark Peppercorn interior felt too sombre despite the panoramic sunroof. The TX 350's interior was luxurious, with standard heated and ventilated seats, but lacked a massage function. The third-row seat was notably more accommodating than previous Lexus models, providing comfort for adults and ample cargo space when folded.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer retained its powertrain options from the previous year, with the base LT model featuring 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 was standard in Canada. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS felt quick for a crossover, with a sporty exhaust note, though its handling was affected by its weight and top-heavy design. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for its class, but its off-road capabilities were limited by its car-based design and low-hanging front bumper.

The 2024 Lexus TX 350 was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Lexus claimed an acceleration time of approximately eight seconds to 100 km/h, though the SUV felt quicker due to its torque delivery. The TX 350's fuel economy was rated at 10.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, slightly better than the previous RX L model. During testing, the TX 350 averaged 13.8 L/100 km. The TX 350's suspension provided a balance between road feel and comfort, with commendable body motion control and accurate steering. The interior remained quiet on the highway, though the brake pedal felt soft. Overall, the TX 350 offered adequate performance for a luxury SUV, with a focus on comfort and refinement.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious feel from the driver's seat without being cumbersome to manoeuvre. Front-seat headroom was comparable to rivals, while rear-seat headroom was slightly below average but better than some competitors. The Blazer provided 864 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, trailing behind most rivals. Despite this, the Blazer's interior was functional, with well-placed USB ports and intuitive climate controls. A heated steering wheel was standard on the RS trim but unavailable on lower models, an oversight for the Canadian market.

The 2024 Lexus TX addressed previous shortcomings in Lexus's three-row SUVs, offering a more spacious and comfortable interior. The TX 350 test unit featured premium materials and standard heated and ventilated seats. The second-row bench seat was less welcoming due to its flat cushion, but the third-row seat was notably more accommodating for adults. The TX provided 572 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,625 litres with the third row folded and 2,746 litres with the second row down. The interior included numerous storage options, though some lacked lining, potentially causing noise. The split front centre armrest design was less practical, but overall, the TX offered ample utility and comfort for a luxury SUV.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades for 2023, 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, 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. The Blazer's tech presentation was competitive, with a large touchscreen and optional 360-degree camera system, though a dedicated camera button would have been appreciated.

The 2024 Lexus TX featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a digital rearview mirror, with additional tech options in the Executive packages. The Lexus Interface infotainment system included a 14-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Drive Connect subscription for cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The TX offered free 10-year subscriptions to Service Connect and Safety Connect, with Remote Connect free for three years. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided impressive sound quality. However, the head-up display's unmarked steering wheel controls and visibility issues with polarized sunglasses were drawbacks.

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 newly available on all trims, with additional options like blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though it lacked GM's advanced Super Cruise system.

The 2024 Lexus TX was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Proactive Drive Assist was included, though it was not always transparent in operation. The TX also offered blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and optional features like traffic jam assist. LSS+ 3.0 was generally smooth and effective, though the TX's response to vehicles cutting in was overly cautious.