2021 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Ford generated significant anticipation for the Bronco's return, and the 2021 Bronco Sport fed into that excitement as its smaller, more city-friendly sibling. The Bronco Sport, while a compact crossover with a unibody frame, faithfully echoed the rugged charm of its larger counterpart by integrating retro-modern design cues reminiscent of the original 1966-1996 Bronco. The Bronco Sport's aesthetics struck a balance between rugged and refined, making it a great fit for urban driving and weekend adventures alike.

The front overhang was purposefully short to provide an optimum approach angle necessary for off-road driving. Similarly, the rear overhang was minimized to enhance trail performance. With tall fender wells and streamlined body sides, the design minimized potential catch-points for brush and obstacles. The front facade and rear elevation borrowed heavily from the larger Bronco, with bold "BRONCO" lettering dominating the grille and tailgate, accentuated by a modest Ford badge.

Wheel design also played a crucial role in both the aesthetic and functional aspects of the Bronco Sport. Base models came equipped with 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels, while the Big Bend model elevated the look with 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted high-gloss aluminum wheels. The Outer Banks model featured 18-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels, and the Badlands model had similar wheels paired with 28.5-inch all-terrain tires. The First Edition's 17-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels and 29-inch all-terrain tires capped off the Bronco Sport's impressive wheel offerings.

The interior design emphasized a rugged, uncluttered aesthetic, with practical open storage compartments and an 8-inch infotainment screen ideally placed atop the center stack. The rotary gear selector and dual cupholders in the center console were practical touches, and the center stack's storage cubbies were handy for easy access to essentials. Interior materials ranged upscale from cloth to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, and Navy Pier Leather power front seats on the First Edition. Available options included rubberized cargo flooring for durability, especially useful for adventurous outings.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer adopted an entirely different approach to its aesthetic. Unlike the traditional dowdy and utilitarian look of Chevy’s SUVs, the Blazer was designed to evoke excitement. Its aggressive, Lamborghini Urus-inspired styling, characterized by its wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, 20-inch sawblade wheels, and angry front end, ensured it stood out. The wavy textured tall black grille and thin lights added to its daring design. The Blazer's overall design focus was on looking good from every angle, akin to an upsized Range Rover Evoque.

Chevy's customization options for the Blazer further enhanced its appeal. Different grille designs helped distinguish various trims (L, LT, RS, Premier) with the Redline package standing out thanks to its polished black wheels with red dashes, black door handles, and black mirrors with red accents. The Midnight and Sport editions offered some of the Redline's flair at a lower cost. The bright color palette included Cayenne Orange and Cherry Red, with 20-inch wheels as a preferred choice and an option for 21-inch wheels on the Premier trim.

However, the Blazer's interior, while spacious and designed for comfort, was a letdown in material quality. The dark, featureless cabin was filled with downmarket plastics and an undersized central screen, failing to meet the expectations set by its exterior. The contrast with competitors like the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, Nissan Murano Premium, and Toyota Venza Limited, which offered more upscale interiors at a similar price point, was stark.

Ford offered two engine choices for the 2021 Bronco Sport, catering to different trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. On the other hand, the Badlands and First Edition trims came equipped with a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All Bronco Sport models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), paired with a terrain management system providing up to seven G.O.A.T. (Go Over Any Type of Terrain) modes.

The Bronco Sport's off-road performance was commendable. Its short wheelbase of 105.1 inches and four-wheel independent suspension with MacPherson struts at the front and a double lateral link rear, along with stabilizer bars, facilitated a smooth, drama-free traverse over rough terrains. Generous suspension travel (7.4 inches front, 8.1 inches rear) and ground clearance ranging from 7.8 to 8.8 inches, based on tire and wheel size, contributed to its off-road prowess. On-road performance was equally impressive, although the 1.5-liter engine sometimes felt strained under hard acceleration.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer provided three engine options and the choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), all paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base 2.5-liter inline-four engine, found in the L and 1LT trims, produced 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque but was widely regarded as underwhelming. For a Blazer with more notable performance, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was a better option, offering 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque and available in 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims.

The top-performing 3.6-liter V6 engine, exclusive to the RS trim and optional on others, delivered a robust 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. It transformed the Blazer RS into a surprisingly dynamic vehicle with a sport-tuned suspension, brakes, and steering that worked harmoniously. The RS also featured a torque-vectoring rear axle for optimal power distribution between wheels. However, the lack of automatic AWD engagement and the somewhat clunky manual mode on the transmission impacted the driving experience slightly. Despite these issues, the Blazer's performance was sprightly, with EPA fuel economy ratings averaging 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined for the AWD V6 drivetrain.

The Bronco Sport's interior design emphasized functionality to cater to active lifestyles. Its cargo space was ingeniously designed to accommodate two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, illustrating its appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. Ford offered over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories to support activities such as kayaking, surfing, skiing, and camping. The Bronco Sport's roof could hold up to 150 pounds, or 100 pounds if equipped with a moonroof, and it featured a towing capacity of 2,200 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine and 2,000 pounds with the 1.5-liter engine.

Additional touches like the rear glass that flipped up and the optional cargo management package with features like a slide-out work table, 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps highlighted Ford's thoughtful design. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, ideal for gadgets and tools. Despite some issues with outward visibility due to the roof overhang and hood bulges, the driving position was generally comfortable and practical.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, as a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. The lower-mounted seats facilitated easy entry and exit, though the Camaro-inspired low roof and poor sightlines, especially rearward, presented challenges. The side-view mirrors and optional rear-view mirror camera with a wide-angle display mitigated visibility issues to some extent. The 360-degree camera system further enhanced the driver's all-around view.

The Blazer’s cargo capacity was competitive, offering 64 cubic feet with the rear seat folded and approximately 30 cubic feet with the seats up, comparable to the Bronco Sport's cargo space. With the optional trailering package, AWD, and V6 engine, the Blazer could tow up to 4,500 pounds, whereas, without this configuration, it could tow 1,500 pounds. Interior features included movable rings around the front air vents that doubled as temperature dials, Chevy logo puddle lights for hands-free tailgate operation, and heated steering wheel and seats that could activate automatically based on the exterior temperature.

The Bronco Sport boasted Ford's latest infotainment systems, anchored by an 8-inch touchscreen with SYNC 3. It supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM, along with standard FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio configuration was a six-speaker AM/FM stereo, with an optional Bang & Olufsen sound system available on higher trims. For off-road adventures, a 360-degree camera with a washer was also available.

The Bronco Sport's terrain management system was key to its off-road capability, featuring up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, depending on the trim level. These modes adjusted steering, transmission, and throttle responses to match driving conditions. The trail control technology functioned similarly to cruise control, enabling steady, controlled speeds while off-roading.

Higher trims included additional tech features like a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel, enhancing the driving experience with intuitive tech.

Chevy equipped each Blazer with an 8-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, known for its simplicity and speed. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. The RS trim with the Driver Confidence II package added conveniences like wireless phone charging, a rear camera washer, LED headlights, 360-degree cameras, and adaptive cruise control.

Every trim level of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came equipped with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features. This comprehensive package included pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera.

The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane centering, evasive steering assist, touchscreen navigation, and road-sign recognition. Although these features did not equate to autonomous driving, they represented advanced driver assistance technologies. The Bronco Sport also included trailer sway control as part of an optional towing package and had AWD and terrain management systems for enhanced traction and stability.

Standard safety features included a driver’s knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking, utilizing radar and cameras for more accurate collision detection. However, the Blazer did not offer GM's inboard side airbag or rear emergency braking, limiting its suite of advanced safety features.