Compare the2025 Kia SportageVS 2025 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
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Kia Sportage achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Trailblazer has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

The Sportage 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.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 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.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Sportage’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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 10 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

Engine

The Sportage’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 Sportage’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.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia Sportage is faster than the Chevrolet Trailblazer 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Sportage	Trailblazer
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	8.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	24.4 sec	28 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.9 sec	9.5 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	4.1 sec	4.5 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	6.1 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16.5 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Trailblazer. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Sportage	Trailblazer
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.39 inches

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

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

The Sportage has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’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 Sportage is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Trailblazer.

The Sportage’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (57.9% to 42.1%) than the Trailblazer’s (60% to 40%). This gives the Sportage more stable handling and braking.

The Sportage X-Pro handles at .81 G’s, while the Trailblazer RS AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage X-Pro executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Trailblazer RS AWD (27.9 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Sportage has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Trailblazer (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sportage to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Sportage has 3.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Trailblazer (102 vs. 98.2).

The Sportage has .5 inches more front legroom, 2.5 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom, 3 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trailblazer.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trailblazer with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 25.3 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trailblazer with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 54.4 cubic feet).

Towing

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Trailblazer’s (2500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Sportage 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 Sportage SX/X-Pro, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro’s standard Easy Access Function 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 Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’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 Sportage’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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Sportage X-Pro to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Trailblazer doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro 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 Trailblazer’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Sportage Prestige 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 Sportage 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 Sportage EX/SX/Prestige/X-Line/X-Pro’s standard 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 Sportage and the Trailblazer offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage 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.

Compared to the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the Kia Sportage eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia Sportage, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Trailblazer isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage 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 in its category.

The Kia Sportage outsold the Chevrolet Trailblazer by 27% during 2023.

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