2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer resembled a smaller version of the Chevrolet Blazer midsize crossover, striking a balance between SUV toughness and upscale appearance. Intricate headlight and taillight elements, along with dark chrome trim, added a touch of sophistication. The Activ and RS models featured unique styling elements, with the Activ boasting a rugged look and the RS adopting a sportier appearance. Contrasting roofs in various colors further enhanced the Trailblazer's distinctive and retro look.

Inside, the Trailblazer Activ model offered a mix of leatherette upholstery, copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim, and gray seat inserts, giving the interior a unique personality. Design touches like grab handles around the center console and a creased dashboard added to its distinctiveness. While the cabin didn't scream "outdoor adventure," it provided a comfortable and stylish environment for its occupants.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade stood out with its distinctive styling, making it easily recognizable among family-friendly SUVs. Available in various trims, including the new Calligraphy Night Edition, the Palisade offered a range of prices from $36,650 to $53,850. The Calligraphy Night Edition featured a blacked-out appearance with dark chrome and gloss black exterior trim, badges, and wheels, paired with a black interior featuring leather with artificial suede inserts.

The Palisade's interior exuded luxury, with an artificial suede headliner, quality upholstery, metal speaker grilles, and sophisticated design elements. The Calligraphy Night Edition's interior felt upscale, rivaling luxury SUVs. The combination of premium materials and thoughtful design made the Palisade's cabin a comfortable and inviting space for both driver and passengers.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX. It came with 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 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 paired with either FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD). FWD models had a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The Trailblazer Activ test car had AWD, the nine-speed automatic transmission, and the 1.3-liter engine. It provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note, although the transmission exhibited some rough shifts. The Activ model's dampers, tuned for better performance on gravel roads, worked well on pavement, offering good ride quality despite some bouncing over road imperfections. The Trailblazer had selectable AWD, requiring manual engagement, and offered Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, though Sport mode didn't significantly alter the driving experience.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 3.8-liter V6 engine generating 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Palisade offered several driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Smart, and Snow, with the ability to lock the AWD system for off-road conditions. The V6 engine provided ample power and satisfying acceleration, while the transmission consistently found the right gear. The AWD system distributed power effectively on dirt and gravel roads, and the Palisade achieved an average of 18.8 mpg in Comfort mode during testing.

The Palisade's suspension offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with excellent outward visibility and a top-down surround-view camera aiding in city driving and parking. On mountain and canyon roads, the Palisade displayed surprising athleticism, with predictable handling and reliable brakes. Overall, the Palisade delivered a pleasurable driving experience, though its real-world fuel economy was less impressive.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs on the market, offered decent utility. It was wider and taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a longer wheelbase that benefited passenger space. The Trailblazer provided generous headroom in both front and rear seats, though legroom was mid-pack. The rear seats were comfortable for short trips but less so for long journeys due to flat cushions.

Cargo space in the Trailblazer was respectable, with 25.3 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 54.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, it lagged behind competitors like the Kia Seltos and Honda HR-V. The Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 1,000 pounds. Up front, designers maximized storage space with a covered storage bin, deep tray, cupholders, and a phone storage tray. A small carve-out above the dashboard's function remained unclear.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade offered a range of seating options, from cloth seats in the base SE trim to premium Nappa leather with microfiber inserts in the Calligraphy Night Edition. Heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and memory settings were available in higher trims. The Calligraphy Night Edition featured an Ergo Motion massage function for the driver, though similar comfort features for the front passenger were lacking.

The Palisade's interior provided configurable storage, with a shallow console-top tray, a large storage bin, and a wireless smartphone charger. Second-row passengers enjoyed captain's chairs with optional heating and ventilation, while the third row offered decent comfort and roominess. The Palisade's cargo space included 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. A hands-free power tailgate was standard from the SEL trim, though its smart tailgate feature could be turned off if not needed.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging. While the Trailblazer's tech offerings were adequate, they might not satisfy the most tech-savvy buyers due to the relatively small touchscreen and lack of a fully digital instrument cluster.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel available with the SEL Premium package or higher trims. All Palisades had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, Bluelink+ connected services, Wi-Fi access, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a rear-seat Quiet Mode. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a USB-A cable, and wireless charging was standard from the SEL trim.

Bluelink+ offered remote engine starting, automatic collision warning, SOS emergency assistance, and more, free for original owners. The Palisade's 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. Additional tech features included a digital key function, digital rearview mirror, semi-autonomous remote parking system, and an excellent head-up display, though it didn't work well with polarized sunglasses.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came 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 earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with Hyundai's SmartSense collection of driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, intersection assist, safe exit assist, automatic high-beam headlights, rear parking sensors, and a rear-seat reminder system. Highway Driving Assist (HDA) paired adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist and curve speed control. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received top marks in side-impact and rollover resistance tests from the NHTSA.