2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact version of the Chevrolet Blazer, exuding a balanced SUV toughness without veering into exaggeration. Its intricate headlight and taillight designs, 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 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 options in red, black, or white added a distinctive flair, especially when paired with bold exterior colors like Nitro Yellow. Inside, the Trailblazer Activ model combined leatherette upholstery with a mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim, creating a unique interior ambiance.

In contrast, the 2024 Chrysler Pacifica maintained a contemporary look despite its age, offering a smooth exterior with a modest grille that stood out against flashier competitors like the Toyota Sienna. Chrysler's design choice to keep the sliding-door tracks hidden contributed to its clean appearance. The Pacifica was available in several trims, including Touring, Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle, with LED lighting standard across all models. The S Appearance and Road Tripper packages added unique exterior and interior elements, while new paint options like Baltic Gray and Red Hot expanded the color palette. Inside, the Pacifica Pinnacle model featured luxurious brown Nappa leather upholstery with quilted stitching, though some interior elements felt less premium. The dashboard's minimalist design integrated controls seamlessly, with a rotary shift knob that was both space-efficient and stylish.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, offering a standard 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-liter turbo-three engine increased output to 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The 1.2-liter engine was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the 1.3-liter 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 model, equipped with AWD and the 1.3-liter engine, offered a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note, though the nine-speed automatic exhibited some rough shifts. The Activ model's dampers were tuned for gravel roads but performed well on pavement, providing a composed and nimble ride despite some body roll.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on higher trims. The V6 engine, known as the Pentastar, had been a reliable choice across the Stellantis lineup, offering peppy acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The Pacifica's chassis tuning prioritized comfort and stability, effectively damping body motion and road imperfections. However, some weight transfer was noticeable during acceleration and deceleration. The Pacifica maintained Chrysler's reputation for being a step above mainstream offerings, providing a quiet and comfortable ride compared to rivals like Honda, Kia, and Toyota.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs available, offered substantial interior space. 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 in both front and rear seats, though legroom was average. It offered 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 54.4 cubic feet with them folded, which was competitive for its segment. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,000 pounds. Up front, the Trailblazer featured clever storage solutions, including a covered storage bin and a deep tray, though a small dashboard carve-out's purpose remained unclear.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica excelled in interior space, thanks to its Stow 'n Go seating system, which allowed second-row seats to fold flat into the floor, creating large in-floor storage bins. The Pacifica offered a standard seven-seat configuration, with an eight-seat option available on the Touring L trim. Passenger space was competitive, with ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows, though third-row legroom was slightly less than some rivals. Non-hybrid Pacifica models provided 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 140.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Pacifica also offered a Stow 'n Vac built-in vacuum cleaner, though the raised center console's storage area was difficult to access.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. An 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a Bose audio system, and wireless phone charging were optional. While the Trailblazer's tech offerings were adequate for most buyers, the optional touchscreen was relatively small, and a fully digital instrument cluster was unavailable. The infotainment system's graphics and menus were user-friendly, with no major functions requiring more than a few taps.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The instrument cluster included analog gauges with a 7-inch digital display. The Pacifica could be equipped with up to 12 USB-C ports, built-in navigation, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect 5 system was intuitive and sharp, though a shortcut for the 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated. The Pacifica also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV connectivity and a FamCam rear-facing interior camera, though it lacked an intercom system like some competitors.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came standard with 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+ award from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high marks in crash tests and front-crash prevention tech.

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica was named a 2023 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, missing the Top Safety Pick+ award due to lower scores in updated crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and rear park assist. Optional features included a 360-degree camera system and park assist. New for 2024 was an Emergency Vehicle Alert System integrated with the Uconnect infotainment system.