2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2021 Ford Explorer was a testament to Ford's consistent design philosophy, echoing a family resemblance across its SUV lineup. With its sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive squinting visages, the Explorer stood out among other brands' SUVs. The exterior design varied with trim levels, offering options from a black grille to a full chrome grille, enhancing its visual appeal as one moved up the trim ladder. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard, with the base model featuring cloth upholstery. The interior was practical, with a clean dashboard, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, and a spacious center console. The XLT trim was particularly popular, offering better equipment and finishes, while higher trims like the Limited and ST provided leather upholstery and more luxurious features.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Blazer was a bold statement in exterior styling, drawing comparisons to high-end models like the Lamborghini Urus. Its aggressive design featured a wedgy profile, slim-cut windows, and a striking front end with thin lights and a tall, black grille. The Blazer's design was further enhanced by various trim-specific grille designs and customization options, including the Redline package with polished black wheels and red accents. However, the interior did not match the exterior's flair, with a predominantly dark cabin and materials that felt below par for its price range. Despite this, the Blazer offered practical features like large side-view mirrors and a rear-view mirror camera to improve visibility, compensating for its poor sightlines.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided a competitive edge over some rivals like the Kia Telluride. The Explorer Limited Hybrid increased power to 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, while higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering up to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque in the sport-oriented ST trim. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, capable of towing between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer offered three engine options, all paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base 2.5-liter inline-four engine, with 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, was underpowered and best avoided. The 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, standard on the 2LT, 3LT, and Premier trims, provided 227 hp and 258 lb-ft, while the preferred 3.6-liter V6 on the RS trim delivered 308 hp and 270 lb-ft. The RS trim also featured a sport-tuned suspension and a mechanical torque-vectoring rear axle, enhancing its driving dynamics. However, the transmission's slow response and lack of paddle shifters detracted from the overall sporty experience. The Blazer's fuel economy was average, with the AWD V6 achieving 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of second-row legroom, slightly behind the Chevrolet Blazer but ahead of some competitors. The Explorer boasted 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed and 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though this was less than some rivals.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer, a two-row SUV, comfortably seated four passengers. Its low roof height did not compromise interior space, thanks to seats mounted lower into the floor. However, sightlines were poor, mitigated by large side-view mirrors and optional rear-view mirror cameras. The Blazer offered 64 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat folded and 30 cubic feet when raised. It could tow up to 4,500 pounds with the right configuration, making it competitive in its class. The Blazer featured practical controls, like movable rings around the air vents for temperature adjustment, and a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Explorer provided multiple charging options, including USB ports and 12-volt power points, with a wireless charging pad available from the Limited trim upwards.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Chevrolet Infotainment 3, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The RS trim, with the Driver Confidence II package, added wireless phone charging, LED headlights, and adaptive cruise control. The infotainment system included a "Plus" version with navigation, 4G WiFi, and onboard apps. Unique GM features included cloud account settings transfer and contactless payments via the Marketplace app. Standard driver assists on most trims included forward automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. It offered the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features as standard, including blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2021 Chevrolet Blazer received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" ratings from the IIHS in crash tests. However, it received lower ratings for headlights. Standard safety features included a driver's knee airbag and enhanced forward emergency braking on top trims. The Blazer lacked some advanced features like rear emergency braking and GM's inboard side airbag.