Kia Seltos vs Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2024 Kia Seltos emerged with subtle yet impactful design tweaks as part of its mid-cycle refresh. It showcased updated headlight and grille designs, and a new light strip connecting the two taillights, which were now smaller. These minor modifications collectively breathed fresh life into the vehicle without significantly escalating costs. Our test model sported the new "Pluton Blue" paint, which appeared very sharp and appealing.

Inside, the Seltos offered two new interior colors: “Gentle Brown” and “Midnight Green.” Our model had the standard black interior, yet the most striking feature was the large digital panel spanning two-thirds of the dashboard, combining a fully digital instrument cluster and an expanded touchscreen infotainment system.

The Seltos came in several trims: LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX. The base LX trim included 17-inch alloy wheels, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, two USB ports, air conditioning, remote keyless entry, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The higher S trim added fog lights, LED daytime running lights, silver roof rails, and heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals. It also gained a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and the fully digital instrument panel.

In the mid-level EX trim, buyers found features like synthetic leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a wireless device charging pad. The new X-Line trim replaced the Nightfall Edition, adding distinct dark gunmetal grille design and black sport design roof rails, while foregoing the wireless charging pad and power-adjustable driver’s seat. The SX trim, as the top-tier variant, boasted 18-inch alloy wheels, LED bi-function headlights, an electrochromatic rearview mirror, and a Bose premium stereo system, with the option to add a power sunroof and ventilated front seats through the SX Sunroof Package.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer continued to emphasize sporty aggression, inheriting design elements that faintly resembled the sporty Camaro. This year's minor refresh included thinner top accent lights for a focused look and a reshaped grille suggesting a need for more air intake. The lower headlights were now smaller, set deeper in faceted cutouts, lending a more athletic and serious appearance.

Inside, the Trailblazer saw a more cohesive digital makeover with a new digital instrument panel and an 11-inch touchscreen infotainment display, larger than last year's options. However, at night, we noticed that the instrument panel didn't occupy the entire trapezoidal enclosure, leaving a distracting amount of empty space.

The Trailblazer's interior relied on harder plastic surfaces for the doors and dash, though these had convincing grain textures. Padded armrests, fabric inserts in the door panels, and large door pockets made the space practical and somewhat inviting. Compared to rivals like the Volkswagen Taos, Hyundai Kona, and Mazda CX-30, the Trailblazer's interior design leaned towards functional rather than luxurious or chic.

The 2024 Kia Seltos provided a range of two powertrain options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, coupled with Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT), a type of CVT with simulated gears. The base LX trim featured all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, while the S and EX trims offered front-wheel drive (FWD) with an AWD option.

Higher trims like the X-Line and SX came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine outputting 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, an increase from the previous year. This engine connected to a new eight-speed automatic transmission, standard with AWD. The turbo engine offered noticeable power improvements, especially in 40-to-60 mph acceleration situations, making highway merging and overtaking relatively effortless. Despite a bit of turbo lag at lower speeds, switching to Sport mode mitigated this, providing a more spirited and responsive driving experience. The SUV handled various New England road conditions well, displaying minimal body roll and a responsive steering system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered a choice between a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The 1.2-liter engine's performance was further hampered by its CVT, delivering sluggish acceleration and an uninspiring engine note under load. Our Activ-trim test model featured the more powerful 1.3-liter engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD.

Despite the better engine, acceleration remained somewhat lackluster with a zero to 60 mph time exceeding nine seconds, one of the slower times in its class. The Trailblazer handled predictably but did not encourage spirited driving. The ride was comfortable on varied surfaces, with well-muted road and wind noise, but it couldn’t match the more athletic offerings of rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 in handling and power.

In terms of cargo space, the 2024 Kia Seltos offered 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down and 26.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. The SX trim included a hands-free power liftgate. The Seltos also provided ample headroom and a comfortable upright seating position, which bolstered both driver visibility and rear legroom. Practical storage solutions included decently sized in-door cupholders, door cubbies, and a front center console tray.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer delivered 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, closely trailing the Hyundai Kona. The Trailblazer's front cabin felt spacious with good visibility and intuitive controls. It featured a well-sized wireless charging pad, medium-sized cupholders, and a deep bin under the armrest for additional storage. The rear seats offered ample legroom and sufficient headroom for passengers under six feet tall, making the Trailblazer a practical choice for families.

Comparatively, while the Trailblazer trailed slightly in maximum cargo capacity, it compensated with superior passenger comfort in the back and better storage compartment options up front.

On the technology front, the 2024 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the base LX trim, upgraded to a 10.25-inch screen from the S trim upwards. The 10.25-inch infotainment system was paired with a fully digital instrument panel, both of which benefitted from a logical layout and responsiveness, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SX trim came with an eight-speaker Bose premium stereo system, while most trims had a six-speaker setup. Notably, the Seltos retained physical controls for volume, tuning, and climate, enhancing user-friendliness.

For the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer, an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen became standard across all trims, an improvement from last year. This system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, complemented by an optional wireless charging pad. Satellite radio was standard on all trims, though drivers would need a Sirius XM subscription. The digital instrument panel was clear and sharp but lacked a native navigation system, leaning heavily on smartphone connectivity for navigation needs. The available Bose premium audio upgrade offered improved sound quality over the standard six-speaker setup.

The 2024 Kia Seltos came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features. Standard inclusions were forward collision avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, automatic high beams, and driver attention warning. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, Safe Exit Warning, smart cruise control with traffic stop-and-go, traffic sign recognition, highway driving assist, and a junction-turning function.

In terms of safety ratings, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer earned five stars from the NHTSA for overall, frontal, and side crash evaluations, and four for rollover protection. The IIHS awarded it high marks too. Standard Trailblazer safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning. Additional driver aids, like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors, were available through packages, while adaptive cruise control was a standalone option. Though comprehensive, some rivals offered more standard safety features.