2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe

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 roof rails, while the RS model boasted a sportier look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive flair, reminiscent of retro designs, and the interior, though not overtly adventurous, featured a mix of materials that added personality to the cabin.

In contrast, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe embraced a bold new design direction, departing from the sleek aesthetics of its Ioniq siblings. The Santa Fe's boxy shape was a deliberate choice to maximize storage capacity, and it succeeded in turning heads with its upscale and aerodynamic design. The exterior palette included sophisticated colours and anodized-finish badging, while the XRT trim added dark chrome and black cladding for a rugged touch. Inside, the Santa Fe offered premium styling, with the XRT and Ultimate Calligraphy trims showcasing a blend of soft and decadent materials. The interior was thoughtfully designed, with a focus on comfort and elegance, making it a standout in its class.

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 an optional 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, while the 1.3-litre engine could be paired with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Trailblazer Activ model, equipped with the 1.3-litre engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, delivered a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. However, the transmission's lack of refinement was noticeable, with occasional rough shifts. The Activ model's dampers, tuned for gravel roads, provided a comfortable ride on pavement, though some bouncing was observed over road imperfections. The selectable AWD system required manual engagement, unlike competitors' automatic systems, and the drive modes offered limited differentiation in performance.

In Canada, the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe flipped the script by making the hybrid powertrain the entry-level option, with a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine producing an estimated 231 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain featured a six-speed automatic transmission, while other models came with a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, delivering 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe offered Normal, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with Sport mode enhancing throttle response and steering. The XRT trim added off-road modes and settings, making it capable of handling remote campsites. The Santa Fe's fuel economy varied by powertrain, with the hybrid achieving impressive efficiency, while the gas powertrain consumed more fuel. The XRT trim's increased ground clearance and robust tires contributed to its off-road capability, while the Ultimate Calligraphy trim delivered smooth and stable performance on the road.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs on the market, 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 its Buick Encore GX sibling. However, the rear seats' flat cushions made long journeys less comfortable. The Trailblazer provided 716 litres of cargo space with the second-row seats in place and 1,540 litres with them folded, though it fell short of the Kia Seltos in this regard. The Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 454 kilograms, and its interior storage solutions, while creative, had some limitations.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its longer wheelbase and body, prioritized cargo space, inspired by the "chabak" concept of car camping. The cargo area featured an extra-wide tailgate and ample storage, making it ideal for outdoor adventures. While the third row was snug, the first and second rows offered spacious and comfortable seating. The Santa Fe's interior materials varied by trim, with options ranging from stain-resistant cloth to plush quilted Nappa leather. Heated front seats were standard, with higher trims adding ventilation. The cargo area provided 413 litres of space, expanding to 1,148 and 2,267 litres with the third and second rows folded, respectively. The Santa Fe also featured innovative touches like a UV sanitization compartment in the glovebox.

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 relatively small, and a fully digital instrument cluster was not offered. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive menus and easy-to-read graphics.

The 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a curved panoramic display that elegantly integrated digital real estate without being overwhelming. The touchscreen display was a highlight, offering intuitive controls, crisp graphics, and seamless phone pairing with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included a 12-speaker Bose stereo, dynamic voice recognition, and multiple USB ports. The Preferred trim featured a simpler 12.3-inch touchscreen, while higher trims added wireless charging and Hyundai's BlueLink system for vehicle access and information. The Ultimate Calligraphy and NHL Edition trims offered additional wireless chargers and advanced connectivity features.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with standard safety features such as 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 Hyundai Santa Fe had not yet been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Hyundai vehicles typically performed well in safety evaluations. The Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision-avoidance assist, blind-spot monitors, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims added advanced features like a 360-degree camera system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and remote automatic parking. The Santa Fe also introduced driver monitoring, combining infrared cameras and capacitive sensors to ensure driver alertness and safety.