2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact yet stylish SUV, reminiscent of a smaller Chevrolet Blazer. It managed to balance ruggedness with sophistication, thanks to its intricate lighting elements and dark chrome trim. The Activ and RS models offered unique styling cues, with the Activ leaning towards a rugged aesthetic and the RS embracing a sportier look. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive touch, although not exclusive to Chevy, as other subcompact crossovers also offered similar features. Inside, the Trailblazer's cabin was a mix of leatherette upholstery and various trims, providing a unique personality despite its predominantly black interior.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, appealing to those who appreciated its bold design. Available in Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, the Palisade exuded a sense of luxury with features like an artificial suede headliner and quality upholstery. The interior was sophisticated, with metal speaker grilles and striped dashboard trim, making it feel like a luxury SUV. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, in particular, offered a decadent experience, elevating the Palisade's appeal in the midsize family SUV segment.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, featuring 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, while the 1.3-litre engine offered both FWD and AWD options. The Trailblazer Activ test car, equipped with AWD and the 1.3-litre engine, provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. However, the nine-speed automatic transmission exhibited some rough shifts. The Trailblazer's ride quality was generally good, with dampers tuned for better performance on gravel roads, although some bouncing was noted over road imperfections. The selectable AWD system required manual engagement, unlike competitors' automatic systems.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade, on the other hand, was powered by a 3.8-litre V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD was standard in Canada, and the Palisade boasted a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The V6 engine provided ample power and satisfying acceleration, with the transmission always in the right gear. The Palisade's AWD system expertly distributed power on dirt and gravel roads. Fuel consumption was rated at 11.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, although our test averaged 15.0 L/100 km in Comfort mode. The Palisade's suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with excellent handling on mountain and canyon roads. The brakes performed well under stress, and overall, driving the Palisade was a pleasurable experience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs, offered decent utility. It was wider and taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a longer wheelbase that benefited passenger space. The Trailblazer matched the Kia Seltos in headroom and offered more rear legroom than the Buick Encore GX. However, the flat rear seat cushions made long trips less comfortable. Cargo space was respectable, with 716 litres behind the second row and 1,540 litres with the seats folded, although it lagged behind the Kia Seltos. The Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 454 kilograms. Up front, storage was maximized with a covered bin, deep tray, and cupholders, although a small dashboard carve-out's purpose was unclear.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a more luxurious interior, with artificial leather upholstery in the Urban trim and premium Nappa leather in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. Heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-panel sunroof were standard in Canada. The Calligraphy trim added an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver. Configurable storage between the front seats included a large bin and wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed excellent comfort, with a rear climate control panel and USB ports. The third row was more spacious than most rivals, with standard heating and air conditioning vents. The hands-free power tailgate was convenient but could be turned off if needed. The Palisade offered 509 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,447 litres with the second and third rows folded.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bose audio system, and wireless phone charging were available. While the Trailblazer's tech offerings were adequate, they might not satisfy tech-savvy buyers. The 8-inch touchscreen was well-sized for the dashboard, with easy-to-read graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen infotainment system with navigation. It supported Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB-A cable. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included wireless charging. Hyundai's Bluelink connected services offered remote engine starting and emergency assistance. The standard 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional technologies included a digital rearview mirror, semi-autonomous remote parking, and a head-up display, although it struggled with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came equipped with standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring 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.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a comprehensive suite of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. Highway Driving Assist was standard, providing a hands-on driving system for highway travel. The rear-seat reminder system used ultrasonic sensing for alerts. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, although NHTSA crash tests were incomplete.