2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. This shift was evident in the refreshed front end, which replaced the previous grille with a more traditional look, featuring the Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar. Despite its sleek design, the Escape maintained a compact stature, being one of the smallest vehicles in Ford's SUV lineup. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, boasted 19-inch wheels and body-colour mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape's diamond-stitched leather upholstery looked appealing but felt somewhat hard and plasticky. The seats, however, were comfortable and supportive, making long drives pleasant. The interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt cost-cutting, though the centre console's textured appearance was a nice touch.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer stood out with its aggressive styling and sharp body creases, reminiscent of the sporty Camaro. The 2024 model year saw a minor refresh that accentuated its sporty theme, with thinner accent lights and a reshaped grille for a more athletic look. Inside, the Trailblazer received a modern makeover with a digital instrument panel and an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen. While the materials on the doors and dash looked decent, they were made from harder plastic, common in non-luxury subcompact SUVs. The Trailblazer's interior layout was similar to the Volkswagen Taos, with a cohesive design, though it lacked the luxury feel of the Mazda CX-30. Despite some shortcomings, the Trailblazer's interior was inviting, with padded armrests and fabric inserts in the door panels.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque. This engine could be paired with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, providing competitive performance within its segment. Higher trims like the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite featured a more powerful 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. Despite its impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters for manual gear changes. The brakes offered predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness seen in some competitors.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with two powertrain options. The base model featured a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. The Activ-trim test vehicle had a more powerful 1.3-litre turbocharged engine, producing 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive. Despite the increased power, the Trailblazer's performance was not impressive, with slow acceleration and transmission response. The Trailblazer's handling was average, prioritizing comfort over sporty driving. It smoothed over road imperfections well, with muted road and wind noise at highway speeds. Compared to rivals, the Trailblazer's performance was on par with the Volkswagen Taos but lagged behind the more athletic Mazda CX-30.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided a comfortable driving experience with supportive seats and excellent ergonomics. The steering wheel felt good to hold, and the armrests were well-positioned. The Escape's cargo space was slightly below segment leaders, offering up to 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with the seats folded. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom and softly padded front-seat backs, though rear-seat legroom was slightly less than some competitors.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered ample front space and excellent outward visibility. The wireless charging pad, cupholders, and storage pockets provided convenient storage options. The front seats were firmly padded, with heated seats and a heated steering wheel standard on most trims. The rear seats accommodated adult passengers comfortably, with sufficient legroom and headroom. The Trailblazer's cargo space was generous, with up to 716 litres behind the rear seats, nearly matching the Hyundai Kona. The available hands-free power liftgate added convenience for loading and unloading.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured the Sync 4 infotainment system, with an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A wi-fi hotspot was available with a subscription, and the audio system could be upgraded to a Bang & Olufsen setup. While Sync 4 was intuitive, it had minor responsiveness issues, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer boasted an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen standard on all trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, complemented by an optional wireless charging pad. Satellite radio was standard, though a native navigation system was absent. The digital instrument panel was easy to read, and the base audio system performed well, with an optional Bose upgrade available. While the Trailblazer's technology was average for its class, it was user-friendly and effective.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. The IIHS rated it "Good" in most tests but gave a "Marginal" score in the updated side-impact test. The Escape came standard with Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer also earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores from the IIHS. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The optional Confidence package added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was available on certain trims. While the Trailblazer's safety features were effective, some rivals offered more standard equipment.