Compare the2023 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crosstrek Hybrid. But it costs extra on the Trailblazer.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Trailblazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Trailblazer.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the Trailblazer 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid weighs 428 to 703 pounds more than the Chevrolet Trailblazer. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

	Crosstrek Hybrid	Trailblazer
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	122	401
Neck Compression	52 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/427 lbs.	409/383 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Trailblazer’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Crosstrek Hybrid’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Trailblazer’s camshafts. If the Trailblazer’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 9 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (148 vs. 137) than the Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is faster than the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	Trailblazer
Zero to 30 MPH	3.4 sec	3.6 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9 sec	9.5 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.7 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	17.1 sec	17.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	83 MPH	82 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the Trailblazer:

			MPGe
Crosstrek Hybrid
	AWD	Electric Motor	99 city/80 hwy
Trailblazer
			MPG
	FWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/33 hwy
		1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Trailblazer:

			MPG
Crosstrek Hybrid
	AWD	2.0 flat-4 Hybrid	36 city/35 hwy
Trailblazer
	FWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/33 hwy
		1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/30 hwy

The Crosstrek Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 17 miles. The Trailblazer can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Crosstrek Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Crosstrek Hybrid stops shorter than the Trailblazer:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	Trailblazer
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Trailblazer LS/LT/ACTIV’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Trailblazer LS/LT/ACTIV.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Trailblazer has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Crosstrek Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The Trailblazer’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Trailblazer’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Trailblazer (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Crosstrek Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 2.2 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 8.3 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trailblazer.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek Hybrid. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Trailblazer. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s front power windows 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 Trailblazer’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

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

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Trailblazer LT/ACTIV/RS.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Trailblazer LS doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s available GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Trailblazer’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and the Chevrolet Trailblazer, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Chevrolet Trailblazer by 58% during the 2021 model year.

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