2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 MINI Countryman

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer resembled a smaller version of the Chevrolet Blazer midsize crossover, striking a balance between SUV toughness and upscale appearance. Intricate headlight and taillight elements, along with dark chrome trim, added a touch of sophistication. The Activ and RS models featured unique styling elements, with the Activ aiming for a rugged look and the RS adopting a sportier, boy-racer aesthetic. Contrasting roofs in red, black, or white added a distinctive and retro flair, making the Trailblazer stand out among subcompact crossovers.

Inside, the Trailblazer Activ model boasted a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The mix of copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim with gray seat inserts gave the interior a unique personality. Design touches like grab handles around the center console and a creased dashboard added to its distinctive look, even if it didn’t scream “outdoor adventure.”

The 2024 MINI Countryman, true to its brand, embraced classic Mini styling cues with an erect wraparound windshield, floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. The Countryman offered numerous paint, roof, and mirror cap treatments, along with multiple wheel designs. The lineup included Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works models, each with different drivetrains. The Cooper S and John Cooper Works versions featured turbocharged four-cylinder engines, while the Cooper SE was a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

Our test car, a Cooper S with the Iconic trim package, came with dark-tinted privacy glass, an adaptive damping suspension, and 19-inch wheels. The Iconic trim added premium leather, power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charging, and a semi-autonomous parking system. The dual-panel moonroof allowed plenty of natural light into the cabin, enhancing the overall experience. The Mini’s jaunty styling and retro interior design made it a standout in a segment often filled with blandly interchangeable small SUVs.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX. It came standard with a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-liter turbo-three increased output to 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. The 1.2-liter engine was available only with front-wheel drive (FWD), while the 1.3-liter engine could be paired with either FWD or all-wheel drive (AWD). FWD models had a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Our Trailblazer Activ test car, equipped with AWD and the 1.3-liter engine, provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. The nine-speed automatic, though occasionally rough, performed better in the Trailblazer than in the Buick Encore GX. The Activ model’s dampers, tuned for gravel roads, worked well on pavement, offering good ride quality despite some bouncing over road imperfections. The Trailblazer’s selectable AWD system required manual engagement, unlike competitors’ automatic systems. Drive modes included Normal, Sport, and Snow, though Sport mode didn’t significantly alter the driving experience.

The 2024 MINI Countryman offered a range of powertrains, with the John Cooper Works (JCW) model standing out for its performance. The JCW featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 301 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and AWD. Mini claimed the JCW could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, making it the choice for speed enthusiasts.

The Cooper S, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 189 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, was more suitable for most drivers. It came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DCT) for FWD models and an eight-speed sport automatic for AWD models. The Cooper S could reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds (7.1 seconds with AWD). The Countryman excelled in daily driving, offering a zippy and athletic feel. However, it wasn’t particularly engaging for spirited driving, even with summer performance tires and an adaptive damping suspension. Our test vehicle averaged 25.4 mpg in combined driving, slightly below its EPA rating of 28 mpg.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though one of the smallest SUVs on the market, offered decent utility. It was 3.4 inches wider and an inch taller than the original 1999 Chevy S-10 Blazer, with a longer wheelbase for better passenger space. The Trailblazer matched the Kia Seltos in front and rear headroom and offered more rear legroom than the Hyundai Kona and Buick Encore GX. However, the rear seats’ flat cushions made long trips less comfortable.

Cargo space was respectable, with 25.3 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. While it fell short of the Kia Seltos, it was comparable to the Honda HR-V. The Trailblazer’s cargo capacity was limited for traditional SUV users, and its towing capacity was only 1,000 pounds. Up front, designers maximized storage with a covered bin, deep tray, cupholders, and a phone storage tray. A small carve-out above the dashboard’s function remained unclear.

The 2024 MINI Countryman provided room for four adults and their luggage for a week-long road trip. Our test vehicle, with the Iconic trim package, featured dual-zone automatic climate control, premium leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The seats were small but supportive, and the steering wheel was a delight to grip. While the Countryman had seatbelts for five, four adults would be more comfortable.

Outward visibility was excellent, and the Mini’s compact dimensions made parking easy. However, it lacked a surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert, offering only parking sensors, a reversing camera, and an optional automated parking assistance system. Interior storage was reasonable, though the smartphone charging pad blocked access to the tray beneath it. Cargo space was limited, with 17.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Cooper SE PHEV model had slightly smaller measurements.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear-seat USB ports, and wireless phone charging. While the optional touchscreen was relatively small, it was well-sized for the dashboard and easy to use. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information.

The 2024 MINI Countryman wasn’t a technology powerhouse but offered useful features. Our test vehicle had a small digital instrumentation display and a head-up display (HUD) projecting information on a small screen. The 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, housed in a round casing reminiscent of classic Mini models, used BMW’s iDrive technology. It offered five interaction methods: touchscreen, volume and tuning controls, steering wheel controls, a control knob and buttons on the center console, and voice recognition. The system was easy to navigate and use, though it lacked Android Auto, providing only Apple CarPlay. The Iconic trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, which sounded great.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2024 MINI Countryman had fewer advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, rear parking sensors, and an emergency SOS call button. Adaptive cruise control was optional with the Signature or Iconic trim. The Countryman lacked blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and a surround-view camera system. The IIHS rated the Countryman “Good” in crashworthiness evaluations.