Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sportage Prestige has standard Parking Collision Avoidance-Reverse 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 Sportage Prestige has a standard Surround 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.
Both the Sportage and Trailblazer offer rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Trailblazer’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.
The Sportage’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 Sportage and the Trailblazer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 all wheel drive and blind spot warning systems.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Chevrolet Trailblazer:
|
Sportage |
Trailblazer |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Neck Compression |
14 lbs. |
15 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
48/154 lbs. |
83/261 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
307 |
401 |
Chest Compression |
.4 inches |
.4 inches |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
292/203 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 Kia Sportage is safer than the Chevrolet Trailblazer:
|
Sportage |
Trailblazer |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
70 |
91 |
Chest Movement |
.9 inches |
1.1 inches |
Abdominal Force |
162 lbs. |
199 lbs. |
Hip Force |
247 lbs. |
459 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
82 |
185 |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Max Damage Depth |
13 inches |
13 inches |
HIC |
270 |
337 |
Spine Acceleration |
35 G’s |
38 G’s |
Hip Force |
480 lbs. |
591 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.