Compare the2023 Chevrolet BlazerVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Blazer are height-adjustable, and the rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Blazer are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Blazer’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The Blazer offers an optional HD Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Grand Cherokee only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Blazer and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems 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 Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Blazer	Grand Cherokee
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	28%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	201 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	104/435 lbs.	401/317 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	Blazer	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	90	172
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	19 cm	20 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.2/.1 kN	4.9/2.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	3%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Tibia index R/L	.68/.58	1.06/.54
Tibia forces R/L	.9/1.1 kN	2.3/1.3 kN

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 Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Blazer	Grand Cherokee
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	673 lbs.	689 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Blazer is 1.4% to 5.7% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Blazer the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 203 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee was not even a “Top Safety Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

The Blazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Grand Cherokee’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 21 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Blazer’s warranty.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Blazer have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Blazer has a standard 170-amp alternator. The Grand Cherokee’s standard 160-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer second among midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 2 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 13 more horsepower (308 vs. 295) and 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (270 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Blazer V6 is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee V8:

	Blazer	Grand Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.5 MPH	92.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Blazer gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee:

			MPG
Blazer
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Grand Cherokee
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the Blazer’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee V6.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Blazer higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Jeep Grand Cherokee (3 to 7). This means the Blazer produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Grand Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Blazer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee.

Tires and Wheels

The Blazer RS/Premier’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Blazer RS/Premier offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Grand Cherokee’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Chevrolet Blazer’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Grand Cherokee only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Blazer has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Blazer is 2.5 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee.

The Blazer RS 4x4 handles at .87 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Blazer RS 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 (27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

The Chevrolet Blazer may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 950 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The front grille of the Blazer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Blazer has 2.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (107.8 vs. 105.4).

The Blazer has .7 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

The front step up height for the Blazer is 2.1 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (18.4” vs. 20.5”). The Blazer’s rear step up height is 1.8 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (19” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Blazer easier. The Blazer’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.3 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 32.4 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Blazer’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Blazer RS/Premier’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

All models of the Blazer can be flat towed on all four wheels, allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Blazer can be unhitched and driven around locally. Only the Grand Cherokee 4WD can be dinghy towed and it requires equipment that is not standard.

Ergonomics

The Blazer’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Grand Cherokee’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Blazer’s front and rear power windows all lower 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 Grand Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

On a hot day the Blazer’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Blazer LT/RS/Premier’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Blazer offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Blazer is less expensive to operate than the Grand Cherokee because typical repairs cost much less on the Blazer than the Grand Cherokee, including $227 less for a muffler, $100 less for a starter and $65 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Blazer will be $1170 to $5089 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Blazer, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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