2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact yet robust SUV, reminiscent of a smaller 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 cues, with the Activ embracing a rugged aesthetic through features like a faux skid plate and roof rails, while the RS leaned towards a sportier look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive touch, particularly in the Activ model, which combined a white roof with Nitro Yellow paint for a retro vibe. Inside, the Trailblazer's cabin featured a mix of leatherette upholstery and copper-toned accents, providing a unique personality despite its predominantly black interior.

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its familiar design, with the Wilderness trim receiving a refreshed front fascia and LED fog lights. The Premier XT trim, in particular, showcased a tasteful blend of dark grey cladding and Autumn Green Metallic paint, offering an appealing alternative to more conventional colours. The Outback's exterior varied across trims, with chrome accents on the Premier XT and different wheel designs, including matte black for the Wilderness trim. Inside, the top-trim model impressed with Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, elevating the Outback's interior to a level of luxury not typically associated with Subaru. The Outback's interior materials varied by trim, with StarTex synthetic leather on the Wilderness and Onyx trims, and standard leather on the Limited trims.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, offering a standard 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. An optional 1.3-litre turbo-three 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 featured AWD, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the 1.3-litre engine, providing a more pleasant driving experience compared to its Buick counterpart. The Trailblazer's performance was characterized by decent acceleration and a pleasing exhaust note, although the nine-speed automatic exhibited some rough shifts. The Activ model's dampers, tuned for gravel roads, contributed to a composed and nimble ride, despite some body roll and occasional bouncing over road imperfections. The Trailblazer's selectable AWD system required manual engagement, unlike competitors with automatic systems, and offered Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, true to Subaru's tradition, was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine. The base engine was a 2.5-litre flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, while the XT trims, including the Wilderness, featured a 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. The turbo engine significantly improved the Outback's performance, especially in the Premier XT test car, where it managed the vehicle's weight effectively. The Lineartronic CVT mimicked the feel of eight distinct gears, enhancing the driving experience. The Outback's steering and braking were adequate, with a focus on comfort rather than sportiness. The base Outback offered 22 cm of ground clearance, while the Wilderness trim increased it to 24.1 cm, along with all-terrain tires and an advanced X-Mode for off-road adventures.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs available, offered a substantial presence. It was wider and taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a longer wheelbase that improved passenger space. The Trailblazer provided decent utility compared to its rivals, matching the Kia Seltos in headroom and offering more rear legroom than the Hyundai Kona and Buick Encore GX. However, the rear seats' flat cushions made long journeys less comfortable. The Trailblazer's cargo space measured 716 litres with the rear seats up and 1,540 litres with them folded, respectable figures for the segment but behind the Kia Seltos. The Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 454 kg. Up front, the Trailblazer featured clever storage solutions, including a covered bin, deep tray, and cupholders, although the dashboard's small carve-out seemed impractical.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleek design, did not compromise on interior space. It offered more front headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and more front-row legroom than both. The Outback's cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded, surpassing the RAV4 when the rear seats were down. The Outback's feature availability was impressive, with dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel standard on most trims. The Premier XT trim added ventilated front seats and a powered front passenger seat. The Outback's hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were standard from the Touring trim, and the raised roof rails with retractable cross bars added practicality.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a Bose audio system, and wireless phone charging. While the Trailblazer's tech offerings were adequate for most buyers, the optional touchscreen was relatively small by modern standards, and a fully digital instrument cluster was unavailable. 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 Subaru Outback featured a larger 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen on all but the base trim, which retained a dual-7-inch-screen system. The Subaru Starlink multimedia platform, while dated in appearance, offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, with wireless capability starting from the Touring trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Bluetooth and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Outback's technology offerings were comprehensive, with a focus on practicality and user-friendliness.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer boasted a range 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 earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and high marks for front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA awarded the Trailblazer a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover testing.

The 2024 Subaru Outback received a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS, a step down from the previous year's Top Safety Pick+ designation. The NHTSA awarded both the 2023 and 2024 models five stars overall. The Outback's safety features included the EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, with adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist standard. The Touring trim added reverse automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premier XT trim featured a digital rearview mirror and a driver-attention monitor. A wide-angle camera improved detection of cyclists and pedestrians.