2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact version of the Chevrolet Blazer, exuding a balanced SUV toughness without veering into exaggeration. Its intricate headlight and taillight designs, along with dark chrome trim, lent it an upscale appearance uncommon in its price range. The Activ and RS models offered unique styling cues, with the Activ model featuring a rugged front fascia and roof rails, while the RS model sported a more aggressive look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive touch, reminiscent of other subcompact crossovers. Inside, the Trailblazer Activ model showcased a mix of leatherette upholstery and copper-toned trim, providing a unique yet somewhat eclectic interior design.

The 2023 Genesis GV70, on the other hand, drew stylistic inspiration from the G70 compact luxury sedan, with split-bar headlights and a chrome line that suggested a coupe-like SUV design. The interior was a testament to luxury, with high-quality materials and a blend of contemporary and classic aesthetics. The dashboard featured a full touchscreen with a rotary dial and button controls, offering a user-friendly interface. The GV70 was available in both gas-powered and electrified versions, with the latter offering impressive luxury credentials, including quilt-stitched leather seats and a high-contrast interior design.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, featuring a standard 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-liter turbo-three engine increased output to 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The 1.2-liter engine was available only with front-wheel drive, while the 1.3-liter engine offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. The Trailblazer Activ model, equipped with the 1.3-liter engine and all-wheel drive, provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note, although the nine-speed automatic transmission exhibited some rough shifts. The vehicle's ride quality was generally good, with dampers tuned for gravel roads, but it exhibited some body roll and occasional bouncing over road imperfections.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The GV70 Electrified model featured a 77.4-kWh battery powering two electric motors, delivering a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a Boost Mode increasing output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. The electric GV70 offered a smooth and confident driving experience, with a range of 236 miles and fast-charging capabilities. The GV70's handling was well-rounded, leaning slightly towards comfort, and it featured an external "engine noise" for compliance with safety regulations.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs available, offered decent utility with a wheelbase that maximized passenger space. It provided generous headroom and mid-pack legroom compared to its rivals, with comfortable rear seats for short trips. The Trailblazer's cargo space measured 25.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 54.4 cubic feet with them folded, which was respectable for the segment. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,000 pounds. The interior featured clever storage solutions, including a covered storage bin and a deep tray, although some design choices, like the small dashboard carve-out, were puzzling.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 28.9 cubic feet with them in use, making it above average for the compact luxury SUV segment. It came standard with a hands-free power liftgate and featured decently large cupholders in the center console. The front seats were easily adjustable for comfort, but rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to adjust their seats. The rear bench could recline, enhancing comfort for passengers.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a Bose audio system, and wireless phone charging were available. While the Trailblazer's tech features were adequate for most buyers, the optional touchscreen was relatively small, and a fully digital instrument cluster was not available. The interface was user-friendly, with large graphics and logical menus.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 featured a standard 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was easy to use, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 also included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and the Genesis digital key were available features. However, the rotary dial for the infotainment system was located near the vehicle's rotary shifter, which could lead to confusion.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer was equipped with standard safety features such as 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, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer received a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2.5T model's Advance Package added a blind-spot camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The Electrified GV70 included most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.