2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was an extended version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, adding 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. This extension also included a five-inch longer wheelbase, providing more legroom in the second row and wider rear doors. The additional length and mass blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. Jeep's decision to release the L model first in 2021, before the two-row version in 2022, contributed to this perception. The Grand Cherokee L maintained Jeep's iconic design elements, such as the seven-slot rectangular grille and U-shaped wheel arches, while modernizing the lighting and improving paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, with new exterior paint colors introduced for 2022.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer, in contrast, adopted styling cues more akin to road cars, featuring a low roofline and a sleek profile with a big grille framed by stacked headlights. Despite its sleek design, the Blazer retained the visual weight of an SUV due to its tall ride height and body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels. For 2023, the Blazer received minor styling updates, including new taillights with twisted filament-like elements, tweaked grille and LED headlight designs, and new wheel designs. The interior of the Blazer had a sportier aesthetic, with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro. Higher trim levels offered leather upholstery and additional features, enhancing the overall material quality.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engine options: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The V6 engine produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but it struggled to provide sufficient power for the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The V8 engine, available only on higher trims, delivered a more robust 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for the V6 was decent at an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17 mpg. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was praised for its ride composure and steering feel, with an optional air suspension offering five ride height settings for various driving conditions. The vehicle's maximum towing capacity was 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. Most models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer RS and higher trims offered a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some rivals that automatically switched between FWD and AWD. The V6-powered Blazer RS provided impressive acceleration and a sporty exhaust note, but its handling was affected by its considerable weight and top-heavy design. The Blazer's maximum towing capacity was 4,500 pounds for V6 models with the trailering package.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. The system included physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions, making it user-friendly. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L provided ample space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat optional. However, the air vents were criticized for insufficient airflow, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was noisy.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering nearly identical front-seat headroom to rivals like the Ford Edge and Honda Passport. 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 in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was less than most competitors. Despite the numbers, the Blazer felt spacious from behind the wheel and was easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Functional details like the placement of USB ports and the twistable air vent rings for temperature control were appreciated.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a range of high-end features on upper trims, including multiple massage modes for the 16-way power adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, and a 360-degree camera system. The Uconnect system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and new for 2022 were optional touchscreens for the front passenger and rear-seat passengers. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. Higher trims added features like automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, and a rear-facing camera for the second and third rows.

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, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu layout. Standard tech features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Blazer's tech presentation was modern, with a large touchscreen and an optional 360-degree camera system.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the time of review. Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered the standard Chevy Safety Assist Package, which included automatic emergency braking, a following distance indicator, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was available on more trims for 2023. Optional safety features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, a 360-degree camera system, and GM’s Teen Driver monitoring system. The IIHS gave the Blazer high ratings in crash tests and front-crash prevention, while the NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating.