2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact yet robust SUV, echoing the design cues of its larger sibling, the Chevrolet Blazer. It managed to strike a balance between ruggedness and sophistication, with intricate lighting elements and dark chrome trim enhancing its upscale appearance. The Activ and RS models offered unique styling touches, with the Activ model featuring a rugged front fascia and the RS model sporting a sportier look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive flair, reminiscent of retro designs, while the interior combined various textures and colours to create a unique, albeit unconventional, aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out with its sleek design, maintaining brand recognition through signature split headlights and a large grille. It offered a more streamlined profile compared to its larger sibling, the GV80, and avoided the quirkiness of the smaller GV60. The GV70's design successfully blended SUV presence with luxury-car style, surpassing competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 in finesse. The Electrified GV70 retained the same styling as its gasoline counterpart, with a unique grille housing the charge port. Inside, the GV70 boasted a distinctive interior with quilted Nappa leather, a panoramic sunroof, and innovative design elements like an elliptical pod for climate controls and a rotary infotainment controller.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, offering a standard 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-litre turbo-three increased output to 155 hp and 174 lb-ft. The 1.2-litre engine was available only with front-wheel drive, while the 1.3-litre engine offered both FWD and AWD options. The AWD models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, while FWD models had a CVT. The Trailblazer Activ model, equipped with AWD and the 1.3-litre engine, provided 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, offering good ride quality despite some body roll and occasional bouncing over road imperfections.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered unchanged powertrain options, with a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 delivering 375 hp and 391 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The Electrified GV70 featured front and rear electric motors producing a combined 429 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a "Boost Mode" providing 483 hp for short bursts. While the GV70 offered strong straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning didn't match the sportiness of rivals like the Acura RDX or BMW X3. The GV70's ride quality was competent but not exceptional, with a suspension that tended to crash over bumps. The Electrified model maintained similar handling characteristics despite its additional weight, and offered adjustable regenerative braking for a customizable driving experience.

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, matching the Kia Seltos, though legroom was average. It offered more rear legroom than the Buick Encore GX and slightly more headroom in both rows. The rear seats were comfortable for short trips, but flat cushions made long journeys less appealing. Cargo space was respectable, with 716 litres available with the rear seats up and 1,540 litres with them folded, though it lagged behind the Kia Seltos. The Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 454 kilograms. Up front, storage solutions included a covered bin, a deep tray, and cupholders, though a small dashboard carve-out's purpose was unclear.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC, but more front-seat legroom than the BMW and Mercedes. Cargo space was 818 litres with the rear seats up, better than the Mercedes but less than the Audi. Folding the rear seats provided 1,611 litres, less than its German rivals. The Electrified GV70's battery pack minimally impacted interior space, with slight reductions in legroom and headroom. The GV70's stylish interior design limited small-item storage, though a dedicated phone nook and rear-seat climate controls were included. The Electrified model featured automatic side bolsters for the front seats, enhancing support during spirited driving.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 8-inch touchscreen, 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, Bose audio, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless charging were available. While the optional touchscreen was small by modern standards, it was well-suited to the Trailblazer's dashboard, with easy-to-read 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 pedestrian-detection icon.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Lower trims had an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, while higher trims offered a 12.3-inch unit with a 3D effect. A 12-inch head-up display and a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system were also available. The touchscreen's intuitive layout and positioning made it easy to use, with a high-quality rotary controller as an alternative. Genesis included a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles, though digital key functionality was not yet available for the GV70 in Canada.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, 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+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high marks for crash prevention and crash-test performance.

The 2024 Genesis GV70, both gasoline and Electrified versions, received the IIHS's Top Safety Pick+ award. NHTSA ratings for the 2024 model were incomplete, but the 2023 GV70 received a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and Highway Driving Assist. An advanced Highway Driving Assist 2 system with automated lane-change capability was available. Genesis also offered high-tech safety features like safe exit assist and a radar-based rear occupant alert system.