2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder had a modern and forward-thinking design, carrying over from its 2022 redesign with minimal changes. Its futuristic headlights and angular C-pillar combined traditional elements with a contemporary aesthetic, ensuring it remained relevant for years. Inside, the cabin featured clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both visually appealing and practical for everyday use.

The Pathfinder offered various trims, including the S, SV, SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum. The base S trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable seats, cloth upholstery, push-button start, remote keyless entry, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The SV trim added heated front seats, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, remote start, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The SL trim included leather upholstery, a 9-inch touchscreen, and wireless device charging. The Rock Creek trim, designed for off-road enthusiasts, featured all-terrain tires, off-road suspension, and a rugged interior. The top-tier Platinum trim boasted upgraded leather upholstery, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a fully digital instrument panel.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer resembled a mini version of the Chevrolet Blazer, exuding SUV toughness without appearing exaggerated. Its intricate headlight and taillight elements, along with dark chrome trim, gave it an upscale look. The Activ and RS models had unique styling elements, with the Activ featuring a rugged front fascia and roof rails, while the RS had blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets.

The Trailblazer’s Activ model had a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The interior featured a mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim, adding personality to the otherwise black cabin. While the Trailblazer’s interior didn’t scream “outdoor adventure,” design touches like grab handles around the center console and a creased dashboard made it distinctive.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek trim had the same engine but was tuned to deliver 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was routed through a 9-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The Rock Creek model featured a slightly taller suspension with off-road shocks and standard AWD, enhancing its off-road capability.

The Pathfinder’s engine provided ample power for city and highway driving, and the automatic transmission was smooth and quiet. However, the new proprietary shifter design was unintuitive and potentially unsafe. The Pathfinder had a rotary drive mode dial with Eco, Sport, Normal, Sand, Mud/Rut Snow, and Towing modes, plus an All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek. The Rock Creek trim could tow up to 6,000 pounds, while other models had a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

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. The 1.2-liter engine was available only with FWD, while the 1.3-liter engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD.

Our Trailblazer Activ test car had AWD, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the 1.3-liter engine. The throttle response was decent, and the exhaust note was pleasing. The nine-speed automatic, however, had some rough shifts. The Activ model’s dampers, tuned for gravel roads, worked well on pavement, providing a composed and nimble ride. The Trailblazer had a selectable AWD system, requiring the driver to press a button to switch from FWD to AWD. It also had Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, though Sport mode didn’t make a noticeable difference.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered up to 80.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded flat. With the second row in use, it provided 45 cubic feet, and with all seats upright, it had 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space. This was average among midsize three-row SUVs. The first two rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for adults on shorter trips. The optional second-row captain’s chairs made accessing the third row easier. The Pathfinder had 12 cupholders and four bottle holders, along with plenty of cubbies and compartments for gear. The Rock Creek trim’s roof racks could hold up to 220 pounds, though they made snow removal tricky.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs, offered decent utility. It matched the Kia Seltos on front and rear headroom and had mid-pack legroom. The Trailblazer provided 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second-row seats in place and 54.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. These figures were respectable for the segment but behind the Kia Seltos. The rear seats were comfortable for normal use, but the flat cushions made long trips less appealing. The Trailblazer’s towing capacity was limited to 1,000 pounds.

Up front, the Trailblazer had a covered storage bin, a deep tray, cupholders, and a phone storage tray. It also had a small carve-out above the dashboard, though its function was unclear.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SL, Rock Creek, and Platinum trims had a larger 9-inch touchscreen. Both systems were easy to use, with logical menu layouts and real buttons and dials. However, the graphics were low-quality, and the backup and parking cameras were low-definition. The Pathfinder also had four USB ports, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and voice recognition. The SV trim added a Wi-Fi hotspot, while the SL trim included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless device charging, and a third-row USB port. The Platinum trim added a second third-row USB port.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer’s standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, 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. Despite these options, the Trailblazer’s tech might not satisfy the most tech-savvy buyers. The 8-inch 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 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, forward and reverse collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, rear parking sensors, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The SV trim added ProPilot Assist, which included lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The SL trim added front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Platinum trim added rain-sensing wipers and a head-up display. The Pathfinder’s touchscreen presented front- and side-view cameras at low speeds in Off-Road mode.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer’s 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 included blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, 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.