Compare the2023 Chevrolet TrailblazerVS 2021 Mazda CX-3

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

Safety

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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 Trailblazer are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CX-3 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Compared to metal, the Trailblazer’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Mazda CX-3 has a metal gas tank.

Both the Trailblazer and the CX-3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Trailblazer is safer than the Mazda CX-3:

	Trailblazer	CX-3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	27%
Neck Stress	190 lbs.	334 lbs.
Neck Compression	15 lbs.	19 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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Trailblazer its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CX-3 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The Trailblazer’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CX-3’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Trailblazer’s warranty.

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 Trailblazer’s reliability 24 points higher than the CX-3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

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 Mazda 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, Mazda is rated lower.

Engine

The Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (162 vs. 146) than the CX-3’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (155 vs. 148) and 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (174 vs. 146) than the CX-3’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder is faster than the Mazda CX-3:

	Trailblazer	CX-3
Zero to 60 MPH	9.5 sec	9.6 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Trailblazer’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-3 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Trailblazer has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-3 AWD’s standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

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

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder AWD, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-3.

The Trailblazer has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Trailblazer’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-3:

	Trailblazer	CX-3	CX-3 AWD
Front Rotors	11.81 inches	11 inches	11.6 inches

The Trailblazer stops shorter than the CX-3:

	Trailblazer	CX-3
60 to 0 MPH	133 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Trailblazer has larger tires than the CX-3 (225/60R17 vs. 215/60R16).

The Trailblazer’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-3’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Trailblazer LS/LT/ACTIV has standard 17-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the CX-3. The Trailblazer offers optional 18-inch wheels.

The Trailblazer 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 CX-3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Trailblazer’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the CX-3 (103.9 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Trailblazer is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-3.

For greater off-road capability the Trailblazer has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-3 (8 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Trailblazer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Trailblazer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Trailblazer AWD uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Trailblazer has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear legroom and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-3.

Cargo Capacity

The Trailblazer has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-3 with its rear seat up (25.3 vs. 17.8 cubic feet). The Trailblazer has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-3 with its rear seat folded (54.4 vs. 42.7 cubic feet).

The Trailblazer’s cargo area is larger than the CX-3’s in every dimension:

	Trailblazer	CX-3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	32”/64.5”	30.9”/58”
Max Width	54”	n/a
Min Width	41”	39.4”
Height	28.2”	26.6”

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS’ power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The Trailblazer has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The CX-3 has no towing capacity.

The Trailblazer AWD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Trailblazer can be unhitched and driven around locally. The CX-3 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior, with the optional automatic climate control feature. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the Trailblazer and the CX-3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Trailblazer is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Trailblazer’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 CX-3’s passenger windows don’t open automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Trailblazer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The CX-3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Keyless Access standard on the Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Mazda CX-3’s Pushbutton Start doesn’t unlock the doors or the cargo door.

The Trailblazer’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-3’s passenger power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Trailblazer’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the CX-3’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The CX-3 doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the CX-3.

On extremely cold winter days, the Trailblazer’s optional (except LS) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Trailblazer ACTIV/RS offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The CX-3 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Mazda CX-3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer outsold the Mazda CX-3 by over 14 to one during the 2021 model year.