Ford Escape vs Chevrolet Trailblazer

When the Chevrolet Trailblazer returned in 2021 after a 12-year hiatus, its redesign marked a significant shift from its predecessor. A full 18 inches shorter from nose-to-tail, it deviated both in size and styling compared to the Chevy Traverse, which was a closer forerunner. The 2024 Trailblazer further refined the sporty aesthetic with thinner accent lights, a reshaped grille, and smaller, deeper-set lower headlights. These changes contributed to a more athletic and serious demeanor.

Inside, the Trailblazer's dashboard received a considerable update. The integration of a new digital instrument panel and an 11-inch infotainment touchscreen created a more modern and cohesive appearance. Although we noticed that the digital instrument panel did not fully occupy its enclosure, potentially giving a slightly downmarket feel, the ergonomic design largely mitigated this issue. The materials on the doors and dash featured convincing graining but were mostly hard plastic—standard for non-luxury subcompact SUVs. However, padded armrest touchpoints and fabric inserts in the door panels added a touch of comfort and visual appeal.

In contrast, the 2024 Ford Escape saw substantial updates in 2023 that carried over, aimed at giving the model a fresh lease on life. The Escape replaced its previous wide-eyed, toothless grin with a more aggressive front-end design while maintaining a generally soft and generically appealing silhouette. The ST-Line Elite trim we reviewed sported flashy Rapid Red paint, 19-inch black wheels, and an upscale Panoramic Vista Roof.

Inside the Escape, the initial impression was upscale, with diamond-stitched, perforated leather and a host of tech upgrades. However, we found the upholstery excessively glossy and stiff, which seemed incongruent with the price tag. The overall design effort in the 2024 Escape aimed for elegance but appeared to fall short due to minor flaws in material selection and execution.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer offered two engine choices. The base turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine made 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that powered the front wheels. This setup was generally sluggish with slow responses, further compounded by a droning engine under sustained acceleration.

Our test vehicle, an Activ trim, featured a turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine producing 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission, providing a slight improvement in responsiveness and powering all four wheels. The 1.3-liter engine was just adequate but far from impressive. Achieving highway speeds required flooring the pedal, and passing slower traffic necessitated planning due to slow transmission downshifts. The Trailblazer's zero to 60 mph time exceeded nine seconds, placing it among the slower vehicles in its class. That said, braking was predictable, and while handling was average, it smoothed over most road imperfections, making it comfortable for daily drives.

In comparison, the 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering a potent 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. This setup included driving modes such as Eco, Normal, Sport, and Slippery. Despite its sporty appearance, the driving dynamics did not live up to the ST badge. The ride was soft and compliant, and while handling felt nimble, the suspension allowed too much unwanted body motion. Brake response was sharp, but steering felt sluggish and unengaged. Despite the misalignment between power and handling, the Escape could tow up to 3,500 pounds and offered generally smooth and comfortable driving for everyday commuting.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer boasted ample front space and good visibility, enhancing the sensation of roominess. The wireless charging pad was conveniently located, and storage solutions like cupholders and a deep bin under the armrest added practicality. The front seats were firm yet comfortable, and the heated options on higher trims were quick to warm up. Rear seats provided generous legroom, fitting adult-sized passengers and rear-facing infant seats comfortably. The Trailblazer offered up to 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, nearly matching the Hyundai Kona and surpassing rivals like the Volkswagen Taos and Mazda CX-30. The optional hands-free power liftgate was a plus for ease of access.

The 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line featured a black interior with cloth inserts and artificial leather bolsters, supplemented by red stitching. Our test model included ambient interior lighting, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, and heated options. While the front seats were large and supportive, the leather option felt excessively glossy. Rear passengers enjoyed comfort when the back seat was in its rearmost position, but rear storage was less accommodating. The Escape excelled in cargo volume with 37.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and up to 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seat down, offering substantially more room than the Trailblazer.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer featured a new 11-inch infotainment touchscreen that was standard across all trims. Positioned thoughtfully within the driver's sightline, it reduced distraction, though input responses were slightly delayed. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto paired seamlessly with the optional wireless charging pad, eliminating the need for cables. Satellite radio was standard, but there was no native navigation system, requiring reliance on smartphone connectivity for navigation. The digital instrument panel was modern and user-friendly, but not overly impressive in terms of technological features.

In contrast, the 2024 Ford Escape's higher trims boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument display and a 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system. Although the latter’s landscape format and organized content were advantages, a washed-out color theme and thin fonts somewhat detracted from its effectiveness. The integration of climate controls into the display was also less preferable. Features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and optional Amazon Alexa with a three-year subscription. The voice recognition system was excellent, making it easy to switch between Apple CarPlay and the native environment, despite some lag time between inputs. The optional head-up display and Active Park Assist 2.0 further enhanced the technological offerings, making it a competitive, if imperfect, option.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer received high safety ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded it five stars in overall, frontal, and side crash evaluations, and four stars for rollover protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it the highest score of "good" in all crashworthiness tests.

Standard safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning. The optional Driver Confidence package added a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control was available as a standalone option. All driver assistance features functioned well, with no false alarms or glitches. A head-up display would have been a welcome addition, given the low instrument panel.

The 2024 Ford Escape featured a standard post-collision automatic braking system and Ford Co-Pilot360 driving assistance systems. These included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. The ST-Line Elite also had adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, predictive speed assist, evasive steering assist, lane-centering assist, and a 360-degree camera system.

The lane-keeping system displayed inconsistent behavior, and predictive speed assist slowed the SUV too much for curves, causing irritation among other motorists. Both adaptive cruise control and lane-centering systems shut down at one point, requiring driver intervention. On freeways, Co-Pilot360 performed better, with effective lane-keeping and smooth adaptive cruise control in stop-and-go traffic.

NHTSA awarded the 2024 Escape five stars overall, with a four-star rollover resistance rating. The Plug-in Hybrid version also received a four-star rating for driver protection in frontal impacts. The 2023 Escape received "Good" ratings from IIHS except for a "Marginal" score in a new side-impact test.