2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer resembled a smaller version of the Chevrolet Blazer midsize crossover, which was a positive attribute. It balanced SUV toughness without appearing exaggerated, and details like intricate headlight and taillight elements, along with dark chrome trim, gave it a more upscale look than many vehicles in its price range. The Activ and RS models had unique styling elements, with the Activ featuring a rugged look and the RS adopting a sportier appearance. The contrasting roofs in red, black, or white added a distinctive and retro touch, although this feature was common among subcompact crossovers.

Inside, the Trailblazer Activ test car had a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim with gray seat inserts added personality to the otherwise black interior. Design touches like grab handles around the center console and the creased look of the dashboard and air vents made the cabin distinctive, even if it didn’t scream “outdoor adventure.”

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was available in Touring L, Limited, and Pinnacle trims. The mid-trim Limited with the S Appearance Package added body-colored door handles and exterior mirrors, a gloss black grille surround, and black accents. It also featured 18-inch wheels with a “Foreshadow” finish. The split grille was surrounded by standard LED headlamps, and the LED tail lamps spanned the entire width of the rear. While minivans lacked the cool cachet of SUVs, they were more practical, offering sliding doors and more cargo space.

The Limited’s interior was dark but sophisticated, with Nappa leather seats and a dash featuring sweeping lines. The chunky HVAC and audio knobs were appreciated, although they were situated close to the transmission selector dial, which could cause confusion. The interior was comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a center armrest that could swivel up for more room. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX. It came standard with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-liter turbo-three increased output to 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The 1.2-liter engine was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the 1.3-liter engine could be had with either FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD). FWD models had a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Our Trailblazer Activ test car had AWD, the nine-speed automatic, and the 1.3-liter engine. The throttle response was better than in the Buick Encore GX, providing a decent amount of shove and a pleasing exhaust note. However, the nine-speed automatic had some rough shifts. The Activ model’s dampers, tuned for better performance on gravel roads, worked well on pavement, although there was some uncomfortable bouncing over road imperfections. The Trailblazer had a selectable AWD system, requiring a button press to switch from FWD to AWD, unlike most competitors that did this automatically. It also had Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, but we didn’t notice much difference in Sport mode.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid combined a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a 16-kWh battery and two small electric motors. It was the only minivan available as a plug-in hybrid, with EPA ratings of 32 miles of all-electric range, 520 miles of total range, 82 MPGe, and 30 mpg combined fuel economy. In our tests, we saw 33 miles of electric range and over 550 miles of total range, exceeding the EPA estimates. Charging the battery on a Level 2 home charger took two hours, while a standard outlet predicted a 14-hour charge time.

The Pacifica defaulted to all-electric mode first, switching to hybrid mode once the EV range was depleted. This was efficient in the city but less so on the highway. The Pacifica Hybrid was FWD only and couldn’t be equipped with a towing package or a spare tire. It had 260 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque, sufficient for highway passing but not for blistering acceleration. The continuously variable automatic transmission worked smoothly, and the steering was light but adequate for a minivan. The battery’s placement in the floor improved handling by lowering the center of gravity.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer was one of the smallest SUVs on sale but still substantial. It was 3.4 inches wider and about an inch taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer four-door. The Trailblazer’s wheelbase was about three inches longer, benefiting passenger space. It offered decent utility compared to rivals, matching the Kia Seltos on front and rear headroom and providing more rear legroom than the Hyundai Kona and Buick Encore GX. The rear seats were comfortable for normal use but not ideal for long road trips.

The Trailblazer had 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second-row seats in place and 54.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, respectable for the segment but behind the Kia Seltos. It could tow only 1,000 pounds. Up front, designers included a covered storage bin, a deep tray, cupholders, and a phone storage tray. There was also a small carve-out above the dashboard, but its function was unclear.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured the FamCam interior camera, allowing parents to monitor children in the second and third rows. The driver’s seat was comfortable and easily adjustable, with a center armrest that could swivel up for more room. The second-row seats were comfortable but low, and the center pathway allowed easy access to the spacious third row. Taller passengers might prefer the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna for more legroom.

The Pacifica Hybrid had 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 87.5 cubic feet with the seats folded and 140.5 cubic feet with everything folded. However, the Kia Carnival and Honda Odyssey offered more space overall. The plug-in hybrid model didn’t have the flat-fold Stow ‘n Go seats, built-in vacuum cleaner, or heated second-row seats available in the standard Pacifica.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging. The optional touchscreen was well-sized for the dashboard, with large, easy-to-read graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges conveyed information effectively.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen running Uconnect 5, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and the ability to connect two phones via Bluetooth. Our tester had the optional rear seat entertainment system, adding two 10-inch screens for second-row passengers with games and streaming content from Amazon Fire TV. However, this feature was expensive and redundant for families with phones or tablets. The Pacifica Hybrid had numerous USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, a 115-volt outlet, auxiliary ports, and wireless charging, ensuring no device was without a charge.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer had standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer was named a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid had standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, pedestrian automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included parallel parking assist and front and rear parking assist. The 2022 Pacifica Hybrid received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and Good marks from the IIHS, except for Marginal grades for seat belt reminders and Average grades for headlights and LATCH ease of use.