Compare the2023 Chevrolet BlazerVS 2023 Audi Q3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
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 Audi Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Blazer and the Q3 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, 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 Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Audi Q3:

	Blazer	Q3
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	182	326
Neck Injury Risk	22%	39%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	343 lbs.
Neck Compression	25 lbs.	35 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	104/435 lbs.	235/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	313	346
Neck Stress	124 lbs.	186 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	28/2 lbs.	261/249 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Audi Q3:

	Blazer	Q3
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	265	504
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	47 G’s

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

Warranty

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Blazer 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 10 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Blazer’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Blazer has a standard 170-amp alternator (155-amp - Blazer V6 FWD). The Q3’s 140-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Blazer’s reliability 40 points higher than the Q3.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer second among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Q3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 92 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 31st, below the industry 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 Audi 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, Audi is rated below average.

Engine

The Blazer’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 80 more horsepower (308 vs. 228) and 12 lbs.-ft. more torque (270 vs. 258) than the Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Blazer V6 is faster than the Audi Q3:

	Blazer	Q3
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.5 MPH	85.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Blazer’s fuel efficiency. The Q3 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Blazer FWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q3 (19.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Blazer AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q3 (21.7 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The Blazer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Q3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 Q3.

Brakes and Stopping

The Blazer stops shorter than the Q3:

	Blazer	Q3
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Blazer RS/Premier’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q3 (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Blazer RS/Premier offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Q3’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 Audi Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Blazer’s wheelbase is 7.2 inches longer than on the Q3 (112.7 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Blazer is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 4.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Q3.

The Blazer RS 4x4 handles at .83 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Blazer RS 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Q3 (27.1 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Blazer LT has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (7.5 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Blazer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Blazer RS/Premier’s minimum ground clearance is 2.1 inches higher than on the Q3 (7.6 vs. 5.5 inches).

Chassis

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 Q3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Blazer uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Blazer has 23.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (107.8 vs. 84).

The Blazer has .2 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q3.

Cargo Capacity

The Blazer has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Blazer has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 48 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Blazer’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q3 is limited to 1500 pounds. The Blazer offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Blazer 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 Blazer can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Q3 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Blazer uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Blazer 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. The Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Blazer RS/Premier’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Q3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Blazer’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q3 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Audi Connect CARE can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Blazer has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Blazer’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

When the Blazer with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Q3’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Blazer and the Q3 offer available heated front seats. The Blazer RS/Premier also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q3.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Blazer RS/Premier keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Blazer RS/Premier’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Blazer 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 Q3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Blazer is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Blazer owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Blazer with a number “8” insurance rate while the Q3 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Blazer is less expensive to operate than the Q3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Blazer than the Q3, including $183 less for a water pump, $347 less for a starter, $97 less for fuel injection and $486 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Blazer, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Audi Q3 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer second among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Q3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Chevrolet Blazer outsold the Audi Q3 by over two to one during the 2021 model year.