2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a scaled-down version of the Chevrolet Blazer, an iconic midsize crossover. It boasted a commendable mix of rugged SUV sturdiness without veering towards cartoonish exaggeration. The aesthetics were elevated with detailed lighting elements in the headlights and taillights, and tasteful dark chrome accents, rendering it more refined than many other vehicles in its price bracket.

Distinctive styling elements were reserved for the Activ and RS models. The Activ model embraced a more robust design, featuring a model-specific front fascia with a faux skid plate purported to enhance ground clearance, as well as standard roof rails and sturdy Hankook Sport Terrain 17-inch tires. Conversely, the RS model aimed for a sporty demeanor, flaunting blacked-out exterior trim, a mesh grille, dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips, and an optional panoramic sunroof.

Furthermore, both the RS and Activ variants came with standard contrasting roofs in red, black, or white, depending on the exterior color chosen. A bold combination of a white roof with Nitro Yellow paint on the Trailblazer Activ gave it a distinctive, somewhat retro appearance, though this design choice was not unique to Chevrolet, as competitors like the Hyundai Venue, Kia Seltos, and Nissan Kicks offered similar options.

Inside, the Trailblazer Activ featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. However, the passenger seat remained manual. The interior also showcased a mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim with gray seat inserts, which, despite being an unusual mix of colors and textures, added personality to the otherwise predominantly black cabin. While the Trailblazer’s interior didn’t exude an adventurous outdoor spirit, distinctive elements such as the grab handles around the center console and the dashboard's creased look imbued it with a unique character.

The 2023 Ford Escape diverged from its predecessors' boxy, rugged design to adopt a more European aesthetic. The first- and second-generation Escapes might have aligned more closely with the modern, rugged design trends, but the 2023 model embraced smoother, sleeker lines. A notable 2023 refresh replaced its cartoonish grille with a more traditional front end featuring the Ford blue oval logo, matched by a stylish LED light bar.

Available in several trims—Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite—the top-trim ST-Line Elite we tested boasted 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps and wheel-arch cladding, which favored a sleek design over tough plastic protection, giving the Escape an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5.

Inside, the ST-Line Elite features sophisticated diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt hard and plasticky. Despite lacking the warmth of premium leather, the interior seemed durable and suitable for long-term use. The seats, blessed with soft padding, provided substantial comfort, and the 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat accommodated personalized seating preferences with ease.

However, the interior was a sea of plastic. While some areas, like the center console, boasted a nice textured appearance, most surfaces felt scratchy and under-reinforced, suggesting cost-cutting measures. Nonetheless, Ford’s attention to driver comfort was commendable, with ergonomically friendly features like the head-up display and well-positioned armrests.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its foundation and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX from General Motors. It came standard with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, generating 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Alternatively, an optional 1.3-liter turbo-three produced a higher output of 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.

The Trailblazer’s drivetrain options were straightforward: The 1.2-liter engine was available solely with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the 1.3-liter engine could be paired with either FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD). The transmission varied with the drivetrain—FWD models featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), whereas AWD models came with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Our Trailblazer Activ test model, equipped with AWD and the 1.3-liter engine, exhibited a more responsive throttle and a decent push compared to its Buick cousin. The nine-speed automatic transmission, though occasionally unrefined, provided a generally good driving experience, despite some rough shifts.

Activ models were designed with dampers tuned for gravel road performance, which performed admirably on pavement. The Trailblazer’s higher ride height resulted in some body roll, but it remained composed and nimble overall. The ride quality was good, albeit with some uncomfortable bouncing over certain road imperfections, likely due to its specific damper tuning.

The selectable AWD system, requiring manual engagement via button press, was less advantageous than competitor systems that operated automatically. The Trailblazer also featured Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, although differences in the Sport mode were barely noticeable.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape distinguished itself with a range of powertrains, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models covered separately. The standard engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, delivering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD, presenting strong competition within its segment.

Higher trim levels like the ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing an impressive 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to the same eight-speed transmission but was exclusively available with AWD, offering better acceleration and high-speed performance.

Despite the four-cylinder’s impressive performance, the Escape wasn’t intended as a genuine performance crossover. The suspension remained soft and compliant, and the transmission lacked performance tuning options like paddle shifters, limiting manual control over shifting.

