2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2023 Genesis GV70

Few automotive nameplates have kept pace with changing market trends like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, which has taken on three very different forms over a relatively short time span.

The Trailblazer name first appeared in 1999 on an appearance package for the S-10 Blazer, a compact SUV derived from the Chevy S-10 pickup truck. Chevy then applied the Trailblazer nameplate to a midsize SUV sold during model years 2002 through 2009. While not based on a pickup truck, this Trailblazer had the hallmarks of an old-school SUV, including body-on-frame construction and available V8 power.

Today’s Chevy Trailblazer has nothing in common with those predecessors except a name. Introduced for the 2021 model year, this Trailblazer is a subcompact crossover with car-like unibody construction shared with the Buick Encore GX, and tiny, efficiency-focused engines. With the Chevy Trax on hiatus until the 2024 model year, the Trailblazer is Chevy’s entry-level SUV for 2023, competing with the likes of the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos.

The only changes for 2023 are some new extra-cost paint colours, including Nitro Yellow Metallic, Fountain Blue, and Sterling Gray Metallic, along with an Iridescent Pearl Tricoat roof. Trim levels start with the base LS, and continue with the LT, Activ, and RS. We tested a Chevrolet Trailblazer Activ for this review.

The definition of luxury has changed. No matter where you look in the various premium vehicle segments, there are entrants that you may not have seen decades ago. From performance SUVs to subcompact crossovers, there are new takes on upscale vehicles. But just as crucially is the entrance of new players. In 2015, the Genesis brand was officially spun off from Hyundai. And with the brand’s expansion into various segments, a compact SUV like the 2023 Genesis GV70 was a must. Competitors include the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Acura RDX, Porsche Macan, and others.

The GV70 was introduced for the 2022 model year and for 2023, an all-electric model joins the lineup. We evaluated the GV70 on the whole, but with a special focus on how effective the 2023 Genesis GV70 Electrified is for the Korean automaker as an EV and as a compact luxury crossover.