Compare the2023 Hyundai TucsonVS 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tucson Limited has standard Reverse Collision-Avoidance Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tucson Limited has a standard Around View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Trailblazer only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Tucson 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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Trailblazer’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tucson has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Trailblazer and the Trailblazer’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

The Tucson’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 Tucson and the Trailblazer 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 and available all wheel drive.

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

	Tucson	Trailblazer
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	325	401
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	153 lbs.
Neck Compression	59 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	51/13 lbs.	409/383 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 Hyundai Tucson is safer than the Chevrolet Trailblazer:

	Tucson	Trailblazer
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	71	91
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	440 lbs.	459 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	185
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	332	337

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 Tucson is .5% to 2.6% less likely to roll over than the Trailblazer.

Warranty

The Tucson comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Trailblazer’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Tucson 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Trailblazer. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Trailblazer ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Tucson’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Trailblazer’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tucson for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Trailblazer.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Tucson’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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 7 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (187 vs. 137) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 162) than the Trailblazer’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Tucson’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (187 vs. 155) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (178 vs. 174) than the Trailblazer’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Tucson has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Trailblazer (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tucson’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Trailblazer:

	Tucson	Trailblazer
Front Rotors	12.8 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	12 inches	10.39 inches

The Tucson stops shorter than the Trailblazer:

	Tucson	Trailblazer
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	121 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tucson has larger tires than the Trailblazer (235/65R17 vs. 225/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tucson offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Trailblazer’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Hyundai Tucson 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 Tucson has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Tucson flat and controlled during cornering. The Trailblazer’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tucson’s wheelbase is 4.6 inches longer than on the Trailblazer (108.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Tucson is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Trailblazer.

The Tucson Limited AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Trailblazer RS AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tucson Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Trailblazer RS AWD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Tucson has .1 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom, 8.2 inches more rear hip room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trailblazer.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tucson’s rear seats recline. The Trailblazer’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trailblazer with its rear seat up (38.7 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Tucson has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trailblazer with its rear seat folded (80.3 vs. 54.4 cubic feet).

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

Towing

The Tucson’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Trailblazer’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

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

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Tucson Limited, the memory seats make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer memory seats.

The Tucson Limited’s standard easy entry system 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 Trailblazer doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Tucson SEL/XRT/N Line/Limited’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Trailblazer’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

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

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

The Tucson’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Trailblazer’s standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Both the Tucson and the Trailblazer offer available heated front seats. The Tucson Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Trailblazer.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tucson Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Tucson 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 Tucson (except SE)’s optional dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Tucson and the Trailblazer offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Tucson SEL/XRT/N Line/Limited has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Tucson Limited’s standard 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.

The Tucson Limited’s Remote Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Park Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Tucson will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Tucson will retain 53.76% to 54.61% of its original price after five years, while the Trailblazer only retains 46.25% to 46.73%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Hyundai Tucson and the Chevrolet Trailblazer, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Tucson third among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Trailblazer isn’t in the top three.

The Hyundai Tucson outsold the Chevrolet Trailblazer by almost three to one during 2022.