2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Volvo XC90

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The brand maintained its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale, nearing the luxury class. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company developed new vehicle platforms from scratch, leading to today's lineup of sedans and crossover SUVs. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015, and the current model, introduced in 2016, became Volvo's flagship SUV, riding on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and profile, with a body seemingly tilted forward, ready to launch. Its long, sleek roofline contained a large greenhouse without appearing bulky. Pronounced wheel arches and a snub nose added to its athletic look, while superior fit and finish conveyed quality. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, with exquisite details like a sliding wood tambor cover and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a "tailored wool blend" upholstery, with the latter being a sustainable option.

Chevrolet took a different approach with the 2023 Blazer, opting for styling cues more akin to road cars. The Blazer featured a low roofline with leaned-back pillars for a sleek profile and a big grille framed by stacked headlights. Despite its road car aesthetics, the Blazer maintained the visual weight of an SUV with its tall ride height and body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it remarkably striking for a mainstream crossover.

The Blazer received minor styling updates for 2023, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, tweaked grille and LED headlight designs, and new wheel designs. The interior had a sportier aesthetic, with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. Cloth seats were standard, with leather upholstery available on higher trims. The Blazer RS featured blue trim, chrome accents, and a dark blue and black two-tone scheme, impressing with its material quality.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains. The T5 model used a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model had a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 model featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque from gasoline and electric sources. The T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90 engines required Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimated T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while T5 AWD models achieved 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant achieved a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to full took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2).

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over powertrain options from the previous year. Most models had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V6 was standard on the Blazer RS and optional on the 3LT and Premier trims, delivering 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD and optional AWD. AWD models defaulted to FWD, requiring manual engagement of AWD via a knob on the center console.

The V6-powered Blazer RS felt impressively quick for a crossover, with a sporty exhaust note. However, its considerable weight and top-heavy design negatively impacted handling. The Blazer's 4,500-pound maximum towing capacity was in line with other midsize SUVs, applicable to V6 models with the trailering package.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. It could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration and powertrain.

The XC90's interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin, enhanced by a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a cool sanctuary from the weather.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle. Front-seat headroom was nearly identical to rivals, while rear-seat headroom was slightly below average. The Blazer offered 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, putting it behind most rivals. Despite the numbers, the Blazer felt spacious from behind the wheel, with short overhangs making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Functional details like the placement of USB ports and the twist-to-adjust air vents added to the interior's appeal.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen. The system supported familiar smartphone gestures but was occasionally glitchy and slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offering easy configuration and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade available. The vehicle included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades for 2023, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. A 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster display was standard, with an 8-inch display on RS and Premier trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard. RS and Premier models also had built-in navigation and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a large touchscreen and an optional 360-degree camera system.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came with a comprehensive list of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features for highway driving. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer's standard Chevy Safety Assist Package included automatic emergency braking, a following distance indicator, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was available on 2LT and 3LT trims, with other optional safety features including blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, a 360-degree camera system, and GM’s Teen Driver monitoring system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.