2023 Kia Sportage vs 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2023 Kia Sportage had a design evolution over its first four generations, ranging from quirky to mundane and then striking. By the spring of 2023, the Sportage arrived with a complete redesign that had a somewhat French flair to it. Without the new Kia badge, it could almost pass for a vehicle from French automakers such as Renault, Peugeot, or Citroen. This wasn't intended as criticism but rather a compliment. The 2023 Sportage appeared exotic and exciting, likely to garner attention on the road. With its bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights (DRLs) framing a distinctive grille and textured metal trim on the D Pillar, the Sportage exuded a sense of class.

This year's model featured seven trim levels: LX, EX, SX, SX Prestige, and the new X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige trims. Inside, Kia opted for more durable synthetic leather, replacing traditional leather seating. The base LX trim came with cloth seats. Despite being more durable and animal-friendly, the synthetic leather didn't have the same luxurious feel as real leather. Leather-wrapped steering wheels and shift knobs were included in higher trims.

The driving view was excellent with a large front windshield and a low beltline for superior peripheral visibility. Most trims showcased a striking dash with over two feet of display, though typical of the compact-crossover segment, it also featured some hard-wearing and piano-black plastics which attracted fingerprints and could be an irritant. The dual-zone full automatic climate control was standard above the base trim and provided a comfortable and controlled environment.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, in contrast, looked like a mini version of the larger Chevrolet Blazer. It carried the right amount of SUV robustness without exaggerated features, complemented by intricate headlight and taillight designs and dark chrome accents, giving it an upscale vibe for its price range.

The trim-specific Activ and RS models each offered unique styling cues. The Activ trim projected a rugged look with a specific front fascia incorporating a faux skid plate, enhancing ground clearance, and standard roof rails and 17-inch Hankook Sport Terrain tires. The RS trim had a more sporty appearance with blacked-out exterior trim, a mesh grille, and dual exhaust outlets with chrome tips, along with the option for a panoramic sunroof.

These trims also featured standard contrasting roofs available in red, black, or white, lending distinctive and retro aesthetics. Inside, the Activ model boasted a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leatherette upholstery, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. It combined copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim with gray seat inserts. This mix of colors and textures gave the cabin a unique personality, despite not entirely conveying an “outdoor adventure” vibe.

The 2023 Kia Sportage presented several drivetrain options, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants alongside the traditional gas-powered model. The gas-powered Sportage was powered by a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine came paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and could be configured with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Sportage's engine offered slightly larger displacement than the outgoing 2.4-liter engine of the previous generation, though it lacked the punch of the earlier turbocharged engine variants that delivered 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The new engine was more fuel-efficient, providing 25 mpg city, 32 highway, and 28 combined with FWD, and 23/28/25 with AWD. Although more powerful than its predecessor, it didn’t feel particularly fast given today's standards.

The Sportage introduced the X-Line trim, adding rugged styling elements such as 19-inch alloy wheels and gloss-black exterior trim. The X-Pro trims further enhanced off-road capabilities with BF Goodrich all-terrain tires and specific AT-tire-tuned drive modes. Off-road, the Sportage performed well for a crossover, aided by its 8.3 inches of ground clearance on AWD models, though the new engine sometimes felt strained during acceleration compared to turbocharged competitors.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer carried a simpler yet effective powertrain lineup. It shared its platform and engines with the Buick Encore GX. The base engine was a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. An optional 1.3-liter turbo-three increased the output to 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet. The smaller engine was mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and was available only with FWD, whereas the 1.3-liter engine could be paired with either FWD or AWD, the latter coming with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

In our testing, the AWD model equipped with the 1.3-liter engine and nine-speed automatic proved superior. It offered a decent amount of shove accompanied by a pleasing exhaust note, although the transmission occasionally shifted roughly. The Trailblazer’s Activ trim had dampers tuned for off-road performance but performed admirably on pavement. The ride quality was generally good, though a few road imperfections caused some discomfort, possibly due to the Activ-specific damper settings.

Like its GM siblings, the Trailblazer featured a selectable AWD system, requiring drivers to manually engage AWD when needed, unlike most competitors with automatic systems. Drive modes included Normal, Sport, and Snow, although we didn’t notice significant changes in driving dynamics with the Sport mode. Even with its rugged styling, the Activ model wasn't suited for tougher terrains beyond typical dirt roads.

Within the compact crossover segment, the 2023 Kia Sportage found itself surrounded by fierce competition, including the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, and its sibling, the Hyundai Tucson. This generation of Sportage was notably larger than its predecessor, extending 7.1 inches longer with a 3.4-inch increase in wheelbase. This enlargement translated to greater interior space, with rear-seat legroom measuring an impressive 41.3 inches and a generous 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, or 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

For front-seat occupants, the 2023 Sportage offered decent storage solutions, including a cubby ahead of the shifter, tandem cupholders, and a spacious center console bin. However, Kia’s innovative approach to some controls ended up being a double-edged sword. The touch-sensitive HVAC controls were frustrating, often requiring multiple taps to operate, and the dual-functionality buttons could switch functions unexpectedly, complicating use while driving.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, though smaller overall, still delivered solid utility within its class. It shared the same front and rear headroom measurements with the Kia Seltos, making it one of the more spacious options for headroom. Despite its compact nature, the Trailblazer had a 25.3 cubic feet cargo capacity with the rear seats in place and 54.4 cubic feet with them folded, respectable but lagging behind the Sportage in overall capacity.

Passenger comfort in the Trailblazer was moderate. The rear seats felt acceptable for short trips but lacked the contour for long-distance comfort. Up-front storage was thoughtfully designed, with a covered bin, deep tray, cupholders, phone storage tray, and a unique dashboard carve-out, although its practical use was questionable.

Kia's technology in the 2023 Sportage was impressive. The higher trims boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface paired with a 12.3-inch driver information display, creating a high-tech, luxurious feel reminiscent of premium brands. This setup looked outstanding but was marred by overly similar icons that complicated usability. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were wired for the larger displays, while the base LX trim with an 8-inch screen featured wireless connectivity.

Standard tech included wireless charging (above LX), rear USB-C charging ports, navigation, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, and HD Radio. Premium trims added a Harman Kardon stereo, enhancing the audio experience significantly.

The Trailblazer featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional upgrades included an 8-inch touchscreen, a 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen, navigation, a Bose audio system, rear USB ports, and wireless phone charging. While the Trailblazer’s technology wouldn't impress the most tech-savvy users, it struck a good balance overall.

The 8-inch touchscreen felt well-sized for the Trailblazer’s interior, offering legible graphics and intuitive menus without appearing cramped. The instrument cluster, split between a 4.2-inch screen and analog gauges, conveyed information effectively, living up to the needs without unnecessary digital gimmickry.

In terms of safety features, the 2023 Kia Sportage came well-equipped. Standard collision-avoidance technologies included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, lane-departure warning, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and safe exit warning. Adaptive cruise control was only available from SX trim onwards.

The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims included Kia's blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist, both of which were standout features. Crash testing results from NHTSA and IIHS were pending at the time of release, but the extensive safety suite indicated strong safety credentials.

The Trailblazer also came with a robust suite of 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 safety features encompassed blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control.

The Trailblazer earned the 2022 Top Safety Pick+ designation from IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with strong crash-test performances and front-crash prevention technologies.