Chevrolet Blazer vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and modern aesthetic, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. Its design incorporated styling cues reminiscent of road cars, featuring a low roofline and leaned-back pillars for a streamlined profile. The Blazer maintained the visual heft of an SUV with its tall ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with its blackout trim, vibrant Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, creating a striking presence for a mainstream crossover. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, and refreshed grille and LED headlight designs. These changes, along with new wheel designs and additional colour options, kept the Blazer's styling fresh. Inside, the Blazer's sportier aesthetic was evident with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro. The RS model featured enhanced interior details, such as blue trim and a two-tone upholstery scheme, showcasing impressive material quality.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered a conservative yet familiar design, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4. This approach resulted in a larger RAV4-like appearance, accommodating up to eight passengers and providing ample cargo space. The Grand Highlander's interior prioritized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces were present, the controls were logically arranged with matte black surfaces and clear iconography. The climate system was user-friendly, featuring large knobs for temperature adjustments. However, the infotainment interface had a small volume knob and lacked a tuning knob. The Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max, with its Storm Cloud paint and upscale interior, offered a comfortable and functional cabin, despite some design quirks.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer retained its powertrain options from the previous year, featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque as standard on the base LT model. A 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, was optional on the LT and standard on other trims. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard in Canada. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS test car was primarily driven in AWD mode to manage the engine's power effectively. The Blazer exhibited quick acceleration and a sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. Its weight and design impacted handling, but it offered a pleasant highway experience with Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for its class, but its off-road capabilities were limited.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max emphasized performance with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 horsepower. This setup provided swift acceleration, aided by two electric motors and a traditional six-speed automatic transmission. The Hybrid Max traded some fuel efficiency for power, achieving 8.8 L/100 km combined, compared to the regular hybrid's 7.0 L/100 km. It offered a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms, surpassing the regular hybrid by 681 kilograms. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city-highway route and 10.1 L/100 km on mountainous terrain. The powertrain delivered confident acceleration, with electric motors mitigating turbo lag. The Grand Highlander provided a soft, comfortable ride, though road undulations could cause some movement. Handling was secure but limited, with early tire squeal and understeer in curves. Visibility was excellent, aided by available camera systems, though the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious feel from the driver's seat without being cumbersome to maneuver. It provided nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport, though rear-seat headroom was slightly below average. The Blazer offered 864 litres of cargo space with rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, trailing competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite this, the Blazer's design allowed for easy parking and a clear view from the windshield. Interior features included strategically placed USB ports and innovative air vent controls. A heated steering wheel was standard on the RS trim but unavailable on lower models, an unusual choice for the Canadian market.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space, offering comfortable seating across three rows and over 2,700 litres of maximum cargo capacity. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, adding a touch of luxury. Front and second-row seats were heated and ventilated, providing comfort and support. However, the rear doors' design posed challenges for child seat installation and risked dents in neighbouring vehicles. The test vehicle's second-row captain's chairs allowed for easy third-row access. The Grand Highlander's third-row seats were comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample space between the headrest and rear liftgate. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded and 2,761 litres with the second row down, making it suitable for family trips.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades for 2023, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, while all models offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The RS and Premier trims also included built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive menus, though a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been beneficial. The Blazer's tech presentation was competitive, with a large touchscreen and optional digital instrument cluster display.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, complemented by a 7-inch digital driver display in XLE trim and a 12.3-inch panel in Limited and Platinum trims. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services offered features like collision notification, SOS emergency response, and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, though the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were minor drawbacks. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the user experience. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and surround-view camera system, with the JBL audio system delivering impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered a comprehensive array of safety features, though not all were standard. The Chevy Safety Assist Package included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and Teen Driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was newly available on all trims for 2023. Optional features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, a 360-degree camera system, and a Safety Alert vibrating driver seat. The Blazer received high safety ratings, with the IIHS awarding it "Good" ratings in crash tests and "Superior" and "Advanced" ratings for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features and driver assistance technologies. Standard features included lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control, though hands-free operation was not available. Proactive Driving Assist was also standard, though it could be intrusive in certain situations. The Grand Highlander's safety tech operated accurately, with minor issues in lane keep assist on highway curves. The camera system's frequent screen takeover was noted as a minor annoyance. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and small overlap frontal-impact protection.