2021 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse stood out as a modern throwback with its exterior styling defined by nuanced design details. Unlike other SUVs that depend on basic aesthetics, the Traverse used specific elements to set its various trim levels apart. The base model featured an 18-inch wheel, and higher trims boasted 20-inch wheels. The body style itself was the stereotypical SUV look: a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a prominent grille. While this design made it look cleaner and more handsome compared to the Toyota Highlander or Hyundai Palisade, it did not carry the same personality as the Ford Explorer or Kia Telluride.

The Traverse's restrained exterior translated into a conservative interior. Higher trim levels came with relatively good materials, though they seemed not justified by the car's almost $50,000 price tag. A standout interior feature was the optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof, which allowed sunlight to flood the first and second-row seats. Despite some shortcomings, the vehicle's design and material made it a notable player in the midsize three-row crossover segment.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer impressed the moment it was seen due to its stunning, aggressive exterior design. One couldn't help but associate its design cues with something far more luxurious, like the Lamborghini Urus. The wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, 20-inch sawblade wheels, and an aggressive front end with thin lights and a tall, textured grille all contribute to its standout appearance. This captivating design gave the Blazer an upmarket, stylish personality, likened to an upsized Range Rover Evoque.

Unfortunately, the interior of the Blazer did not live up to the high standards set by its exterior. It was mostly black unless paired with certain exterior colors that allowed for light gray or saddle tan leather on the Premier trim. The seating was basic and didn't offer much support, while low-grade plastic dominated the dash and doors. The central screen felt undersized, and the overall interior failed to justify the RS’s $48,000 as-tested price. Even fully loaded, the Premier trim felt dated compared to competitors, betraying the Blazer's sporty and upscale exterior image.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option—a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Although not exceptionally quick off the line, this engine delivered sufficient power for highway merges and overtaking. Combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the vehicle offered a fairly smooth driving experience marred only by occasional rough shifts. Its highway performance was especially commendable, thanks to quiet cabins and bump-absorbing suspension systems.

The Traverse's AWD system, engaged manually, reportedly offered the capacity to split torque between individual wheels, yet this feature didn’t translate to a noticeably superior driving experience. While the Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, and a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, competitors like the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer offered better towing capabilities.

In comparison, the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine choices: a base 2.5-liter inline-four engine with 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, a more acceptable 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine delivering 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and the strongly preferred 3.6-liter V6 on the RS trim with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The RS trim featured a sport-tuned suspension, and various performance upgrades made the Blazer much more engaging to drive.

However, transmission calibration issues limited the Blazer's sporty promises. In Sport mode, the transmission delays downshifting and lacks paddle shifters, which complicated manual mode operations. Despite these flaws, the RS trim's mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle, grip, steering responsiveness, and compliant dampers provided a driving experience that rivaled even more expensive brands.

Fuel economy for the Blazer’s V6 stood at 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the AWD turbo four-cylinder variant was more economical with 22/27/24 mpg figures.

The Traverse’s seating configuration allowed for seven or eight passengers, depending on the second-row layout. The vehicle provided above-average headroom and legroom across all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse was a winner when it came to cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all three rows up, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and an impressive 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. These figures significantly outpaced competitors.

In comparison, the Blazer, seating four comfortably in its two-row setup, offered a decent cargo capacity of 64 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 30 cubic feet with the seats up. While it didn’t have the cavernous capacity of the Traverse, the Blazer’s lower-mounted seats made it easier to get in and out of the vehicle. Equipped with the V6 and AWD, the Blazer could tow up to 4,500 pounds, whereas without those, it could manage only 1,500 pounds.

User-friendly controls like movable rings around the air vents for temperature adjustments and the hands-free power tailgate added to the Blazer's overall functional appeal.

The Traverse’s entry-level tech offered a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth. Higher trims had access to an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The analog controls for volume and climate were a welcome presence for many users. A rearview camera mirror and an HD surround-view camera system were highly useful additions, especially for maneuvering in tight spaces. Additionally, the Traverse included two USB ports per row on all trims, though wireless phone charging was reserved for the Premier and High Country trims.

The Blazer, in turn, dazzled with an 8-inch touchscreen running the latest Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The RS trim, equipped with the Driver Confidence II package, added features like wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control, a washer for the rear camera, LED headlights, and 360-degree cameras. The "Plus" version of the infotainment enhanced functionality with navigation, 4G Wi-Fi, better voice recognition, and the capacity to pair two phones simultaneously. Features like the GM cloud transfer, Marketplace app, and individual privacy settings added to the Blazer's tech appeal. Unique innovations like the Safety Alert Seat, which vibrates to warn the driver, offered practical and subtle safety notifications.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received excellent ratings from safety organizations. The IIHS awarded it top "Good" scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, its headlights received "Acceptable" and "Poor" ratings depending on the trim level. NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact crash tests. However, the Traverse offered fewer standard driver-assist features compared to its competitors, with key features like adaptive cruise control only available on the top-tier High Country trim.

The Blazer also scored high marks with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crash tests. However, its headlights were rated "Marginal" and "Poor." Standard on the Blazer were features like a driver's knee airbag and an enhanced forward emergency braking system using both radar and camera sensors. Unfortunately, it didn't include some features like the inboard side airbag or rear emergency braking.