2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer presented itself as a compact yet stylish SUV, reminiscent of a smaller Chevrolet Blazer. It managed to balance SUV ruggedness with a refined appearance, thanks to intricate lighting elements and dark chrome trim. The Activ and RS models offered unique styling cues, with the Activ model featuring a rugged front fascia and roof rails, while the RS model boasted a sportier look with blacked-out trim and dual exhaust outlets. The contrasting roof options added a distinctive touch, making the Trailblazer stand out among subcompact crossovers. Inside, the Activ model's interior combined leatherette upholstery with copper-toned and sparkly black plastic trim, creating a unique yet somewhat eclectic cabin atmosphere.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims, maintained a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias and a range of vibrant colors. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appearance, featured a black metallic mesh grille and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition aimed for a more off-road-ready look with roof rails, a tow hitch, and increased ground clearance. Inside, the Sienna offered a spacious and functional cabin with features like a lower storage pass-through, multiple cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom, although their slide function was somewhat complicated. The third row offered decent space, and the Sienna's cargo capacity was impressive, with up to 101 cubic feet available when the second row was folded.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer shared its platform and powertrains with the Buick Encore GX, offering a standard 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 featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Trailblazer Activ test car, equipped with AWD and the 1.3-liter engine, provided a decent amount of power and a pleasing exhaust note. However, the nine-speed automatic transmission exhibited some rough shifts. The Activ model's dampers, tuned for gravel roads, worked well on pavement, although some body roll and bouncing were noticeable. The Trailblazer's selectable AWD system required manual engagement, unlike competitors' automatic systems.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, a hybrid minivan, combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. AWD models featured an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. While the Sienna offered a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode, its performance remained sluggish, especially during highway merging or uphill driving. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributed to a smooth but slow acceleration, and the CVT could become noisy. Around town, the Sienna provided a pleasant driving experience, with light and accurate steering and excellent visibility. However, the brakes were somewhat grabby. The Sienna's hybrid powertrain prioritized efficiency over performance, making it less exciting to drive compared to competitors with V6 engines.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer, despite being one of the smallest SUVs, offered decent utility. It matched the Kia Seltos in front and rear headroom, with mid-pack legroom. The Trailblazer provided more rear legroom than its Buick Encore GX sibling and slightly more headroom in both rows. The rear seats were comfortable for short trips, but the flat cushions made long journeys less appealing. The Trailblazer's cargo space measured 25.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place and 54.4 cubic feet with them folded, respectable for the segment but behind the Kia Seltos. The Trailblazer's towing capacity was limited to 1,000 pounds. Up front, designers maximized space with a covered storage bin, a deep tray, and cupholders, although a small dashboard carve-out's purpose remained unclear.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, multiple cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox with an available wireless charging pad. The second-row captain's chairs could slide fore and aft 25 inches, providing up to 40 inches of legroom. However, the slide function was complex, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting maximum cargo space. The third row offered ample legroom, and the seats tilted for added comfort. The Sienna's cargo capacity reached 33.5 cubic feet with the third row in place, expanding to 75 cubic feet with the third row stowed and 101 cubic feet with the second row folded. The rear liftgate could be activated with a kick motion, adding convenience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional features included an 8-inch touchscreen, a 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 provided clear graphics and logical menus. The combination of a smaller instrument cluster screen and analog gauges effectively conveyed information, aided by smart design touches like a person-shaped icon for pedestrian detection.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota's older infotainment technology, with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the newer system offered better graphics and features, the Sienna's setup included physical buttons for common menus. The backup camera's grainy view was a drawback, and the analog gauges were complemented by a 7-inch digital display. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available. Optional features included an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer came equipped with standard safety features such as 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 with lane-change assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Trailblazer received a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top scores in crash tests and high marks for front-crash prevention tech. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Trailblazer a five-star overall safety rating.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna's adaptive cruise control worked well, but lane-keeping assist exhibited some side-to-side movement. The Sienna included side curtain airbags for all three rows and a seat belt reminder for rear passengers. The NHTSA rated the Sienna with four stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS gave the Sienna top scores in crashworthiness and seat belt systems but rated front crash prevention as "Average."