2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek, road-car-inspired design, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of crossovers. It featured a low roofline with leaned-back front and rear pillars, a prominent grille framed by stacked headlights, and a tall ride height that maintained the visual weight of an SUV. The Blazer RS model stood out with its blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a striking choice in the mainstream crossover segment. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted elements, redesigned grille, LED headlights, and new wheel designs. The interior boasted a sporty aesthetic reminiscent of the Camaro, with options for cloth or leather seats and dual-zone automatic climate control. The RS model's interior was enhanced with blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme, showcasing impressive material quality.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 underwent subtle styling changes, with gloss black trim on the front bumper and a squared-off rear bumper design for improved aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors, along with a rear VW logo that lights up, were introduced. While the ID.4 was easily distinguishable as an EV, it lacked the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, similar to other electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Bolt EUV. Built on VW's MEB platform, the ID.4 shared modularity with various models, including the upcoming ID.Buzz electric van. The interior maintained a minimalist design with quality materials, even in the base ID.4 Standard model. Leatherette upholstery with recycled fiber inserts was standard, and the interior changes for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console and improved phone storage.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer retained its powertrain options from the previous year, featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque for most models. The Blazer RS and select 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 and optional all-wheel drive. The AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS demonstrated impressive acceleration and a sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. Its weight and design affected handling, but it provided a comfortable highway ride with Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 4,500-pound towing capacity was competitive for midsize SUVs, but its off-road capabilities were limited.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, with RWD only. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models delivered 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models increased output to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, enhancing acceleration and handling. The ID.4's AWD version rivaled hot hatchbacks in acceleration but lacked handling prowess. Regenerative braking allowed coasting in default mode, with a more aggressive "B" setting, but it didn't offer one-pedal driving. The ID.4 provided a familiar driving experience for EV newcomers.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious feel without being cumbersome. It provided nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport, with slightly below-average rear-seat headroom. The Blazer excelled in legroom, offering more in the front and a decent amount in the rear. Cargo space measured 30.5 cubic feet with rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, trailing competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite this, the Blazer felt spacious from the driver's seat, with short overhangs aiding maneuverability. Functional interior details included well-placed USB ports and intuitive air vent controls.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more interior space than other affordable EVs, with superior front and rear legroom compared to the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf. It also provided more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. Cargo space was 30.3 cubic feet with rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing most entry-level EVs. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in interior space, it was practical for an affordable EV. The ID.4 offered towing capabilities, with RWD models towing up to 2,200 pounds and AWD models up to 2,700 pounds. Interior changes for 2023 included a conventional center console lid and improved phone storage, along with available three-zone climate control.

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. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM were standard. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a large touchscreen and optional 360-degree camera system. The Blazer's tech presentation was competitive, with a new touchscreen among the largest in its segment.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 featured a standard 12.0-inch touchscreen, replacing the previous 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. Software updates improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster was also standard. The infotainment system offered sharp graphics, smartphone-like icons, and natural-language voice recognition. However, haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel lacked physical feedback, making them distracting. The ID.Light system provided ambient lighting and navigation cues, but it was easily overlooked.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered the standard Chevy Safety Assist Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Adaptive cruise control was available on 2LT and 3LT trims, with additional options like blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and "Good" ratings from IIHS in crash tests, with some areas for improvement in child-seat anchor ease of use.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. While IIHS ratings for 2023 weren't available, the 2022 model earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating. The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and VW's Travel Assist 2.0. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus, automated lane-change, and a 360-degree camera system.