2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Kia Carnival

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact yet stylish SUV, reminiscent of a smaller Chevrolet Blazer. It exuded a balanced SUV toughness without veering into exaggeration, thanks to its intricate headlight and taillight designs and dark chrome trim that lent it an upscale appearance. The Activ and RS models offered unique styling cues, with the Activ model featuring a rugged front fascia and roof rails, while the RS model sported a more aggressive look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof colours added a distinctive touch, especially in the Activ model with its Nitro Yellow paint and white roof. Inside, the Trailblazer's cabin was a mix of leatherette upholstery and copper-toned accents, providing a unique personality despite its predominantly black interior.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Carnival stood out with its distinctive style and upscale image, making it hard to categorize as a typical minivan. The SX trim, with its Storm Blue paint, showcased high-tech lighting, an intricate grille, and decorative roof pillar trim, contributing to its attractive appearance. The interior was equally impressive, with dual instrumentation and infotainment screens adding sophistication. The SX trim's dual power sunroofs and flashy dashboard trim mirrored the exterior's elegance. The Carnival's interior materials were of high quality, ensuring it didn't feel cheap, and the robust transmission shifter added a sense of quality. Despite some shortcomings, like the uninspiring black alloy wheels, the Carnival managed to convey a sense of style and luxury.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, offering a standard 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-litre turbo-three engine increased output to 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The 1.2-litre engine was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the 1.3-litre engine could be paired with either FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Trailblazer Activ test car featured AWD, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the 1.3-litre engine, providing a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. However, the nine-speed automatic exhibited some rough shifts. The Activ model's dampers, tuned for gravel roads, performed well on pavement, offering good ride quality despite some bouncing over road imperfections. The Trailblazer's selectable AWD system required manual engagement, unlike competitors' automatic systems, and offered Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, though Sport mode showed minimal impact.

The 2023 Kia Carnival, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It boasted a towing capacity of up to 1,587 kilograms and offered Eco, Normal, Smart, and Sport driving modes. Despite lacking AWD and a hybrid powertrain, the V6 engine provided ample power, even with a full load of passengers. The transmission operated smoothly, and Sport mode proved effective on steep inclines. However, the brakes showed signs of fading during a mountain descent, though they performed well in other situations. The Carnival's ride quality was firm and sporty with a single occupant, while a full load resulted in a softer ride. Despite some wind noise at higher speeds, the Carnival was satisfying to drive, though the Honda Odyssey offered a more athletic experience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though one of the smallest SUVs available, offered substantial dimensions. It was 8.6 centimetres wider and 2.5 cm taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a longer wheelbase that improved passenger space. The Trailblazer provided decent utility, matching the Kia Seltos in headroom and offering more rear legroom than the Buick Encore GX. However, its cargo space of 716 litres with the rear seats up and 1,540 litres with them folded was respectable but fell short of the Kia Seltos. The Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 454 kilograms. Up front, designers maximized space with a covered storage bin, deep tray, and cupholders, though a small dashboard carve-out's purpose remained unclear.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Carnival defied minivan conventions with its SUV-like driving position and centre console arrangement. It offered three upholstery options: cloth, artificial leather, and genuine leather, though the latter felt stiff. The SX trim featured a three-zone automatic climate control system, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the controls for these features were distracting to use while driving. The Carnival's second-row VIP Lounge Seats, available in the SX trim, provided luxury but limited cargo space to 2,460 litres. The third-row seat offered adequate legroom and USB ports, while the cargo area behind it provided 1,139 litres of space. The Carnival's maximum cargo volume reached 4,110 litres with the second-row seats removed, surpassing the Chevrolet Suburban.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging. While the optional touchscreen was relatively small, it was well-suited to the Trailblazer's dashboard, providing clear graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information, aided by smart design touches like a person-shaped icon for pedestrian detection.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Carnival SX featured 12.3-inch digital instrumentation and infotainment touchscreens mounted side-by-side under a single piece of glass, reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz. The digital instrumentation impressed with lush graphics and dynamic imagery that changed with the time of day. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a three-year subscription to Kia Connect services. However, the 12-speaker Bose audio system was underwhelming. Additional tech features included Quiet Mode, Passenger Talk, and a passenger view camera, though the Kia Connect subscription was inactive during testing, limiting voice recognition capabilities.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2023 Kia Carnival also came equipped with a range of safety features, with additional systems available as you moved up the trim levels. Standard features included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Carnival's rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensors to detect movement, alerting the owner if a child or pet was left inside. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and a Safe Exit Assist system. The EX+ and SX trims included a surround-view camera and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. The Carnival earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though its standard headlights received a Poor rating.