2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

Land Rover’s 2023 Range Rover Sport focused on a modernist and reductive design philosophy, consistently describing the SUV as clean and simple. For those seeking an ostentatious display of luxury, the factory options included limited possibilities like a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels. Expectations for a more flamboyant SVR version were plausible, featuring a growling twin-turbocharged V8, vibrant paint colors, and bold exterior details.

The test vehicle in question sported an Eiger Gray paint with elegant silver 23-inch wheels and a discreet Black Exterior Pack. Despite the lack of a black-painted roof, it exuded a sense of understated elegance. The interior mirrored this sentiment with a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, paired with aluminum and shiny black trim, emphasizing a luxurious yet refined atmosphere.

Land Rover offered the Range Rover Sport in several specifications, including SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e. The test vehicle, an SE Dynamic P400, boasted additional features like heated and ventilated front seats, a Cold Climate Pack, a Technology Pack, and a full-size spare tire, bringing the MSRP to $98,420.

Notable design elements included premium LED headlights – the slimmest in Land Rover’s history, flush-mounted door handles, and innovative surface LED technology taillights. The aerodynamic efficiency was also impressive, boasting a coefficient of drag of 0.29. Inside, the SUV presented a high-tech appearance with sustainable materials like Ultrafabrics alongside the always-noticed Windsor leather upholstery that lent an intoxicating fragrance.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer echoed the appearance of a mini Chevrolet Blazer, carrying a balanced blend of SUV toughness without veering into caricature territory. Details like intricate headlight and taillight elements, along with dark chrome trim, elevated its appearance beyond the model’s affordable price range.

Unique styling was evident in the Activ and RS models. The Activ model projected a rugged persona with a specific front fascia, faux skid plate, roof rails, and chunky 17-inch Hankook Sport Terrain tires. Conversely, the RS model leaned towards a sportier aesthetic with blacked-out trim, a mesh grille, dual exhaust outlets, and an available panoramic sunroof. Both models offered contrasting roof colors in red, black, or white, contributing to a distinctive look.

The Trailblazer Activ tested came with a contrasting white roof and Nitro Yellow paint, creating a distinctive and somewhat retro style. Inside, features included a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat, although the front passenger seat lacked power adjustment. The interior design incorporated a mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim along with gray seat inserts, providing a bit of personality to the otherwise dark cabin.

Land Rover’s Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver-focused engagement, achieving mixed results. The challenge was to design an SUV equally adept at off-road adventures and mountain road maneuvering. While the Range Rover Sport excelled off-road, its on-road dynamics were less impressive.

The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine featured mild-hybrid technology, producing 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque in the SE P360, and 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque in the SE Dynamic P400 test vehicle. A PHEV drivetrain in the Autobiography P440e trimmed offered 434 hp and 406 lb-ft, with a 51-mile electric driving range. Land Rover’s reported 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 option, available briefly, was currently unavailable but potentially set to return in future models.

The SE Dynamic P400 demonstrated ample power, with a credible 0-60 mph acceleration time of 5.4 seconds, driven by an eight-speed automatic transmission and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system. It had a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. Fuel efficiency was surprisingly decent, with an EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving, and test results showing even better figures.

Built on a new architecture, the Range Rover Sport boasted increased torsional stiffness, adaptive damping air suspension, and advanced driving modes for enhanced stability and comfort. Despite significant improvements, the Range Rover Sport couldn’t match the driving precision of comparable SUVs from Audi, BMW, or Mercedes-Benz in curvy terrains, feeling tall and heavy with uninspiring steering.

Off-road performance was stellar, with impressive ground clearance, approach, breakover, and departure angles, and a 35.4-inch wading depth. The suspension adeptly handled uneven surfaces, providing a significantly comfortable off-road experience.

The Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with Buick’s Encore GX. The standard 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine delivered 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, while the optional 1.3-liter turbo-three produced 155 hp and 174 lb-ft. The 1.2-liter was limited to FWD with a CVT, but the 1.3-liter could be paired with either FWD or AWD, the latter equipped with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The tested Trailblazer Activ featured AWD, the nine-speed automatic, and the 1.3-liter engine. Despite some rough shifts, the vehicle felt pleasant with responsive throttle and a satisfying exhaust note. The Activ model’s dampers, tuned for gravel roads, performed adequately on pavement but exhibited some body roll and occasional uncomfortable bouncing.

