2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer was a compact SUV that managed to capture the essence of its larger sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer, with a design that balanced ruggedness and sophistication. Its intricate headlight and taillight elements, along with dark chrome trim, lent it an upscale appearance uncommon in its price range. The Activ and RS models offered unique styling cues, with the Activ featuring a rugged front fascia and roof rails, while the RS boasted a sportier look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive touch, making the Trailblazer stand out among its competitors.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV represented a bold evolution for the Blazer nameplate, transitioning from its truck-based origins to a sleek, electric SUV. Built on GM's Ultium platform, the Blazer EV featured a long wheelbase shared with the Cadillac Lyriq, giving it a stretched appearance. Its design incorporated a tall hood, a reimagined front end, and boomerang-shaped taillights, exuding a more aggressive stance than rival electric SUVs. The Blazer EV's LT and RS trims offered distinct styling elements, with the RS featuring a blacked-out front fascia and larger wheels, while the forthcoming SS model promised even more unique features.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, offering a choice between a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and a 1.3-litre turbo-three with 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). FWD models featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models came with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Trailblazer Activ, with its AWD and 1.3-litre engine, offered a more engaging driving experience than its Buick counterpart, though the nine-speed automatic occasionally exhibited rough shifts. The Activ's dampers, tuned for gravel roads, provided a comfortable ride on pavement, despite some body roll and occasional bouncing over road imperfections.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a choice between a single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain in its LT and RS trims. The RWD model delivered 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD version produced 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Blazer EV's performance was impressive, with strong acceleration from both RWD and AWD models, though the RWD version felt somewhat traction-limited. The Blazer EV's handling was precise, but its stiff suspension compromised ride comfort. The vehicle featured a steering-wheel paddle for adjusting regenerative braking, allowing for a more engaging driving experience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs available, offered a surprisingly spacious interior. It was wider and taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a longer wheelbase that improved passenger space. The Trailblazer provided generous headroom and decent legroom, surpassing some competitors like the Hyundai Kona. Its cargo capacity of 716 litres with the rear seats up and 1,540 litres with them folded was respectable, though not class-leading. The Trailblazer's interior featured clever storage solutions, including a covered storage bin and a deep tray, though its cargo capacity was limited for larger loads.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, while appearing more like a traditional SUV, offered interior dimensions similar to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. Its cargo space of 722 litres with the rear seats up and 1,673 litres with them folded was less than the gasoline Blazer but more than the EV6. The Blazer EV's interior featured a heavily stylized design with ample small-item storage, though some controls were moved to the touchscreen, requiring adjustment. The vehicle lacked a frunk, unlike some competitors, but offered a "presence activated" liftgate for added convenience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came equipped 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. An optional 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a Bose audio system, and wireless phone charging were available. While the Trailblazer's tech features were adequate for most buyers, the optional touchscreen was smaller than some competitors, and a fully digital instrument cluster was not offered. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and easy-to-read graphics.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV introduced a new Google-based infotainment system, featuring built-in Google apps like Google Maps and Google Assistant. It eliminated standalone Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, offering deeper functionality for Android users but limited options for iOS users. The Blazer EV boasted a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, both with sharp graphics. The system included built-in route planning and over-the-air software updates. The Blazer EV also featured a hands-free start sequence, marking a shift towards a more high-tech driving experience.

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, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer received a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention tech.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV's crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication. However, it came equipped with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking. The Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system was standard on the SS trim and optional on the RS, offering advanced driver assistance capabilities.