Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured 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 high-end features like 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with heated/ventilated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer resembled a mini version of the Chevrolet Blazer midsize crossover, offering a balance of SUV toughness and upscale appearance. It featured intricate headlight and taillight elements and dark chrome trim. The Activ and RS models had unique styling elements, with the Activ model sporting a rugged look with a faux skid plate, roof rails, and Hankook Sport Terrain 17-inch tires. The RS model had blacked-out exterior trim, a mesh grille, and dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips. Both models offered contrasting roofs in red, black, or white, depending on the exterior color. The interior of the Activ model included a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat, with a mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim. The Trailblazer's cabin design included grab handles around the center console and a creased dashboard and air vents, adding a distinctive touch.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included the Selec-Terrain system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was standard, offering adjustable height for off-roading, highway driving, or easier ingress and egress. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer could handle a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle, and it could ford up to 24 inches of water. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a stately pace due to its size and weight, which affected its agility and ride quality.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX. It offered a standard 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, and an optional 1.3-liter turbo-three with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The 1.2-liter engine was available only with front-wheel drive, while the 1.3-liter engine could be paired with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel-drive models had a continuously variable transmission, while all-wheel-drive models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Trailblazer Activ model, equipped with the 1.3-liter engine and nine-speed automatic, provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. The Activ model's dampers were tuned for gravel roads but performed well on pavement, offering a composed and nimble ride. The Trailblazer had a selectable all-wheel-drive system, requiring manual engagement, and offered Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes, although the differences between modes were subtle.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80, although front-row space was more limited. The Grand Wagoneer provided 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 offered 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than its rivals. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. Forward visibility was somewhat limited by the hood, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs, offered decent utility. It was 3.4 inches wider and stood about an inch taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a longer wheelbase for improved passenger space. The Trailblazer matched the Kia Seltos on front and rear headroom, with mid-pack legroom, and offered more rear legroom than the Buick Encore GX. The rear seats were comfortable for short trips, but the flat cushions made long journeys 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 them folded, respectable for the segment but behind the Kia Seltos. It had a towing capacity of 1,000 pounds. Up front, the Trailblazer featured a covered storage bin, a deep tray, cupholders, and a phone storage tray, with a small carve-out above the dashboard of uncertain function.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer and a second screen for seat massagers. A separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger was available, with Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, based on Android, offered over-the-air updates. While the screen was sometimes slow to respond, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging. The Trailblazer's 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 effectively conveyed information. Smart design touches included a person-shaped icon for pedestrian detection and an indicator for the engine start/stop system.

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 with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring hands on the wheel, with a hands-free version planned for certain highways.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer was named a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, receiving top scores in all crash tests and high marks for front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. 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.