Switchable AWD was available through a button, unlike competitors that offered automatic engagement, raising concerns about forgetting to engage AWD. The Trailblazer featured Normal, Sport, and Snow modes, with minimal detectable differences in Sport mode.

Land Rover maintained its Command Driving Position in the Range Rover Sport, characterized by a tall, airy ambiance and a low dashboard with upright windshield angles and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could lower the vehicle for easier entry and exit, especially beneficial for shorter individuals.

Once inside, the front seats offered extreme comfort with smooth Windsor leather, 20-way power adjustment, heating, ventilation, and an optional massage function. Additional luxury options included soft-closing doors and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats, although offering more space than previous models, remained tight for taller passengers and featured less practical hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings.

The rear bench provided excellent support but remained too reclined for an upright sitting posture. Rear amenities included side sunshades, air conditioning vents, power ports, and heated seats. Despite decent cabin storage, some compartments were impractical, while others, like the center console bin, were difficult to access.

In the cargo area, the Range Rover Sport offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Despite a full-size spare tire occupying under-floor space, the cargo hold had practical controls, hooks, and pockets for better organization.

Though the Trailblazer was among the smallest SUVs, it was substantial compared to its predecessors and competitors. It featured wider dimensions and a longer wheelbase, enhancing passenger space efficiency.

The Trailblazer offered comparable front and rear headroom to rivals, despite mid-pack legroom scores. Compared to its platform mate, the Buick Encore GX, it provided more rear legroom and slightly more headroom in both rows. Rear seats, though generally comfortable, were not ideal for long road trips due to flat cushions.

Cargo capacity in the Trailblazer was competitive, offering 25.3 cubic feet of storage with seats upright and 54.4 cubic feet with them folded—figures comparable to, though slightly behind, the class-leading Kia Seltos. For those accustomed to more traditional SUVs, the Trailblazer might seem limited in cargo space, and its 1,000-pound towing capacity was on the lower side.

For smaller item storage, designers maximized the front space with covered bins, a deep tray, cupholders, and a phone storage tray. A small carve-out above the dashboard provided additional but unclear functionality.

Every Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard tech included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an Online Pack with connected services, although Wi-Fi required an additional data plan.

Generally intuitive, the screens struggled with usability during tests. The Pivi Pro system frequently frustrated with confusing interfaces and difficulty in feature access, such as disabling the automatic driver exit assist or obtaining simple navigation to Starbucks. The native digital assistant often misinterpreted commands, reducing the overall convenience.

However, the Range Rover Sport excelled in audio with Meridian systems offering up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts, complemented by Active Noise Cancellation. The vehicle also featured a wireless charging pad, though it posed some difficulties in device retrieval.

The standard Trailblazer infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, Bluetooth, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional upgrades included an 8-inch touchscreen, 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging.

Though not the most tech-savvy vehicle, the 8-inch touchscreen was appropriate for the Trailblazer’s dashboard and usability, offering logical menus and easy-to-read graphics. The mix of analog gauges and a smaller screen conveyed necessary information simply, avoiding complexities of an all-digital setup.

The Range Rover Sport came equipped with numerous advanced driving assistance systems: forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Additionally, it included automatic high-beam headlights, driver monitoring, parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and Wade Sensing for water crossings.

An available Remote Park Assist allowed for self-parking via a smartphone app. However, adaptive cruise control exhibited slow responses and lacked smoothness. Steering assist proved unreliable, particularly around bends, necessitating frequent driver intervention. The technology's performance was particularly bothersome in areas with inconsistent lane markings, common around Los Angeles.

Standard safety features included 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 comprised blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

The IIHS named the 2022 Trailblazer a Top Safety Pick+, earning high marks for crash prevention and good ratings for LED headlights. The NHTSA awarded the Trailblazer a five-star overall safety rating, including top scores in frontal and side impact tests and a four-star rating in rollover evaluations.