GMC Yukon vs Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2022 GMC Yukon was a chrome lover's dream. Even the base SLE model featured enough shiny elements to give it a premium look. As you moved up the trim levels to the Denali, the chrome became even more prominent, with the front of the Denali almost entirely constructed of chrome. The multi-dimensional grille resembled an industrial-sized cheese grater, giving the vehicle a unique and commanding presence. The Denali's 22-inch bright machined aluminum wheels, part of the optional Ultimate package, stood out against the dark Redwood Metallic paint. The off-road-oriented AT4 trim had its own distinct look, featuring a dark grille, skid plate, and horizontal red recovery hooks.

Inside, the Yukon offered a spacious and tastefully crafted cabin with standard seating for eight, or seven with the available second-row captain's chairs. Cloth seats were standard on the SLE, while all other trims came with perforated leather. The AT4 and Denali trims included heated and cooled front seats. The Denali also offered four exclusive interior designs, with our test vehicle featuring the Teak/Light Shale color combo, adding layers and textures for a premium look. The AT4 trim featured a Jet Black interior with Brandy accents and dark brushed aluminum details, along with embroidered AT4 badging on the front-seat head restraints.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer looked like a mini version of the Chevrolet Blazer midsize crossover, striking a balance between SUV toughness and upscale appearance. The intricate headlight and taillight elements, along with dark chrome trim, gave it a more premium look than many vehicles in its price range. The Activ and RS models had unique styling elements, with the Activ featuring a rugged look with a faux skid plate, roof rails, and chunky Hankook Sport Terrain 17-inch tires. The RS model had blacked-out exterior trim, a mesh grille, and dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips, along with an optional panoramic sunroof.

The RS and Activ models also came with standard contrasting roofs in red, black, or white, depending on the exterior color. Our Trailblazer Activ tester had a distinctive and retro look with a white roof and Nitro Yellow paint. Inside, the Activ model featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim with gray seat inserts added personality to the otherwise black interior. Design touches like grab handles around the center console and the creased look of the dashboard and air vents made the interior distinctive.

The 2022 GMC Yukon offered three engine choices, including an economical diesel option. The standard engine on all trims except the Denali was a 5.3-liter V8 producing 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The Denali came standard with a 6.2-liter V8 engine, which was also available on the AT4, delivering 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines featured direct injection and fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation technology. New to the lineup was a 3.0-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder engine, available on all trims except the AT4, producing 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. This diesel engine offered excellent fuel economy, with GMC claiming a range of up to 648 miles on a tank.

All three engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Most versions came with standard rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive available as an option. The AT4 trim was only available with four-wheel drive. The Yukon's maximum towing capacity was 8,400 pounds with the 5.3-liter engine and the Max Trailering Package. Our test vehicle, a Yukon Denali, had the 6.2-liter V8 and an 8,200-pound tow rating. The independent rear suspension provided better handling and a smoother ride, especially for third-row passengers. However, our test vehicle exhibited some unwelcome bouncing over rutted pavement under acceleration. The optional air ride adaptive suspension helped improve ride quality and off-road capability by raising the vehicle two inches for better ground clearance.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX. The standard engine was a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-liter turbo-three increased output to 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The 1.2-liter engine was available only with front-wheel drive, while the 1.3-liter engine could be had with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive models came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while all-wheel-drive models had a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Our Trailblazer Activ test car had the 1.3-liter engine and all-wheel drive, paired with the nine-speed automatic transmission. The throttle response was more pleasant in the Trailblazer compared to the Buick Encore GX, providing a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. However, the nine-speed automatic exhibited some rough shifts. The Activ model's dampers, tuned for better performance on gravel roads, worked well on pavement, providing a composed and nimble ride. The Trailblazer had a selectable all-wheel-drive system, requiring the driver to press a button to switch from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive. The Trailblazer also offered Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, although we didn't notice much difference in Sport mode.

The 2022 GMC Yukon provided ample first- and second-row passenger space, with significant improvements in third-row legroom, increasing from 24.8 inches to 34.9 inches. Cargo space behind the third row also increased from 15.3 cubic feet to 25.5 cubic feet. The nearly five-inch wheelbase stretch and six inches of additional length, along with the move to an independent rear suspension, contributed to the extra space. The second-row seats folded flat, and power fold-and-tumble bucket seats were available for easier access to the third row. Our test vehicle featured power-folding second-row buckets and power fold-flat third-row seats.

A unique feature of our Denali test vehicle was the power-sliding center console, which revealed additional storage space and a hidden storage drawer for valuables. The power-retractable, illuminated assist steps made it easier to get in and out of the vehicle. The pushbutton transmission controls, located to the left of the infotainment touchscreen, took some getting used to but became second nature with time.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs on sale, offered decent utility. It matched the Kia Seltos on front and rear headroom, with generous figures for the segment. Legroom was mid-pack, but the Trailblazer offered more rear legroom than the Hyundai Kona and its Buick Encore GX platform mate. The rear seats were comfortable for normal use, but the flat cushions made long road trips less appealing. 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, respectable figures for the segment.

The Trailblazer's cargo capacity was limited for a weekend's worth of luggage for three people. Subcompact SUVs like the Trailblazer also had limited towing capacity, with the Trailblazer rated to tow only 1,000 pounds. Up front, the Trailblazer featured a covered storage bin, a deep tray, cupholders, and a phone storage tray. A small carve-out above the dashboard was present, but its function was unclear.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came standard with a 12-inch reconfigurable driver information center, providing access to phone, audio, and navigation functions. The Denali trim featured a 15-inch multi-color head-up display, the largest in its class, providing driving speed, speed limit, audio information, and safety aids. The 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, wireless phone charging, and an available WiFi hotspot. Our test vehicle had a Bose 14-speaker audio system, which provided adequate sound quality but didn't live up to our expectations. The Denali Ultimate Package included a rear-seat media system with dual 12.6-inch LCD HD touchscreens, compatible with various media formats.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer's standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity, 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. The 8-inch touchscreen was well-sized for the Trailblazer's dashboard, with large, easy-to-read graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information without the need for an all-digital setup.

The 2022 GMC Yukon came with GMC's Pro Safety suite of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking with front pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, following distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Pro Safety Plus package, available on SLE and standard on SLT and above, added lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist. Our test vehicle featured a Safety Alert Seat and an adjustable rear camera mirror. The Yukon received a four-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with four stars for front crash protection, five stars for side crash protection, and three stars for rollover resistance.

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 was named a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), receiving top scores in all crash tests and high marks for front-crash prevention tech. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Trailblazer a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash testing.