2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, inspired by the larger Blazer midsize crossover SUV, was a stylish subcompact vehicle. It featured dark gray plastic trim around its lower perimeter, reminiscent of traditional SUV cues, and borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul, such as stacked triple front lights and two-tone paint schemes. The Activ trim of our test vehicle added a rugged appearance with front and rear skid plate trim, unique 17-inch aluminum wheels, sport terrain tires, a larger grille, and standard two-tone paint. The interior design was commendable, with a well-thought-out control layout, useful storage, and attractive detailing, although the presence of hard shiny plastic was a drawback at higher price points.

The 2021 Ford Escape, in its fourth generation, straddled the line between SUV and hatchback with its curved snout and sleek roofline, giving it a less truck-like appearance compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package, which added features like 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery, and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with odd choices like an angular instrument cluster and low-quality materials, even in the top Titanium model.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with two engine options. The base engine was a turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. The more powerful option was a turbocharged 1.3-liter 3-cylinder engine delivering 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, available with all-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Activ AWD model's powertrain was agreeable, with torque kicking in at a low 1,600 rpm and available up to 4,000 rpm. The 9-speed automatic provided smooth gear changes, and Sport mode enhanced responsiveness. However, the Trailblazer struggled with speed on tight curves and uphill sections. It averaged 26.6 mpg in fuel economy, slightly below the EPA rating of 28 mpg. The driving dynamics had quirks, such as transmission hesitation in Normal mode and disconnected on-center steering feel. The suspension impact harshness was notable, especially over sharp bumps, and the Trailblazer was loud inside.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder from Ford's EcoBoost range, producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The upgraded EcoBoost 2.0-liter turbo-four engine delivered 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, available only with all-wheel drive. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a total of 200 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery pack allowed for significant electric-only driving. The Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive. The 2.0-liter, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models could be equipped with a Class 2 Trailer Tow Package, with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds for the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer's interior had its pros and cons. Cloth seats were only available in the L and LS trims, limiting options for those who preferred this material. The leatherette seats in the Activ trim were comfortable but tended to trap sweat, and the automatic climate control struggled to keep the cabin cool. The front seats offered good support, but the rear seats were less comfortable, with a flat cushion and an oddly reclined backrest. The lack of rear air conditioning vents added to the discomfort. On the positive side, the rear seats folded down to create a flat cargo floor, expanding the cargo space from 25.3 cubic feet to 54.4 cubic feet. The front passenger seat also folded down, providing 8.5 feet of cargo-toting length.

The 2021 Ford Escape compared well against more traditionally-styled compact SUVs in terms of interior space. It offered near-top-of-the-segment headroom and legroom in both the first and second rows. The standard sliding rear seat could be moved to expand legroom or cargo space, with 40.7 inches of rear legroom in non-hybrid models. However, the battery pack placement in hybrid and plug-in hybrid models reduced legroom. The gasoline Escape had 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the rear seat forward. Folding the rear seat provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space, with 30.7 cubic feet with the rear seat up and 60.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered two infotainment systems. The base system featured a 7-inch touchscreen, simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two smartphones, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Teen Driver technology, and Chevrolet Connected Access services with a WiFi hotspot. The upgraded system, available in the Activ and RS trims, included an 8-inch display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and cloud-connected vehicle personalization functions. The Trailblazer also offered USB-A and USB-C charging ports, wireless smartphone charging, and a 7-speaker Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a simple interface and physical controls for power, volume, tuning, and navigation.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with the base Escape S model featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the Escape SE added an 8-inch touchscreen with pinch-and-zoom capability and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Escape Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was easy to use, the Escape lacked some standard tech features compared to competitors and missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with the newer Sync 4 system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer came loaded with standard safety features, including 10 airbags and Chevy Safety Assist, which encompassed forward-collision alert with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a safe following distance indicator. Additional features included a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, and a subscription-based automatic collision notification service. Depending on the trim level, buyers could opt for a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assistance, a high-definition reversing camera, and adaptive cruise control. However, the forward collision warning system occasionally gave false alerts, and the adaptive cruise control was both over- and under-reactive. The lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist system were inconsistent. At the time of review, crash-test ratings were not available.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. It also earned high marks for front-crash prevention technology but received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings for headlights, depending on the trim level. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Escape a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.