2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2023 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer presented a sleek and modern aesthetic, diverging from the rugged appearance typical of many crossovers. Its design incorporated styling cues reminiscent of road cars, featuring a low roofline and leaned-back pillars, complemented by a prominent grille and stacked headlights. Despite its sleek profile, the Blazer maintained the visual heft of an SUV, thanks to its tall ride height and robust body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with its blackout trim, vibrant Red Hot paint, and distinctive 21-inch wheels, making it a striking choice in the mainstream crossover segment. The 2023 updates included subtle styling changes, such as new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, and refreshed designs for the grille and LED headlights. These enhancements, along with new wheel designs and additional color options, kept the Blazer's appearance fresh and appealing.

The interior of the Blazer exuded a sporty vibe, with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. Standard features included cloth seats and dual-zone automatic climate control, while higher trims offered leather upholstery. The Blazer RS interior was particularly impressive, featuring blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme. The material quality in this high-end model was noteworthy, adding to the overall appeal of the Blazer's cabin.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, known for its iconic design, retained its boxy shape and flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured elements that paid homage to past models, such as the heritage grille with "TOYOTA" spelled out, round headlights on the base and top trims, and rectangular headlights on the mid-grade trim. All lighting was LED, blending classic inspiration with modern standards. The two higher trims offered color-selectable fog lights, adding a contemporary twist. The Land Cruiser's design updates included a lowered beltline for improved visibility and standard 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options for the middle trim. The First Edition trim came equipped with additional off-road gear, enhancing its rugged appeal.

Inside, the Land Cruiser offered a range of seating options, from cloth seats in the base trim to SofTex in the middle trim, and real leather with unique logos in the First Edition. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard across all trims. The Premium Package, available for the top two trims, added features like a moonroof and ventilated front seats. The cabin of the mid-grade tester was comfortable, with cushy seats, a padded center console, and attractive contrast stitching, emphasizing both comfort and capability. The interior layout allowed drivers to focus on navigating challenging terrains without discomfort.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year, offering a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque for most models. The Blazer RS and optional 3LT and Premier trims featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some competitors that automatically switched between FWD and AWD. The V6-powered Blazer RS demonstrated impressive acceleration and a sporty exhaust note, though it wasn't a performance SUV. Its weight and top-heavy design affected handling, but the Blazer remained a pleasant highway cruiser with standard Active Noise Cancellation and a well-tuned suspension. The Blazer's 4,500-pound towing capacity was competitive for its class, but its design and features were more suited for pavement than off-road adventures.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser marked a significant shift with its hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 1.87-kWh battery pack, and a 48-horsepower electric motor, producing a combined 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard full-time four-wheel drive, with an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case for high and low range. The Multi-Terrain Select system, available on mid-tier and First Edition models, operated in both 4Hi and 4Lo. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were enhanced by standard rear- and center-locking differentials, with a push-button disconnect for the front sway bar on higher trims. The updated CRAWL control function offered five speed settings for precise off-road navigation, operating silently compared to previous versions. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, with its transmission and systems working seamlessly to tackle challenging terrains.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering a spacious feel from the driver's seat without being cumbersome to maneuver. Its front-seat headroom was comparable to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport, while rear-seat headroom was slightly below average but better than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Blazer provided 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite these numbers, the Blazer's design made it easy to park and offered functional interior details, such as conveniently placed USB ports and intuitive climate controls.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, based on the Prado, featured two rows of seating, with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road features, with controls for the stabilizer-bar disconnect and lockers conveniently located. The cargo area offered 37.5 cubic feet of space, with a raised load floor and a rubber mat for easy cleaning. The trunk included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims, enhancing its practicality for various needs.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive menus and a large touchscreen. However, the lack of a dedicated button for the optional 360-degree camera system was noted. The Blazer's tech presentation was competitive, with the new touchscreen being one of the largest in its segment.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser came equipped with the Multi-Terrain Monitor system on higher trims, utilizing a 12.3-inch center touchscreen display for off-road navigation. The infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for front and rear passengers. The base trim featured an 8-inch display and a six-speaker sound system, while the middle trim offered a 10-speaker system with an optional upgrade to a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. The Premium Package added a head-up display and a digital rear-view mirror, enhancing the Land Cruiser's tech offerings.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered a range of safety features, with the standard Chevy Safety Assist Package including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and more. Adaptive cruise control was available on lower trims for 2023, expanding its availability. Optional features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with a five-star overall safety rating from the latter.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Toyota's reputation and the platform's performance in other models provided confidence in its safety. All Land Cruisers came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and more. The Premium Package added advanced features like lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist, enhancing the Land Cruiser's safety suite.