Chevrolet Blazer vs Toyota bZ

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and modern aesthetic, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. Its design incorporated styling cues reminiscent of road cars, such as a low roofline and leaned-back pillars, creating a streamlined profile. The Blazer maintained the visual heft of an SUV with its tall ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with its blackout trim, vibrant Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it a striking choice in the mainstream crossover segment. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, and refreshed grille and LED headlight designs. These changes, while not drastic, enhanced the vehicle's contemporary look. The interior of the Blazer exuded a sporty vibe, with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. The RS model featured a more upscale interior with blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme, showcasing impressive material quality.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a more futuristic design, available in XLE and Limited trims with options for single-motor FWD or dual-motor AWD. The bZ's restyled exterior looked more appealing with body-color trim, especially in colors like Blueprint or Supersonic Red. Inside, the bZ featured a cleaner dashboard and center console, enhancing the sense of quality and organization. The XLE's fabric seats had an upscale pattern, and the 14-inch center touchscreen integrated climate control functions. However, the digital driver display was criticized for its placement and readability. The bZ's interior was designed for practicality, with ample storage options and comfortable seating. Despite some drawbacks, the bZ's design improvements made it a more attractive choice for those seeking a modern electric vehicle.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer retained its powertrain options from the previous year, with most models equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer RS and select trims offered a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD and optional AWD. The AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS impressed with its quick acceleration and sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. The Blazer's handling was affected by its weight and top-heavy design, but it provided a comfortable highway ride with Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 4,500-pound towing capacity was competitive for its class, but its off-road capabilities were limited.

The 2026 Toyota bZ offered a range of powertrain options, starting with a single electric motor and a 57.7-kWh battery pack in the XLE FWD, producing 165 horsepower and 198 pound-feet of torque. The optional 74.7-kWh battery increased power to 224 horsepower and extended the range to 314 miles. Dual-motor AWD models delivered 338 horsepower, with a range of 288 miles for the XLE AWD. The bZ's charging capabilities included compatibility with Tesla Superchargers and a CCS adapter for versatile charging options. Efficiency tests showed the bZ performed better than EPA estimates in certain conditions. The bZ's driving experience was characterized by instant torque, making it agile in urban settings, though it lacked one-pedal driving capability. On the highway, the bZ provided a comfortable ride, but its handling on winding roads was limited by its tires and steering.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious interior with nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport. Rear-seat headroom was slightly below average but better than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Blazer provided 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite these numbers, the Blazer felt spacious from the driver's seat, with good visibility and functional interior details like USB ports and adjustable air vents.

The 2026 Toyota bZ, built on a skateboard-style EV platform, offered easy entry and exit with 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The front seats featured standard height adjustment, with eight-way power adjustment in both XLE and Limited trims. The bZ lacked a traditional glove compartment but compensated with ample storage options, including a large bin under the center armrest and dual wireless smartphone chargers. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, though foot space was limited. The bZ provided 27.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with an underfloor storage well for additional room. Folding the back seats expanded cargo capacity to 56.9 cubic feet.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades for 2023, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, while all models offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated. The Blazer's tech presentation was competitive, with a large touchscreen and intuitive menus.

The 2026 Toyota bZ came standard with a 7-inch digital driver display and a new 14-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The driver display's placement and readability were criticized, but the 14-inch infotainment system was generally easy to use. However, it lacked a home screen for simultaneous data display and had low-contrast colors in daytime mode. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with various connected service plans available. The Drive Connect feature powered the native navigation system and voice assistant, which performed well in testing.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered the standard Chevy Safety Assist Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Adaptive cruise control was available on lower trims for 2023, and additional safety features included blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though it lacked GM's advanced Super Cruise system.

The 2026 Toyota bZ featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle braking and steering inputs, enhancing safety. The Limited trim added Traffic Jam Assist and other advanced features. The bZ's adaptive cruise control had inconsistent responses, and the driver monitoring system was overly sensitive. The IIHS rated the bZ's front-crash avoidance tech highly, but its headlights and frontal-impact crash-test ratings were less favorable.