Compare the2022 Toyota HighlanderVS 2022 Chevrolet Blazer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Blazer doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Blazer doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Highlander Limited/Platinum has standard Automated Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Blazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Highlander AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Blazer doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

The Highlander’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Blazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Highlander and the Blazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Chevrolet Blazer:

	Highlander	Blazer
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	43%
Neck Compression	90 lbs.	140 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Chevrolet Blazer:

	Highlander	Blazer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	55	93
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	79 G’s	157 G’s
Hip Force	300 lbs.	369 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	114	251
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	152 lbs.	673 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	664 lbs.	695 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Blazer last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Highlander’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Blazer’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Blazer.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Highlander’s reliability 30 points higher than the Blazer.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

Engine

The Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 67 more horsepower (295 vs. 228) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (263 vs. 258) than the Blazer’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better mileage than the Blazer:

			MPG
Highlander
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
Blazer
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

Both the Highlander and Blazer have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. The Highlander has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Blazer with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Highlander’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Blazer:

	Highlander	Blazer
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	12.64 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	12.4 inches

The Highlander’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Blazer are solid, not vented.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Blazer:

	Highlander	Blazer
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Highlander’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the Blazer’s (60.1% to 39.9%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Blazer’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Blazer (8 vs. 7.4 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Blazer can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 33.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Blazer (141.3 vs. 107.8).

The Highlander has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 2.8 inches more rear hip room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Blazer.

Cargo Capacity

The Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the Blazer.

	Highlander	Blazer
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	30.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.3 cubic feet	64.2 cubic feet

Towing

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Blazer’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Highlander Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Blazer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Highlander’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Blazer’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Highlander the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Blazer can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Blazer doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Highlander Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Blazer’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Highlander’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Blazer’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Blazer doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Highlander to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Blazer doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Highlander is less expensive to operate than the Blazer because it costs $491 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Highlander than the Blazer, including $207 less for a water pump, $378 less for a muffler, $141 less for front brake pads, $73 less for front struts and $770 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Blazer isn't recommended.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Chevrolet Blazer by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.