2021 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar presented a balanced design, sitting comfortably between the sleek Evoque and the robust Range Rover. Its low roof and steeply-raked windshield gave it a unique profile, distinct from the traditional upright Range Rover. The Velar maintained an intimidating presence with its broad front end, while its short overhangs improved off-road capabilities. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sporty touches, including larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips, enhancing its aggressive look. Inside, the Velar offered a luxurious experience with high-quality leather and metal trim, creating a cockpit-like feel that was more suited to urban environments than rugged terrains.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer was a bold departure from Chevy's usual utilitarian designs, drawing comparisons to the Lamborghini Urus with its aggressive styling. The Blazer featured a wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, and a striking front end with thin lights and a tall, black grille. Its design was inspired by the Camaro, with a muscled body and chopped roof, aiming to make a memorable impression. The Blazer offered various customization options, including different grille designs and packages like the Redline and Midnight/Sport editions. However, the interior was less impressive, with a low-rent feel and unsupportive seats, falling short of competitors in terms of quality and design.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar saw a significant performance boost with the introduction of the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, featuring a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain allowed the Velar to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 177 mph. Despite its impressive speed, the Velar's performance was not as sharp as some competitors, and it felt large on tight roads. The Velar's lineup also included a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 247 hp and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 with up to 380 hp. Off-road capabilities were supported by Land Rover's Terrain Response system, although the Velar lacked a low range for serious off-roading.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine options, with the 3.6-liter V6 on the RS trim being the most desirable, delivering 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. This engine, combined with a sport-tuned suspension and mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle, provided a lively driving experience. However, the transmission calibration had issues, with slow responses and a convoluted manual mode. The Blazer's fuel economy was average, with the AWD V6 achieving 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. While the Blazer promised a sporty experience, it fell short due to transmission flaws, leaving room for improvement.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar occupied a unique position in terms of size, being larger than compact luxury SUVs but smaller than midsize ones. Despite its size, the Velar's interior space was not as generous as expected, with limited headroom and a cramped cockpit-like front seating area. Cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 48.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's towing capacity was respectable, with the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition and V6 models capable of towing up to 5,511 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, as a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. Its low roof height did not compromise interior space, and the seats were mounted lower for easy entry and exit. However, visibility was a challenge due to poor sightlines, mitigated by large side-view mirrors and optional rear-view mirror camera. The Blazer offered 64 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded, and a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds with the right configuration. The Blazer's controls were user-friendly, with features like movable rings around air vents and a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with dual 10.0-inch touchscreens, offering a built-in WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The upper screen handled smartphone and media functions, while the lower screen managed vehicle settings and climate control. Despite high-quality graphics, the system was criticized for slow responses. Additional tech included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen running Chevrolet Infotainment 3, known for its simplicity and speed. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with options for navigation, 4G WiFi, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The Blazer's tech package included wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control, and the Safety Alert Seat. Unique features like GM's cloud account for transferring settings and the Marketplace app for contactless payments added to its appeal. However, some driver assists were only available on higher trims.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, as low-volume luxury vehicles were not prioritized for crash testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and parking aids. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring were available as options. Land Rover's driver-assist offerings were less sophisticated compared to competitors, with only basic lane-keep assist available.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer received an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for headlights. Standard safety features included a driver's knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking. However, the Blazer lacked rear emergency braking and GM's inboard side airbag. The enhanced forward emergency braking used radar for improved accuracy, but was only available on top trims.