2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Jeep Compass

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer had a sleek, road-car-inspired design, featuring a low roofline and leaned-back front and rear pillars. Its tall ride height and body sides gave it the visual weight of an SUV. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels. For 2023, the Blazer received minor styling updates, including new taillights, tweaked grille and LED headlights, and new wheel designs. The interior boasted a sportier aesthetic with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro. Higher trims 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 Jeep Compass reflected a refined Jeep design ethos, moving away from rugged styling. It shared design elements with the larger Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer families. The Compass Sport and Latitude models received new 17-inch wheels, while the Trailhawk's wheels were painted gloss black. The Compass lineup included five core trims and special editions, with prices ranging from just under $32,000 to over $40,000. Our Limited test vehicle, priced at $45,800, featured Granite Crystal paint, 19-inch wheels, and a two-tone black and gray cabin with caramel accents. The interior had sophisticated digital displays, metallic trim, and low-gloss plastics, though the high price seemed excessive.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its 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. The Blazer RS and some higher trims offered a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet 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 with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS felt quick and had a sporty exhaust note, but its weight and top-heavy design impacted handling. The Blazer's 4,500-pound towing capacity was competitive for its class.

The 2023 Jeep Compass finally received a satisfying powertrain with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 200 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The engine's peak torque was available from 1,750 to 4,250 rpm, with maximum horsepower at 5,000 rpm. The Compass featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard Jeep Active Drive AWD. The Trailhawk trim had a more advanced AWD system with a low range and a 20:1 crawl ratio. The new engine transformed the Compass's performance, making it more enjoyable to drive. However, the AWD system was slow to engage, and the Trailhawk's tires struggled in some off-road conditions. The Compass averaged 23.8 mpg in mixed driving, below its EPA rating of 27 mpg.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering front-seat headroom comparable 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 competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. The Blazer felt spacious from the driver's seat, with good visibility and functional interior details like USB port placement and temperature controls integrated into the air vents.

The 2023 Jeep Compass accommodated adults in both rows, despite its narrow width. Standard features included an air filtration system and available dual-zone automatic climate control. Higher trims offered leather upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and heated and ventilated front seats. The Limited trim had a comfortable seating position and well-padded contact points, though the center console's hard plastic edge was uncomfortable. The rear seat provided adequate space for adults, with generous foot room and supportive seat cushions. The Compass offered 27.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 59.8 cubic feet with them folded. The adjustable load floor and foldable front passenger seat added versatility.

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 user-friendly, with intuitive menus and a large touchscreen. The Blazer's tech presentation was modern, with a new-for-2023 touchscreen among the largest in its segment.

The 2023 Jeep Compass featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth pairing for two devices. The system offered over-the-air updates and optional features like a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel, embedded navigation, and a nine-speaker Alpine audio system. The Alexa Built-in digital assistant worked well, and the Alpine audio system provided good sound quality. The Compass also had a parking assist system and a surround-view camera.

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 more trims for 2023. Optional safety 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 NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Compass added a drowsy driver detection system and rear-seat reminder for 2023. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Available upgrades included adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front and rear parking sensors. The Trailhawk, Limited, and High Altitude trims offered Highway Assist, a semi-autonomous driving system. The Compass had incomplete crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA at the time of review.