2023 Kia Sportage vs 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV

The 2023 Kia Sportage emerged as a striking departure from its predecessors, showcasing a design that was both bold and reminiscent of French automotive aesthetics. Its exterior, characterized by boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and a distinctive grille, captured attention and exuded an exotic flair. The Sportage's seven trim levels, including the new X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige, offered a range of styling options. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, maintaining a balance between durability and a touch of luxury with leather-wrapped steering wheels and shift knobs in higher trims. The cabin featured a large display dominating the dashboard, although some interior elements, like the hard plastic plate near the door handle, detracted from the overall experience.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV represented a significant evolution for the Blazer nameplate, transitioning from its truck-based origins to a sleek, electric SUV. Built on GM's Ultium platform, the Blazer EV boasted a long wheelbase shared with the Cadillac Lyriq, giving it a stretched appearance. Its design incorporated a tall hood, a scowling front end, and boomerang-shaped taillights, lending it a more aggressive stance compared to other electric SUVs. The Blazer EV's interior featured large round air vents and a flat-bottom steering wheel, with optional red leather upholstery adding a playful touch. While some interior components felt flimsy, the cabin largely avoided the overuse of piano-black plastic, offering a more refined environment.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, the Sportage delivered a fuel efficiency of 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with FWD, and 23/28/25 with AWD. Despite its increased power compared to the previous model, the Sportage's naturally aspirated engine lacked the punch of its predecessor's turbocharged option. The X-Line and X-Pro trims added rugged visual cues and off-road capabilities, with the X-Pro featuring all-terrain tires and specific drive modes for various conditions. The Sportage's 8.3 inches of ground clearance on AWD models made it capable off-road, though the X-Pro's on-road performance was compromised by its higher ground clearance and all-terrain tires.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV offered a choice between single-motor rear-wheel drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrains. The RWD model delivered 340 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque with a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack, while the AWD version offered 288 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque with an 85-kWh pack. A forthcoming Blazer EV SS model promised even more power, with 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer EV's RWD and AWD versions provided strong acceleration, though the RWD model was somewhat traction-limited. The Blazer EV's handling was precise, but its stiff suspension compromised ride comfort. The vehicle featured a steering-wheel paddle for adjusting regenerative braking, enhancing driver involvement.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, offered increased dimensions compared to its predecessor, with a 7.1-inch longer body and a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase. This expansion translated to impressive interior space, with 41.3 inches of rear-seat legroom and 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The front seats provided ample storage, though the touch-sensitive HVAC controls proved frustrating to use, with dual-functionality buttons complicating basic operations.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, while appearing more like a traditional SUV, offered interior dimensions similar to the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6. Its cargo space measured 25.5 cubic feet with the second row in place and 59.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, falling short of the gasoline Blazer's capacity. The Blazer EV featured a "presence activated" liftgate and a stylized interior with adequate small-item storage. However, some climate controls and headlight buttons were moved to the touchscreen, requiring adjustment from users.

The 2023 Kia Sportage impressed with its technology offerings, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on EX and higher trims, paired with a panoramic 12.3-inch driver information display on SX trims and above. While the system was visually appealing, the lack of wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on higher trims puzzled users. The Sportage included wireless charging, rear USB-C ports, navigation, and a Harman Kardon stereo on select trims, providing a comprehensive tech package.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV introduced a Google-based infotainment system with built-in Google apps, though it lacked standalone Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The system featured a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, offering sharp graphics and built-in route planning. The Blazer EV's user experience was generally positive, though the touchscreen's angle and the reliance on touchscreen-based controls for certain functions posed challenges. The vehicle also featured a hands-free start sequence, marking a shift toward a high-tech driving experience.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a robust suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims included advanced features like the blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist, though crash-test ratings were not available at the time.

The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV came equipped with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Optional features included reverse automatic braking and the Super Cruise hands-free driver assist system. Like the Sportage, crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.