Toyota Highlander vs Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window that gave it a compact appearance despite its spacious interior. Inside, the Highlander offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions, making it ideal for families. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, navy blue exterior, unique styling, ambient lighting, and sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander was available in several trims, each offering a range of features from basic to luxurious, including options like a panoramic sunroof, adaptive headlights, and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, on the other hand, presented a mini version of the Chevrolet Blazer with a tough yet refined look. It featured intricate lighting elements and dark chrome trim, giving it an upscale appearance. The Activ and RS models offered unique styling, with the Activ focusing on ruggedness and the RS on a sportier look. The Trailblazer's contrasting roof options added a distinctive touch, and its interior, while not adventure-themed, included design elements like grab handles and a creased dashboard. The Trailblazer's cabin was comfortable, though the rear seats were better suited for short trips due to their flat cushions.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The Highlander offered a drive-mode button with Sport, Normal, and Eco modes, and an AWD system with Mud/Sand, Rock, and Normal modes. While the V6 provided better pickup at higher speeds, it was less lively from a standstill. The Highlander excelled in handling, with a sport-tuned suspension on the XSE trim that reduced body roll and maintained comfort. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in FWD L and LE trims.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform with the Buick Encore GX and offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and a 1.3-liter with 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The 1.2-liter engine was FWD only, while the 1.3-liter could be paired with AWD. FWD models had a CVT, while AWD models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Trailblazer Activ model, with its AWD and 1.3-liter engine, provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note, though the transmission occasionally had rough shifts. The Trailblazer's ride quality was generally good, with some body roll and bouncing over road imperfections. It had a selectable AWD system and offered Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander offered up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The seats were easy to lower and raise, and trims above the base L included a power liftgate. The Highlander's interior was practical, with deep cargo pockets, multiple storage compartments, and cupholders throughout. The XSE trim featured second-row captain's chairs, providing a center aisle to the third row, which was spacious for children but less so for adults.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs, offered decent utility with a wheelbase that maximized passenger space. It matched rivals in headroom and offered more rear legroom than the Buick Encore GX. The Trailblazer's cargo space was 25.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place and 54.4 cubic feet with them folded. While respectable, it was less than some competitors. The Trailblazer's interior included smart storage solutions, such as a covered bin, deep tray, and cupholders, though its cargo capacity was limited for larger loads.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with hard buttons complementing the touchscreen. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and additional USB ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available options.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional upgrades included an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a Bose audio system, and wireless phone charging. While the Trailblazer's tech offerings were adequate for most, they might not satisfy tech-savvy buyers. The 8-inch touchscreen was well-sized for the dashboard, with easy-to-read graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and more. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist were active but could be overly sensitive.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer included standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer received a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention tech.