Toyota Land Cruiser vs Chevrolet Blazer

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 with slanted front and rear pillars, and a prominent grille flanked by stacked headlights. Despite its sleek profile, the Blazer maintained the visual heft of a traditional SUV, thanks to its elevated ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle, with its blackout trim, vibrant Red Hot paint, and newly designed 21-inch wheels, stood out as a striking option in the mainstream crossover segment.

For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with unique twisted, filament-like elements, and revised designs for the grille, LED headlights, and daytime running lights. These changes, while not drastic, refreshed the existing design. The addition of new wheel designs in 18-inch, 20-inch, and 21-inch sizes, along with new colour options like Sterling Gray Metallic, Copper Bronze Metallic, and Radiant Red Tintcoat, further enhanced its appeal. Inside, the Blazer's sportier aesthetic was evident, with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. The RS model featured blue trim, chrome accents, and a dark blue and black two-tone upholstery scheme, showcasing impressive material quality.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser retained its iconic boxy design, with a flat roof and heritage grille that paid homage to its predecessors. Available in two trims and two packages in Canada, each version featured details reminiscent of past Land Cruisers, such as the "TOYOTA" spelled out on the grille, round headlights on the First Edition, and rectangular headlights on other models. All lighting was LED, aligning with modern standards while maintaining a classic-inspired look. The higher trims offered colour-selectable fog lights from RIGID Industries, adding a contemporary twist.

Driver comfort was enhanced with a lowered beltline for improved visibility. All Land Cruisers came with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch wheels available in the Premium Package. The First Edition included additional off-road gear like a roof rack, front skid plate, and mudflaps. Inside, the base 1958 trim featured cloth seats, while higher trims offered SofTex or real leather with unique logos. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims, with a moonroof and ventilated front seats available on all but the base model. The cabin emphasized comfort with cushy seats, a padded centre console, and attractive contrast stitching, allowing drivers to focus on navigating challenging terrains without discomfort.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. The base LT model featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A 3.6-litre V6 engine, naturally aspirated, was optional on the LT and standard on other trims, offering 308 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (AWD) was standard in Canada. However, the AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors that automatically switched from front-wheel drive (FWD) to AWD as needed.

The V6-powered Blazer RS impressed with its quick acceleration and sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. Its weight and top-heavy design affected handling, but the Blazer remained a pleasant highway cruiser, thanks to Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 2,041-kilogram towing capacity was competitive for midsize SUVs, but its off-road capabilities were limited by its car-based design, low-hanging front bumper, and pavement-oriented suspension and tires.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser introduced a hybrid powertrain, departing from the V8 previously seen in the U.S. market. It featured Toyota's i-Force MAX hybrid system, combining a 2.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 1.87-kWh battery pack and a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive (4WD) with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case were standard. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on all but the base models, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo.

The Land Cruiser's off-road prowess was enhanced by standard rear- and centre-locking differentials, with a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar available on higher trims. The updated CRAWL control function, with five speed settings, allowed for precise low-speed navigation over challenging terrain. The system operated silently, improving the off-road experience. The Land Cruiser's transmission was unobtrusive, contributing to a smooth off-road drive.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious interior without the bulk of a three-row SUV. Front-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport, while rear-seat headroom was slightly below average but better than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Blazer provided 864 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite this, the Blazer felt spacious from the driver's seat, with short overhangs aiding maneuverability and an unobstructed windshield view enhancing the sense of space. Functional interior details, such as USB port placement and temperature controls integrated into air vents, added to its appeal.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser also featured two rows of seating, with no third-row option for North America. Front headroom measured 917 millimetres, with 897 mm in the rear, while legroom was 838 mm in the front and 678 mm in the rear. The centre console housed controls for off-road features, including the stabilizer-bar disconnect and differential lockers. The cargo area, with a raised load floor and rubber mat, offered 1,063 litres of space, with a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports available in higher trims. The Premium Package included a centre console cool box, adding convenience for long journeys.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, 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, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Bose audio system were standard on higher trims. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu layout, though a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with the Multi-Terrain Monitor (MTM) system, standard on trims above the base. The 12.3-inch centre touchscreen was invaluable on the off-road course, automatically activating at low speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base infotainment system featured an 8-inch display and six-speaker sound system, while higher trims offered a 10-speaker system or an optional 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. Additional features included a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror in the Premium Package and First Edition.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered the Chevy Safety Assist Package as standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Adaptive cruise control was newly available on all trims, with additional options like blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a five-star overall rating from the latter.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's safety reputation provided confidence. All models came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and more. Higher trims added lane-change assist and traffic jam assist.