2022 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a typical SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior mirrored the exterior's simplicity, with an optional Dual SkyScape sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 price tag.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer, available in 2LT, 3LT, Premier, and RS trims, featured a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with the RS trim boasting a V6 engine and a sophisticated AWD system. The Blazer saw minor updates for 2022, including revised bumper and bodyside trim on the Premier, a new Enhanced Convenience Package, and a Trailering Package for turbo-four models. The Blazer's pricing ranged from $33,400 to $41,100, with our RS test vehicle costing $49,000. The Blazer's Camaro-inspired design was appealing, especially with 20-inch wheels, but the black trim on the rear bumper gave it an unfinished look. Inside, the Blazer had Camaro-like infotainment and climate controls, with an 8-inch touchscreen and innovative air vents. However, the interior had plenty of hard plastic, and the upper door panel trim felt cheap. The RS model's red interior accents matched the exterior paint, adding a touch of sophistication.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel as powerful as expected, though it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well but occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and didn't fully utilize its torque vectoring capabilities. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Blazer RS featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, also paired with a nine-speed automatic. The V6 engine offered satisfying acceleration but was often loud and unrefined. The Blazer RS felt firm and sporty in city and highway driving, with decent grip from the 20-inch wheels. However, it was less impressive on twisty roads, with a bouncy suspension and slow downshifts from the transmission. The steering felt artificially heavy in Sport mode, and the Blazer's driving dynamics didn't match its sporty styling. The Blazer RS had a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 pounds and averaged 20.5 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS model, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. Despite its size, the Traverse had limited interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's interior was comfortable and functional, with black leather upholstery and red perforations in the RS model. The steering wheel had power tilt and telescopic adjustment and heating. Both front seats offered power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the bottom cushions lacked thigh support. The Blazer had dual-zone automatic climate control, effective air conditioning, and rear air vents with USB ports and a power outlet. The back seat was spacious and could slide forward and back to adjust cargo or passenger space. The Blazer had ample storage, including a large glove compartment, center armrest bin, and door panel shelves. The cargo area offered 30.5 cubic feet with the seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats down, which was small for a midsize crossover.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in the RS model was user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also had a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had two USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system was user-friendly, with an 8-inch touchscreen, power/volume knob, and tuning buttons. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with satellite radio and connected navigation available on higher trims. The Blazer also offered OnStar Safety and Security and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The infotainment system was easy to use, with separate stereo and climate controls. The enhanced voice recognition and connected navigation systems were impressive. The Blazer had wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Bose audio system. Safety features included rear parking sensors, a high-resolution reversing camera, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact crash tests. The Traverse offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with adaptive cruise control only available on the top trim. Other features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also had a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Available safety upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and LED headlights. The IIHS did not give the Blazer a "Top Safety Pick" rating due to its headlight performance. The Blazer's advanced driving aids worked well, with smooth adaptive cruise control and effective lane-keeping assistance.