Chevrolet Trailblazer vs Cadillac LYRIQ

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ was a striking presence on the road, with its sleek exterior styling that resembled a long sedan more than a traditional SUV. Its design drew inspiration from the classic Seville, featuring a long wheelbase, short tail, and wide track. The vertical light bars and LED headlights added a modern touch, creating a captivating light show upon unlocking. The grille varied across trims, with the Sport trim offering a more subdued look. The interior was meticulously crafted, with leather-wrapped seats, polished controls, and a unique steering wheel design. However, the floating centre console was less practical, offering limited space beneath the cupholders.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer showcased a more aggressive and sporty design, reminiscent of the Camaro. The refreshed styling for 2024 included thinner accent lights and a reshaped grille, enhancing its athletic appearance. Inside, the Trailblazer featured a modern dashboard with a larger 11-inch touchscreen, though the digital instrument panel left some room for improvement. The materials used were typical for its class, with harder plastics but adequately padded touchpoints. The Trailblazer's interior layout was similar to the Volkswagen Taos, offering a cohesive design, while the Mazda CX-30 provided a more luxurious feel.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ offered a smooth and comfortable highway ride, with its dual-motor powertrain delivering 500 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Despite its impressive power, the LYRIQ prioritized comfort over sportiness, with softer acceleration and regenerative braking. The standard setup included a single rear motor with 340 hp and 325 lb-ft. The 102-kilowatt-hour battery provided a range of up to 505 kilometres with rear-wheel drive, though real-world conditions saw closer to 420 kilometres. Charging was efficient, with the battery reaching 80 percent in about 30 to 35 minutes. However, the LYRIQ's handling was hindered by its weight, resulting in understeer and uninspiring steering feel.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered two powertrain options, with the base 1.2-litre engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The Activ-trim featured a more powerful 1.3-litre engine with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While adequate for daily driving, the Trailblazer's acceleration was sluggish, taking over nine seconds to reach 100 km/h. Handling was average, with a focus on comfort rather than performance. The Trailblazer smoothed over road imperfections and kept road noise to a minimum, providing a pleasant driving experience.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ faced some challenges in terms of build quality and functionality. Misaligned rear fenders and a problematic charging port were notable issues. The floating console offered limited storage space, and the glovebox was inconvenient to access while driving. Despite these drawbacks, the LYRIQ provided generous headroom and legroom, with a spacious back seat. However, its cargo space was smaller than most compact SUVs, offering 793 litres behind the seats and 1,722 litres when folded.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer excelled in interior space and practicality. The front seats were comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom for rear passengers. The Trailblazer's cargo space was impressive, with 716 litres available behind the rear seats. The interior featured convenient storage solutions, including a wireless charging pad, cupholders, and a deep bin under the armrest. The panoramic sunroof added to the sense of spaciousness, making the Trailblazer a practical choice for families.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ boasted a 33-inch OLED screen with three sections, offering touch-enabled controls and a large, legible instrument cluster. The infotainment system featured native Google Maps and Google Assistant, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The Super Cruise system provided excellent hands-free driving capabilities, while the 19-speaker AKG stereo delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer featured an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen standard across all trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's response time was slightly delayed, but the display was well-placed for easy access. The Trailblazer lacked a native navigation system, relying on smartphone connectivity for directions. The base audio system was adequate, with an optional Bose upgrade available for enhanced sound quality.

The 2024 Cadillac LYRIQ came equipped with standard safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system. However, the LYRIQ received a poor rating for its headlights from the IIHS and an acceptable mark for its front pedestrian collision avoidance system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer received high safety ratings, with five stars 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 a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert. The Trailblazer's safety features performed reliably, though a head-up display would have been a welcome addition.