2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Acura MDX

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer adopted a sleek, road-car-inspired design, featuring a low roofline and leaned-back front and rear pillars. Its big grille, framed by stacked headlights, and tall ride height gave it the visual weight of a proper SUV. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a striking mainstream crossover. For 2023, the Blazer received minor styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, tweaked grille and LED headlight designs, and new wheel options. The interior boasted a sportier aesthetic with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. Higher trim levels offered leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control, with the Blazer RS featuring blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme.

The 2023 Acura MDX, available in standard and Type S versions, offered a range of trim packages. The Type S Advance trim, with its Apex Blue Pearl paint and Orchid interior, set high expectations for quality and luxury. The fourth-generation MDX, the first Acura SUV to wear the Type S badge, featured chicane-design LED running lights, LED headlights, and 21-inch wheels. The Type S Advance added open-pore wood and a leather-wrapped dashboard. Despite its appealing design, the MDX's body tapering at the doors and gloss black plastic dashboard elements posed some usability challenges. The electronic transmission switchgear also proved confusing for some drivers.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. Most models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer RS and optional 3LT and Premier trims came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some rivals that automatically switched between FWD and AWD. The V6-powered Blazer RS felt quick and had a sporty exhaust note, but its considerable weight and top-heavy design impacted handling. The Blazer's 4,500-pound maximum towing capacity was competitive for its class.

The 2023 Acura MDX Type S stood out with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD), provided impressive performance. The Integrated Dynamics System offered various driving modes, including an exclusive Lift mode for increased ground clearance. Despite these enhancements, the MDX Type S struggled to deliver a cohesive driving experience. The transmission was indecisive, the ride lacked compliance, and the brake pedal response was inconsistent. The MDX Type S also had poor fuel economy, averaging 16.9 mpg during testing. The performance upgrades did not gel into a cohesive whole, making the standard MDX with the A-Spec package a more predictable and enjoyable choice.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport. Rear-seat headroom was slightly below average, but better than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Blazer provided 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite these numbers, the Blazer felt spacious from behind the wheel and was easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Functional interior details, such as the placement of USB ports and the twist-to-adjust air vents, added to its appeal.

The 2023 Acura MDX offered three rows of seats, with the option to remove the center section of the second row for easier access to the third row. The Type S Advance trim featured 16-way power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. However, the seats were firm and did not hold occupants in place as well as expected. The second-row seats were comfortable and supportive, with heating for the outboard positions in the Advance trim. The third row was best suited for children due to limited space. The MDX's cargo area provided 18.1 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 39.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 71.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The power liftgate and underfloor storage bin added convenience, but the interior's style-focused design limited storage space.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu sequence. However, the optional 360-degree camera system lacked a dedicated button for easy access. The Blazer's tech presentation was modern, with the new touchscreen being one of the largest in its segment.

The 2023 Acura MDX featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment display. However, the infotainment screen was not touch-sensitive, requiring the use of a True Touchpad Interface (TTI) on the center console. The TTI design posed challenges, including a learning curve, reduced storage space, and partial obstruction of the wireless charging pad. The MDX offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa Built-In for voice control. The Advance package added a 10.5-inch head-up display (HUD) and the top-shelf Signature Edition ELS Studio 3D audio system with 25 speakers. Despite these features, the TTI's usability issues and occasional inaccuracies in the traffic sign recognition system detracted from the overall experience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered the standard Chevy Safety Assist Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was available on the 2LT and 3LT trims, while other optional features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a five-star overall rating from the latter.

The 2023 Acura MDX came with the Acura Watch suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system. The MDX received good crash-test ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. However, the MDX's safety systems occasionally issued false alerts, and the adaptive cruise control could be slow to resume speed.