2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was built on the N3 platform, shared with the larger Kia Sorento, resulting in a noticeable size increase over its 2022 predecessor. It was 7.1 inches longer, with a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase, enhancing rear-seat legroom. The new model was also about an inch taller and half an inch wider. The Sportage Hybrid featured a bold design with angular LED headlights and distinctive “boomerang” LED daytime running lights, giving it a unique appearance. The interior was centered around a large optional infotainment display, with a minimalist and elegant design. While base models had cloth seats, higher trims offered SynTex artificial leather, which felt somewhat cheap. The SX-Prestige trim included gloss black plastic trim, which quickly showed fingerprints and glare.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer resembled a smaller version of the Chevrolet Blazer, offering a balanced SUV toughness without exaggeration. It featured intricate lighting elements and dark chrome trim, giving it an upscale look. The Activ and RS models had unique styling elements, with the Activ model sporting a rugged look and the RS model featuring a sportier design. The Trailblazer offered contrasting roof colors, adding a distinctive and retro touch. Inside, the Trailblazer had a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim. While the interior didn’t scream “outdoor adventure,” it had distinctive design touches like grab handles and a creased dashboard.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid was powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor, producing a combined 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The base LX trim offered standard front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive, while the EX and SX-Prestige trims were all-wheel drive only. The Sportage Hybrid delivered smooth and predictable acceleration, with a seamless transition between electric and gasoline power. The well-tuned transmission provided smooth shifts and quick responses, contributing to a quiet cabin and comfortable ride. However, the Sportage Hybrid’s steering felt nonlinear, especially in Sport mode, and its towing capacity was limited to 2,000 pounds.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX. It came standard with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, while an optional 1.3-liter turbo-three increased output to 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 offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. The Trailblazer Activ test car had the 1.3-liter engine and all-wheel drive, providing a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. The nine-speed automatic transmission, however, exhibited some rough shifts. The Trailblazer’s ride quality was generally good, but the Activ-specific damper tuning caused some uncomfortable bouncing over road imperfections. The selectable all-wheel drive system required manual engagement, unlike most competitors’ automatic systems.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid offered competitive interior space, with slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version. It provided more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids but less for second-row passengers. Rear-seat legroom was best-in-class, tied with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid. The Sportage Hybrid featured a dual-level cargo floor, offering 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with them folded. The interior included a rotary shift knob, large bin for phones, USB ports, and clever cupholders.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs, offered decent utility. It matched the Kia Seltos on headroom and provided mid-pack legroom. The Trailblazer’s rear seats were comfortable for short trips, but the flat cushions made long journeys less appealing. It offered 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 54.4 cubic feet with them folded. The Trailblazer’s cargo capacity was respectable but limited for larger loads. Up front, it featured a covered storage bin, deep tray, cupholders, and phone storage tray, with a small dashboard carve-out of uncertain function.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The EX model upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige featured a panoramic display combining a 12.3-inch screen with a digital instrument cluster. The panoramic display was visually impressive and user-friendly, with touch controls below the screen for audio and climate adjustments. Hybrid models included four standard USB-C ports, with additional rear USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system available on higher trims.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer featured a standard 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, 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging. While the Trailblazer’s tech offerings were adequate for most buyers, the optional touchscreen was relatively small, and a fully digital instrument cluster wasn’t available. The 8-inch touchscreen provided easy-to-read graphics and logical menus, while the combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges conveyed information effectively.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid’s crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of testing. The base LX trim included standard forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and safe-exit warning, while the SX-Prestige trim offered advanced features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, a blind-spot view camera, 360-degree camera system, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with standard safety features such as 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, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer received a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with high marks for crash prevention tech and LED headlights.