2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer had a sleek, road-car-inspired design, featuring a low roofline and leaned-back front and rear pillars. Its big grille, framed by stacked headlights, and tall ride height gave it the visual weight of a proper SUV. The Blazer RS test vehicle stood out with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, making it remarkably striking for a mainstream crossover. 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 boasted a sportier aesthetic with an upright dashboard and large round air vents reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car. Higher trim levels offered leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control, with the Blazer RS featuring blue trim, chrome accents, and a two-tone upholstery scheme.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 showcased a purposeful yet understated design. Its front end appeared stout and solid, with an assertive grille and recognizable “Thor’s Hammer” headlights adding a modern flair. The XC90’s dimensions and shape leaned toward rectilinear but were far from the boxy designs of past Volvos. Our test vehicle, an AWD Ultimate trim, featured 21-inch wheels and Platinum Gray paint with brown undertones, adding richness and depth. Inside, the XC90’s design was elegant, with a two-tone leather steering wheel, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, an Orrefors crystal shift knob, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist interior featured wood deco inlays and a clean look, with few buttons or physical controls, giving it a decidedly minimalist feel.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. Most models had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer RS and optional 3LT and Premier trims featured 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 from FWD to AWD. The V6-powered Blazer RS felt quick for a crossover, with a sporty exhaust note, but its considerable weight and top-heavy design impacted handling. The Blazer’s 4,500-pound maximum towing capacity was in line with other midsize SUVs.

For 2023, Volvo replaced the older turbocharged 2.0-liter engines in the XC90 with new B5 and B6 engines featuring mild-hybrid technology. The B5 engine, with a turbocharger and 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The B6 powertrain, with a supercharger and turbo, delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency and smoothness but didn’t offer significant fuel-economy benefits. The XC90’s eight-speed automatic transmission provided quick acceleration, and the vehicle handled well despite its bulky dimensions. The XC90’s brakes inspired confidence, and road and wind noise were minimal. The XC90 lacked extensive customizable driving dynamics, focusing on simplicity with a manual shift feature and an off-road mode.

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, trailing behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite the numbers, the Blazer felt spacious from behind the wheel, with functional interior details like USB port placement and temperature control via air vent rings.

The 2023 Volvo XC90’s front seats offered a peaceful and pleasant experience, but the minimalist design led to some storage frustrations. The XC90 lacked a dedicated space for cell phones, and the USB port was located in the small center console bin. The second row was comfortable but challenging to adjust, and accessing the third row was difficult with the standard seven-passenger seating. The XC90 offered 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in place, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded, falling short of competitors like the Audi Q7 and Infiniti QX60. The XC90 drove like a smaller car than typical three-row SUVs, contributing to its appeal.

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. Standard tech included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu sequence, although a physical button for the optional 360-degree camera system would have been appreciated.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, with Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant as standard features. The 12.3-inch driver information display also showed Google Maps. The natural-language recognition of Google Assistant enhanced the user experience, and owners could issue commands via Google Home devices. However, many key functions were filed within the touchscreen interface, leading to some frustration. The minimalist design meant fewer physical buttons, requiring screen interaction for tasks like adjusting the driver’s seat or turning on the heated steering wheel.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer offered the standard Chevy Safety Assist Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was available on the 2LT and 3LT trims, and other optional safety features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. The Blazer received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and high ratings from the IIHS, although it lacked GM’s advanced Super Cruise system.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety, carrying a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which maintained distance from the car ahead and helped keep the vehicle in its lane. These features contributed to the XC90’s reputation as one of the safest vehicles on the road.