2023 Subaru Outback vs 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

The 2023 Subaru Outback underwent a significant facelift, featuring a new front end with redesigned LED headlights, a restyled grille, and a revised bumper with dark gray vertical cladding. This design gave the Outback an aggressive appearance, further enhanced by a jutting simulated skid plate, oversized fog light housings, and asymmetrical wheel arch trim reminiscent of the Wilderness model. While these changes might not appeal to everyone, opting for a dark paint colour could help tone down the design's boldness. The Outback Onyx Edition, with its black wheels and trim, complemented the audacious cladding, offering a more cohesive look. The Limited trim, with its Cosmic Blue paint and Java Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery, provided an upscale and cohesive interior, despite the occasional dust and smudges on the large infotainment screen and gloss black trim.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV marked a dramatic evolution for the Blazer nameplate, transitioning from its truck-based off-roader roots to a car-based crossover and now to an EV-specific platform. Built around the General Motors Ultium component set, the Blazer EV shared a long wheelbase with the Cadillac Lyriq, giving it a stretched appearance. Its tall hood, scowling front end, and boomerang-shaped taillights added attitude, distinguishing it from aerodynamic rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. The Blazer EV launched in LT and RS trims, with the LT featuring a colour-coordinated front fascia and the RS sporting a blacked-out front fascia and exterior accents. The forthcoming Blazer EV SS promised unique styling elements and mechanical features, including a black roof and 22-inch wheels. Inside, the RS and SS models offered a distinctive interior with large round air vents and a flat-bottom steering wheel, creating a more engaging atmosphere than the plainer cabins of its competitors.

The 2023 Subaru Outback featured horizontally opposed engines, known for their flat design and characteristic grumble. The standard engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While the CVT made good use of the power at lower speeds, the Outback struggled with passing and climbing, and its fuel efficiency fell short of expectations. The Outback XT, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine delivering 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, offered more satisfying acceleration but at the cost of fuel efficiency. All Outback models came with a full-time all-wheel drive system and an X-Mode traction system for challenging terrain. The Outback excelled off-road, handling mud, ruts, and snowstorms with ease, while its excellent visibility and high stance made city driving and parking convenient.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain in the LT and RS trims. The RWD model delivered 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, while the AWD model offered 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque. The Blazer EV SS, with a dual-motor AWD powertrain producing 557 hp and 648 lb-ft of torque, promised exhilarating performance. The Blazer EV excelled on twisty roads with precise steering but sacrificed comfort due to its stiff suspension. The steering-wheel paddle allowed for adjustable regenerative braking, enhancing driver involvement. The Blazer EV's ride and handling trade-off provided a different driving experience compared to the luxury-oriented Cadillac Lyriq.

The 2023 Subaru Outback prioritized utility with features like a purposeful roof rack, flat door sill trim, and a dashboard storage shelf. The Limited trim offered a comfortable interior with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front and rear seats, and premium Nappa leather upholstery. The Outback's spacious cabin accommodated two adults and two teens comfortably, with ample legroom and storage options. The cargo area provided 923 litres of space with the back seat up and 2,141 litres with it folded down. The Outback's high ground clearance and easy entry and exit added to its practicality, though more storage space would have been welcome.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV's interior felt spacious, though headroom and legroom were similar to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. The Blazer EV lacked the commanding driving position of a traditional SUV, and its high side sills and deep dashboard created a unique feel. Cargo space measured 722 litres with the second row in place and 1,673 litres with the seats folded, offering more room than the EV6 but less than the gasoline Blazer. The Blazer EV featured a "presence activated" liftgate and ample small-item storage, though some controls were moved to the touchscreen, requiring adjustment.

The 2023 Subaru Outback, except for the Base trim, featured a Starlink 11.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate control. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, along with subscription-based Starlink connected services. While the system's usability improved, the graphics and voice recognition left room for improvement. Additional technologies included a camera-based digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree front-view camera, though a surround-view camera was unavailable.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV introduced a Google-based infotainment system with built-in Google apps, including Google Maps and Google Assistant. The system featured a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster with sharp graphics. While standalone Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were eliminated, the system offered built-in route planning and over-the-air software updates. The user experience was mostly positive, though the touchscreen's angle and placement of controls required adjustment. The Blazer EV also featured a hands-free start sequence, marking a shift towards a high-tech feel.

The 2023 Subaru Outback earned top safety marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), thanks to new EyeSight cameras and an electronic brake booster. The Base model included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Higher trims added features like Automatic Emergency Steering and a Wide-Angle Mono Camera for better pedestrian and cyclist detection. While the adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems were accurate, their operation felt artificial. The rear automatic braking system had compatibility issues with some driveways.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV's crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of publication. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, and more. The Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system was standard on SS and optional on RS, offering speed and lane-keeping capabilities with detailed maps and a driver-monitoring system.