2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact yet stylish SUV, reminiscent of a smaller Chevrolet Blazer. It managed to balance SUV ruggedness with a refined appearance, thanks to intricate lighting elements and dark chrome trim. 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 boasted a sportier look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive touch, making the Trailblazer stand out among subcompact crossovers. Inside, the Activ model's interior combined leatherette upholstery with copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim, creating a unique yet somewhat eclectic cabin atmosphere.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims, offered a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias and a range of vibrant colours. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appearance, featured a black metallic mesh grille and 20-inch dark wheels. Inside, the Sienna provided a spacious and practical environment, with features like a heated leather-trimmed steering wheel and leatherette-trimmed sport seats. The second-row captain's chairs added comfort, although they couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a fixed centre console and easy-to-reach controls, making it a practical choice for families.

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 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The 1.2-litre engine was available only with front-wheel drive, while the 1.3-litre engine offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. The Trailblazer's AWD models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, while FWD models used a continuously variable transmission. The Activ model, equipped with AWD and the 1.3-litre engine, provided a decent driving experience, although the nine-speed automatic exhibited some rough shifts. The Trailblazer's ride quality was generally good, with dampers tuned for gravel roads, but it did experience some body roll and bouncing over road imperfections.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, a hybrid minivan, combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While the Sienna offered a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode, it wasn't known for its performance. The minivan felt sluggish off the line, and the continuously variable transmission contributed to a smooth but slow acceleration. Around town, the Sienna provided a pleasant driving experience, with light and accurate steering and excellent visibility. However, the brakes could be a bit grabby, and the minivan's performance paled in comparison to competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival, which offered more powerful V6 engines.

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 improved passenger space. The Trailblazer provided generous headroom in both front and rear seats, although legroom was average. The rear seats were comfortable for short trips, but the flat cushions made long journeys less appealing. Cargo space was respectable, with 716 litres available with the second-row seats in place and 1,540 litres with them folded. However, the Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 454 kilograms. Up front, the Trailblazer featured clever storage solutions, including a covered storage bin and a deep tray, although the small dashboard carve-out's purpose remained unclear.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, multiple cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox with a wireless charging pad. The second-row captain's chairs could slide fore and aft, providing ample legroom, although the slide function was somewhat complicated. The third-row seats offered good legroom and could tilt for added comfort. The Sienna's tri-zone climate control ensured comfort for all passengers, and the rear liftgate revealed 949 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,860 litres with the second and third rows folded. However, the inability to remove the second-row seats limited maximum cargo capacity compared to other minivans.

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. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging. While the optional touchscreen was relatively small, it provided clear graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information, with smart design touches like a person-shaped icon for pedestrian detection.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota's older infotainment technology, with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing for a 2024 model. The Sienna offered available SiriusXM satellite radio, a 12-speaker JBL stereo system, and an optional rear-camera mirror. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available for the second row and rear cargo area. However, the outlets required activation via a button near the driver's seat.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer boasted a comprehensive suite 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 received top safety ratings, earning a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, offering lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna's adaptive cruise control performed well, although lane-keeping assist exhibited some side-to-side movement. The minivan featured numerous airbags, including side curtain airbags for all three rows, and reminders for rear passengers and cargo. The Sienna received high safety ratings, with a four-star frontal crash and rollover protection rating from the NHTSA and a top "Good" score from the IIHS.