Compare the2023 Chevrolet BlazerVS 2023 Volvo XC60

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 Volvo XC60 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 XC60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Blazer and the XC60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Volvo XC60:

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, results indicate that the Chevrolet Blazer is safer than the Volvo XC60:

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

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Blazer 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the XC60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

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 28 points higher than the XC60.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Blazer second among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The XC60 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 Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 109 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 33rd, 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 Volvo 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, Volvo is rated below average.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Blazer V6 is faster than the XC60 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Blazer 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder 4x4 gets better fuel mileage than the XC60 B6 running its gasoline engine (22 city/27 hwy vs. 21 city/27 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Blazer’s fuel efficiency. The XC60 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Blazer and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Blazers have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Blazer uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The XC60 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Blazer AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC60 (21.7 vs. 18.8 gallons).

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 Volvo XC60 (5 to 7). This means the Blazer produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC60 every 15,000 miles.

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 XC60.

The Blazer stops much shorter than the XC60:

The Chevrolet Blazer’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Volvo XC60 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 XC60 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The front and rear suspension of the Blazer uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Blazer is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 1 inch wider in the rear than on the XC60.

The Blazer RS 4x4 handles at .87 G’s, while the XC60 Recharge Polestar Engineered pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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 XC60 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 XC60 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Blazer has 4.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC60 (107.8 vs. 103).

The Blazer has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Blazer’s rear seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Blazer has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC60 with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Blazer has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC60 with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Blazer’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC60 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Blazer offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Blazer, using the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the XC60.

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 XC60 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 XC60 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature 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 XC60 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Volvo On Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Blazer has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 XC60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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 XC60 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 XC60 because typical repairs cost much less on the Blazer than the XC60, including $22 less for a water pump, $4 less for front brake pads, $231 less for a starter, $155 less for fuel injection, $360 less for a fuel pump and $96 less for front struts.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Blazer, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC60 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 XC60 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Chevrolet Blazer outsold the Volvo XC60 by 86% during 2022.