Most families spend a lot of time in their SUVs until they’re practically a second home. The SUV is where those last-minute homework touch-ups happen and where after-school naps take place. It’s where you bond with your kids when you pick them up or where you give them those last words of encouragement for the day before dropping them off. So, finding the right one that suits your family’s unique needs and personality matters. Chevrolet is known for making great SUVs. They’ve made a name for themselves in every size category, too. When families visit a Chevy dealer looking for a five-seater, they may consider the Blazer and Trailblazer.
Since an SUV is the starting point and base camp of every family’s day, finding your match is important. And while the 2024 Blazer and 2024 Trailblazer offer seating for five, that’s one of their few similarities. Otherwise, these two SUVs appeal to very different families. Here’s a look at both models, so you can decide which is right for your needs.
The Blazer: Sophisticated Yet Surprisingly Rugged
Starting MSRP: $35,400
Style
Let’s first talk about the Blazer’s style. When you see the Blazer and Trailblazer side by side, it’s instantly obvious that the Blazer is made for a cosmopolitan environment. With its sleek body lines, discreet accent details, and more subtle paint options, the Blazer has a more “grownup” look. For that reason, it’s a good choice for working parents who need a vehicle that looks good in a corporate setting but still has the features they need for family life.
Space/Seating
The Blazer is a midsize SUV that will provide more interior room than the Trailblazer. In fact, it offers more room for front and rear seat passengers. The driver and front seat passenger will get nearly four extra inches of shoulder room compared to the Trailblazer and nearly three more inches of hip room. In the second row, passengers will get nearly five more inches of shoulder room compared to the Trailblazer and nearly four more inches of hip room.
With these passenger space differences in mind, the Blazer might be the way to go for families with teenagers. The smaller rear seat of the Trailblazer should be more than roomy enough for small children. However, when your kids reach that age when they’re nearly outgrowing their parents, they’ll appreciate the roomier rear seat of the Blazer. Plus, if you do transport adult rearseat passengers regularly, you’ll almost certainly need the space that the Blazer provides.
Drive Modes
The Blazer might surprise you with its capabilities. It has all of the style and charm of a cosmopolitan model, but it has a total of five available drive modes. Front-wheel drive models have Tour, Snow/Ice, Sport, and available Tow/Haul modes. All-wheel drive models have Tour, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul modes.
The Blazer needs that Tow/Haul mode because it can tow up to 4,500 pounds (it has its available V6 engine to thank for that). So, in this mode, you’ll experience improved driving dynamics and control when you’re trailering a small camper, boat, or similar vessel. Thanks to the Snow/Ice mode, the Blazer is a good choice for families who live somewhere that gets true four-season weather. If you need to tackle powder-covered roads on the way to school or work, this is a great mode to have available to you. If you’re willing to get the Blazer a little dirty, that Off-Road mode will get you improved performance in bumpier, unpaved environments.
Cargo
The Blazer boasts 64.2 cu.ft. of maximum cargo volume. It does outdo the Trailblazer by nearly ten cu.ft. here. Add to that 60/40 split-folding second-row seats, and the Blazer is able to offer a number of cargo configurations for a family’s ever-evolving needs. The Blazer also has an available hands-free, power-programmable liftgate for easier trunk loading.
The Standout Trim
One distinct feature of the Blazer has to be its Premier trim, which sets it apart from the Trailblazer. Of the two models, only this vehicle has the trim, and it’s loaded with great comfort and convenience features.
The Premier trim gets a plethora of outlets for powering devices on the road, including a 120-volt outlet, front USB data ports, and an auxiliary input with an SD card reader. With these features, you can enjoy a variety of media in the Blazer. This trim also enjoys a standard Bose premium 8-speaker audio system, ready to meet the standards of the most demanding of audiophiles. Finally, it gets Chevy Infotainment 3 Premium, the most advanced of Chevy’s infotainment systems, with built-in navigation and a 10.2-inch touchscreen.
Trailblazer: Fun and Compact
Starting MSRP: $23,100
Style
You’ll immediately notice how youthful and sporty the Trailblazer looks. From muscular angles and a two-tone roof to energetic color options like yellow, green, and blue. Everything about the Trailblazer is for the driver who wants to have a little fun in their daily drive.
Space/Seating
The Trailblazer also gets seating for five, but as a subcompact SUV, it’s going to have less overall passenger and cargo volume than the Blazer. However, what it loses in space, it makes up for in fuel economy. The Trailblazer’s subcompact design allows it to be very fuel efficient, snagging a few extra miles-per-gallon both in the city and on the highway compared to the Blazer. Due to its smaller interior dimensions, the Trailblazer is good for parents with young children.
Drive Modes
The Trailblazer keeps things simple yet efficient with its available drive modes of Normal, Sport, and All-Wheel Drive. Normal is great for the city, suburbs, and general everyday driving. Sport gets you improved performance dynamics when you want to experience some spirited driving. All-wheel drive can get you solid traction when the roads get wet or snowy.
Cargo
The Trailblazer gets you 54.4 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. However, here’s where the Trailblazer stands out in terms of cargo capacity: you can fold down the front passenger seat. When that seat is down, you can fit items up to 8.5 feet long in the Trailblazer. This handy feature opens up more cargo possibilities, so adventurous people can get a surfboard or snowboard in the vehicle.
The Standout Trim
The Trailblazer gets its own special trim that’s missing from the Blazer lineup, and that’s the ACTIV trim. While the Trailblazer doesn’t have an off-road mode, this trim gets an off-road-ready suspension, along with a functional skid plate. So drivers who want the excellent fuel economy and compact dimensions of the Trailblazer, with the freedom to go off-roading, can have it all with the ACTIV trim.
Which Is Right for You and Your Family?
The Trailblazer is the perfect SUV for adventurous families with small children. Its low MSRP makes it ideal for those on a budget, too. Thanks to its ACTIV trim, it can be an off-roader, but its standard three-drive modes are also more than sufficient to handle most everyday driving situations.
The Blazer is a great choice for parents who need a vehicle that can easily switch between family life and professional life, thanks to its sophisticated styling, elevated Premier trim option, and generously spacious interior.
These two SUVs appeal to very different drivers. There is a noticeable price difference, instantly making the Trailblazer great for families just starting out or who are on a budget. The Blazer, with its higher MSRP and spacious cabin, could be just right for a family with older kids or teens. At the end of the day, the choice is up to you.
