2021 Chevrolet Equinox vs Blazer

For drivers looking for dependability, Chevrolet offers two popular options among its SUVs in the Equinox and Blazer. The latter has recently made a triumphant return after being absent from showrooms, while the former is an evergreen classic that continues to be modernized with up-to-date components. For those seeking more information about these models' respective characteristics -- their size and style profile included – this overview should serve as a comprehensive guide into how they compare.

Size and Styling

For drivers looking for dependability, Chevrolet offers two popular options among its SUVs in the Equinox and Blazer. The latter has recently made a triumphant return after being absent from showrooms, while the former is an evergreen classic that continues to be modernized with up-to-date components. For those seeking more information about these models' respective characteristics -- their size and style profile included – this overview should serve as a comprehensive guide into how they compare.

The Chevy Blazer offers a generous 64.2 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity, with the rear seats folded down - just slightly more than its counterpart, the Equinox's 63.9 cubic foot option. Even when those same rear seats are up in both vehicles respectively, there is still plentiful space for storage and transport; The Blazer boasts 30.5 cubic feet to store your items while on-the-go compared to 29.9 from the Equinox model!

The Blazer gives you extra room to stretch out thanks to its longer, wider, and taller construction. With a length of 191.4 inches, width of 76.7 inches, and height at 67 inches - it is in clear distinction from the Equinox's 183.1 inch long body with 72.6 inch width and 65.4 inch high frame; however the Equinox sits higher off the ground by 8" versus 7 .4" for The Blazer.

When it comes to the leg room of these vehicles, there is only a slight variation between them. The second-row passengers in the Equinox have just a bit more space than those riding in the Blazer; however, headroom and shoulder/hip width are significantly larger on board this latter vehicle - offering increased comfort for riders when encountering full occupancy.Up front, people shouldn't have any problem getting comfortable. First-row leg room is 40.9 inches in the Equinox and 41 inches in the Blazer.

In terms of exterior style, the Blazer is the one that has the more modern appearance. This is mostly due to the sharp angles found around its frame. The standard LED daytime running lamps and LED taillamps help in this regard.

The wheels on the Blazer are nicer than those on the Equinox. The Blazer can ride on 21-inch wheels, with most of its trims having 20- or 18-inch wheels. 19-inch wheels are the biggest options with the Equinox, and 17-inch wheels are standard.

With both models, there are many available upgrades to enhance their style and level of quality. They can have panoramic power sunroofs to let in more natural light, hands-free lift gates that can come in handy when someone is loaded down with bags, black or chrome exterior accents to help the vehicles stand out, and roof racks that can be convenient when securing gear to the top of the vehicles. Their side mirrors can come with heating elements, and they can have turn signals integrated into them as well as auto-dimming functions.

Drivability

Three engines are available with the Chevy Blazer, while only one is offered with the Chevy Equinox. The Equinox runs on a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. This engine should be sufficient for the average driver, though it's certainly not anything to get too excited about. It can make 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. Chevy has matched it with an electronically controlled automatic transmission with six speeds.

The Equinox can come with front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Either way, there would be StabiliTrak, which is a system that makes the right adjustments in order to enhance stability and traction. The towing capacity on an Equinox is 1,500 pounds when all the proper equipment has been installed.

The Blazer is packed with power, offering three powerful engine options depending on the trim. The base 2.5-liter four cylinder produces a respectable 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque towing up to 1,500 pounds; more than what you get with the Equinox! For even higher performance levels opt for a turbocharged 2.0 liter or 3.6 Liter V6 covering all bases from responsiveness, athleticism and smoothness thanks to their nine speed electronically controlled automatic transmissions that come in either front wheel drive or all wheel drive formats respectively.

Finally, the last choice would be a fairly sizable engine. As a V6 with a displacement of 3.6 liters, it's much stronger than any of the other available engines. It comes with an impressive 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Notably, this engine has a tow rating of 4,500 pounds. If anyone is planning on pushing his/her SUV to the limits and will frequently be towing heavy loads, then this V6 engine is almost a necessity.

For potential customers wanting to get the most out of their tank, the Chevy Equinox is a great option. Not only can it provide fuel efficiency with 31 MPG on highways and 26 MPG in cities, but even when all-wheel drive is engaged those numbers remain impressive - 30 and 25 respectively!

