Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Chevrolet Blazer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar appearance to the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. It featured traditional SUV styling with a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, with an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered a high-end experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and options for higher-grade Palermo leather and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer took a different approach, opting for styling cues more akin to road cars. It featured a low roofline with leaned-back front and rear pillars for a sleek profile, complemented by a big grille framed by stacked headlights. Despite its road car aesthetics, the Blazer maintained the visual weight of an SUV with its tall ride height and body sides. The Blazer RS model stood out with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels. For 2023, the Blazer received subtle styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, tweaked grille and LED headlight designs, and new wheel options. The interior boasted a sportier aesthetic with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. Cloth seats were standard, but leather upholstery was available on higher trims, and all models featured dual-zone automatic climate control.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds. The vehicle came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering adjustable height for various driving conditions. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer could handle off-road challenges, although its size limited its trail capabilities. The vehicle's quiet cabin and air suspension provided a comfortable ride, but its handling felt ungainly at higher speeds.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered two powertrain options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors with automatic switching. The V6-powered Blazer RS felt quick for a crossover, with a sporty exhaust note, but its handling was affected by its weight and top-heavy design. The Blazer's suspension and Active Noise Cancellation provided a pleasant highway experience, although the 21-inch wheels impacted ride quality. The Blazer's 4,500-pound towing capacity was competitive for its class.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, front-row space was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer offered 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. With all rear seats folded, it provided 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The vehicle's maximum towing capacity was 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to the Grand Wagoneer's extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious feel without being cumbersome to maneuver. Front-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Ford Edge, Honda Passport, and Nissan Murano, while rear-seat headroom was slightly below average. The Blazer provided 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite the numbers, the Blazer felt spacious from the driver's seat, with short overhangs aiding in parking and an unobstructed windshield view enhancing the sense of space. Functional interior details included well-placed USB ports and innovative air vent controls.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two phones and offered a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer also offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and Fire TV for Auto. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with an Android-based operating system, supported over-the-air updates. While the system was feature-rich, the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, 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, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu layout. However, the lack of a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera system was noted. The Blazer's tech presentation was modern, with the new touchscreen being one of the largest in its segment. The optional 8-inch instrument cluster display complemented the analog gauges, enhancing the tech experience.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane centering, requiring hands-on driving, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer expanded its safety feature availability for 2023. The standard Chevy Safety Assist Package included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control became available on more trim levels, and other optional features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The IIHS awarded the Blazer its highest "Good" rating in crash tests and "Superior" and "Advanced" ratings for front-crash prevention. The NHTSA gave the Blazer a five-star overall safety rating.