The Escape’s braking system was notably effective, providing reliable and linear stopping power. Its soft suspension smoothed out the rough New England streets, and the steering inputs were well-weighted, maintaining precision without being overly twitchy—an issue seen in other competitors that overly boost their electric steering systems.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer was a smaller SUV but managed to be a substantial vehicle. It was 3.4 inches wider than the 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer and stood an inch taller. While the older Blazer was almost 10 inches longer, the Trailblazer’s wheelbase was about three inches longer, reflecting modern crossover SUVs' efficient packaging.

In terms of utility, the Trailblazer fared decently against its rivals. It paralleled the Kia Seltos in front and rear headroom, seating comfortably enough for most journeys. However, its legroom was mid-pack, though it bested the Hyundai Kona and the Buick Encore GX. The rear seats, while comfortable, lacked the contouring needed for extended road trips.

The cargo capacity of the Trailblazer stood at 25.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place and 54.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. These were respectable figures, though lagging behind the Kia Seltos. In comparison, the redesigned Honda HR-V offered slightly less cargo space with the seats up but more with the seats folded. The Trailblazer’s towing capacity was limited to 1,000 pounds, reflecting the limitations of subcompact SUVs.

Small-item storage in the Trailblazer was well thought out with a covered storage bin, a deep tray, standard cupholders, and a dedicated phone storage tray. A small shelf above the dashboard was a curious addition, although its practical use was questionable.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape excelled in comfort and ergonomics. The seats were soft, supportive, and the steering wheel, while plain in appearance, felt good in hand. The armrests were well-positioned, and the front-seat cupholders were conveniently placed. A head-up display was featured, enhancing driver convenience.

In terms of cargo space, the Escape fell short of segment leaders. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While close in size to the Chevrolet Equinox and Mazda CX-5, the Escape couldn’t match the cargo space offered by the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue, or Toyota RAV4. Thus, while large enough for daily use, the Escape may feel limiting during more significant moves or extended trips.

Passenger space in the Escape was marginally less compared to some competitors in terms of rear-seat legroom, but headroom was impressive. The scalloped front-seat backs maximized space, ensuring taller passengers seated in the back had adequate room.

In the technology department, the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered a standard infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims or optional packages added an 8-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging.

Although not the most cutting-edge in terms of tech, the Trailblazer’s optional 8-inch touchscreen was well-sized for its dashboard, presenting information clearly and logically without requiring multiple screen taps for key functions. Analog gauges coupled with a smaller instrument cluster screen efficiently conveyed necessary information without the need for a fully digital setup. Additional smart design touches, like a person-shaped icon for pedestrian detection and an indicator for the engine start/stop system, enhanced user comprehension.

The 2023 Ford Escape featured Ford’s Sync 4 technology, offering attractive and intuitive tech features. While lower trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, higher trims like the ST-Line Elite and Platinum were equipped with a larger 13.2-inch display. This larger screen significantly upgraded the cabin’s aesthetic and functionality, presenting everything from navigation to music controls seamlessly.

Sync 4 was user-friendly, with individual tiles for navigation, music, and Bluetooth, and easy swapping between Android Auto and the built-in navigation system. It included a convenient static “Home” button for quick access to the main menu. Some drawbacks were the occasional sluggish response to inputs and the inconvenient placement of the volume knob on the far-right side of the dash.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer was well-equipped with 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 earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), receiving top “Good” scores in all crash tests and high marks for front-crash prevention tech. The available LED headlights received a “Good” score, while standard halogen headlights were rated “Average.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also awarded the Trailblazer a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover testing.

The 2023 Ford Escape also garnered high safety accolades, with the NHTSA giving it a five-star overall rating and similar ratings in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in the rollover test. However, the IIHS did not award the Escape a Top Safety Pick designation due to a “Marginal” rating in the side-impact test. Nonetheless, it received “Good” scores in all other areas.

Ford equipped every 2023 Escape with its Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). This included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Upgrading to Co-Pilot360 2.0 added features like adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, lane-centering technology, and a surround-view camera, enhancing parking and driving convenience.