Out of the three Blazer engines, the turbocharged version does the best with conserving fuel. It has an estimated fuel economy of 29/22 (highway/city) miles per gallon. The 2.5-liter and 3.6-liter engines aren't far behind, with respective fuel economies of 27/21 and 27/20 miles per gallon. With each engine, having all-wheel drive leads to using a little more gasoline.

Comfort, Options and Performance

Since the Blazer is the more expensive SUV out of these two Chevys, it makes sense that it has more to offer. It comes standard with an eight-inch touchscreen, along with the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system interface, Bluetooth, smartphone compatibility, and voice recognition. The Equinox has those same technological features, but it has a seven-inch touchscreen instead of the eight-inch one. With both models, higher trims can have eight-inch touchscreens and integrated navigation. The middle trims are where SiriusXM Satellite Radio starts to be come standard.

Audio aficionados, look no further – the ultimate sound system is here! The entry-level SUVs of the Equinox and Blazer both come with six speaker systems that are sure to take your listening experience up a notch. Those who upgrade their trims will be treated to an even better sonic experience powered by Bose technology; seven speakers on higher trim levels in the Equinox, while certain trim levels (and standard for Premier models) offer unprecedented clarity through eight Bose audio blasters. This feature alone can elevate anyone’s drive from ordinary commutes into something truly extraordinary.

In several ways, though, the Blazer feels like the more upscale vehicle. For instance, every one of its trims has dual-zone automatic climate control. In contrast, only the higher trims of the Equinox have this feature. Only the Premier trim of the Equinox has heated front seats, and in comparison, three Blazer trims have heated front seats. The Blazer's top trim even has heating and ventilating in the front row seats, heating units integrated into the second-row outboard seats, and a heated steering wheel that can turn on automatically. These features are only optional on the top trim of the Equinox.

One available feature that's found on the Equinox but not the Blazer is a rear-seat entertainment system. Eight-inch screens can be built into the front-row headrests so that passengers can have a great view. The system comes with two wireless headphones, a remote control, and various inputs, to include HDMI and USB ports.

Safety

Audio aficionados, look no further – the ultimate sound system is here! The entry-level SUVs of the Equinox and Blazer both come with six speaker systems that are sure to take your listening experience up a notch. Those who upgrade their trims will be treated to an even better sonic experience powered by Bose technology; seven speakers on higher trim levels in the Equinox, while certain trim levels (and standard for Premier models) offer unprecedented clarity through eight Bose audio blasters. This feature alone can elevate anyone’s drive from ordinary commutes into something truly extraordinary.

This is a pretty big contrast with what the Blazer has. Unfortunately, the Blazer doesn't have these same systems in its base trim. Not even its second trim, which is the 1LT, has these components as standard features. It's only at the 2LT level where these are found.

With both models, the mid-level and higher trims have blind spot monitoring, lane change alert, and rear cross traffic monitoring. These can be useful since it's not always easy to see other vehicles on the roads. Instead of having basic rear vision cameras, they can have surround vision cameras, and they can have rear park assist. This program lets drivers know when they're getting too close to other objects when backing up.

The industry-leading Equinox and Blazer models now offer adaptive cruise control as an advanced option. This helpful program maintains a preset speed while making fluid adjustments based on the leading vehicle's movements - great for highway drives! Rather than including it standard, Chevy gives customers added freedom to choose these enhanced safety features when they get behind the wheel of their dream car.

Which Model to Choose?

From the entry-level L trims to their top of the line Premier versions, customers considering either the Chevrolet Blazer or Equinox will find significant differences in price. The base cost for a standard Chevy Blazer starts at around $30,000 - making it approximately $5,000 more expensive than its crossover counterpart. On the high end spectrum lies a whopping difference; with prices reaching about $44k for an upper echelon trim package on one side and only as far up as mid-$34Ks on another. Customers may also take note that there is greater variety available with six total options from which to choose in case of opting for a Chevrolet Blazer compared to four possible selections if selecting an Equinox model instead.

When seeking a powerful and performance-packed SUV, the Blazer makes an excellent choice. It has three capable engines to choose from plus it's larger than its competitor - boasting a refined cabin – making this vehicle stand out in many areas. The Equinox remains competitive at an affordable price point with numerous safety features, convenient smartphone compatibility via sizeable touchscreen control center as well as versatile seating options for passengers of all sizes; thus remaining budget conscious for cost-savvy consumers.