Kia Sportage vs Chevrolet Blazer

The 2023 Kia Sportage underwent a radical redesign that gave it an entirely new, somewhat French-inspired look. Gone were the amphibian associations of its predecessors. The new model featured striking boomerang-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) that framed a distinctive grille, complemented by texture metal trim on the D Pillar to round out its unique appearance. Inside, the Sportage moved away from leather seating to synthetic leather upholstery, except for the base LX trim that came with cloth seats. The overall cabin offered pretty good visibility with a two-foot display screen, although the heavy use of hard-wearing plastics and piano-black surfaces showed fingerprints easily. Notably, some touchpoints were a bit uncomfortable due to odd placement.

In contrast, the Chevrolet Blazer embraced road-car aesthetics, opting for a sleeker profile with a low roofline and leaned-back pillars. The RS test vehicle in particular impressed with its blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels that made it stand out. Subtle updates for 2023 included new taillights, revised grille and LED headlights, and additional paint options like Sterling Gray Metallic and Radiant Red Tintcoat. Inside, the Blazer mimicked sportier vehicles like the Camaro with large round air vents and an aesthetic bolstered by a blend of cloth and optional leather upholstery. The material quality on higher-end trims like the RS was notably good.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered multiple powertrain options for the first time, including hybrids. The gas model came with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), this setup fell short of the previous generation’s turbocharged option, significantly affecting its overall punchiness. The fuel economy was decent, with FWD models rated at 25 mpg city and 32 highway.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was offered with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims like RS had a more powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine available, making 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Standard FWD or optional AWD was managed via a nine-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some competitors, switching between FWD and AWD required manual intervention, which wasn’t always convenient. Despite these minor drawbacks, the V6’s performance was more robust, making the Blazer feel quicker and giving it a sportier exhaust note, although it should not be mistaken for a high-performance SUV.

When it came to interior space, the 2023 Kia Sportage offered significant improvements over its predecessor. It stretched 7.1 inches longer and featured 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom along with 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. This made the Sportage quite spacious for its class, albeit marred by some overly complicated HVAC controls that could distract drivers.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer, configured as a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offered nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals but fell a bit short on rear-seat headroom. It provided 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space, which expanded to 64.2 cubic feet with rear seats folded. This lagged behind competitors like the Honda Passport, which offered considerably more space, but the Blazer made up for it with user-friendly features like well-placed USB ports and intuitive climate controls via the large air vents.

The Kia Sportage dazzled with its 12.3-inch touchscreen interface in higher trims and an optional 12.3-inch driver information display. Yet, it puzzled with its backward approach to wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in higher trims, while base trims featured wireless versions. Despite these quirks, the Sportage was well-equipped with USB-C charging ports, navigation, Sirius XM, and even a Harman Kardon stereo in upper trims.

In 2023, the Chevrolet Blazer received notable tech upgrades like a 10.2-inch standard touchscreen and wireless device charging across all trims. It also featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM, and an array of advanced displays depending on trim levels. The infotainment system was intuitive and similar to other Chevy models, with easy-to-navigate menus. The optional 360-degree camera system lacked an easy-access button, slightly hindering its user experience.

Kia outfitted the 2023 Sportage with a long list of safety features, right from automatic emergency braking to lane-keeping assist and lane-following assist. Higher trims introduced blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Unfortunately, some advanced features like Blind-view Monitor and Highway Driving Assist were restricted to top trims.

For the Blazer, Chevy offered the basics of its Safety Assist Package as standard, including automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims and options expanded to include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a Teen Driver monitoring system. In safety ratings, the Blazer earned top marks from both the IIHS and NHTSA, indicating strong crashworthiness.