Comparison: 2021 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer | Car Reviews

The compact/subcompact CUV segment – and indeed, as we’ll quickly see, these two and others like it are a minimal challenging to categorize – is a very hot a single ideal now. SUVs and crossovers have been previously very hot, but as quickly as companies uncovered a way to get AWD devices compact adequate that they could in shape in the smaller blueprint of these motor vehicles, wee utility models acquired even much more steam.

Canadians in individual respect the peace of brain that arrives with having all-wheel generate, so they have been keen to get more substantial motor vehicles if that is what was necessary. Of system, they also wanted effectiveness, so if that meant having a a little smaller motor to enjoy with, so be it.

Autos like the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Seltos – two of the segment’s latest all-new entries –  display that you can have the most effective of the two worlds: the effectiveness of a compact shape and turbocharged powertrain, but the capabilities of an AWD platform, with a lot less of an affect on inside place than a single might imagine.

See also: Comparison: 2020 Hyundai Kona vs 2021 Kia Seltos

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2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer

With the more substantial Blazer arriving for 2020, it seemed only natural that the Trailblazer might return as well. So while its arrival may well not be completely stunning, the simple fact that it is actually the smaller of the two motor vehicles is a minimal much more so.

Immediately after all, recall that the Trailblazer employed to be both a more substantial or better-spec trim of the Blazer. Issues are a minimal different this time all-around the Trailblazer is smaller and starts off at a a lot reduce base MSRP ($23,798) than the Blazer ($37,198).

Massive styling enhance
Remember, furthermore, that the last Trailblazer – in particular in 3-row EXT variety – wasn’t particularly a looker. The fundamental design appeared a minimal like the designers had taken a wax variation of the more substantial Tahoe, enable it soften in the sun – just a minimal – and considered “That’s it. Occupation carried out.” The EXT, meanwhile, appeared as if it was made with nary a nod to proportions at all it had a weirdly tall roofline and its lengthier wheelbase by some means made it look like they’d sawed a Trailblazer in 50 percent, unexpectedly welded in some more substantial human body panels and delivered it off. It was like a single of those terrible hack-occupation limousine conversions you may well have found on many “ugly automobiles are us”-design Facebook teams.

This new Trailblazer suffers from none of that. It is edgy-looking with creases and cuts in all the ideal spots, has sharp corners and rides on good-looking wheels, in particular in RS variety as found here. I love the black with contrast colour crimson roof, I love the delicate roof spoiler and I don’t even brain the headlights, which are of the preceding-gen Jeep Cherokee university of design and style whereby the DRLs actually sit higher than the headlights, on the hood’s major edge. Frankly, the Trailblaer is a interesting-looking factor and aside from the plasticky, cheap-looking roof rails, this is a stylistic household run, just what Chevy required.

See also: 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer Overview: Accredited!

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, front

The smaller, the superior?
Electrical power-smart, there are two motor choices – however that does count on irrespective of whether you want FWD or AWD. The former receives a one.2L turbo 3 – rely ‘em, 3 – cylinder motor excellent for 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The latter versions occur with a one.3L turbo three excellent for 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque, and that was what our tester had under the hood.

This motor is responsive and punchy, responding well to throttle inputs and the nine-velocity automatic transmission actually does well to preserve tempo with the motor and you don’t have the consistent, annoying gear shuffling you often get when so a lot of gears are paired with these a tiny motor. (FWD editions get a CVT automatic and while that may well be the successful way to go, it is not likely to be the most involving, or the quietest). Either way, while the response from suggestion-in is really excellent, that tiny minimal motor at some point does run out of breath and highway passing can be a minimal frantic as a final result.

In one.3L variety, however, this is a rapid minimal people-mover and at the close of the day, that is likely to speak volumes.

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, inside

Inside digs
These kind of crossovers are aimed at a youthful acquiring group, and so the Trailblazer receives the requisite splashes of colour and trim to brighten up the inside a minimal, for occasion crimson bezels on the gauges, crimson contrast stitching and even some faux crimson-tinted brushed aluminum all-around the vents and at the base of the centre stack. It does display screen a minimal much more flash than what’s found within the Seltos.

The massive takeaway for me, however, is that even however this is someplace in the compact/subcompact CUV segment, the inside is roomy adequate the two front and again to accommodate 4 grownups with minimal drama. You can thank the superior roof for that.

Of system, all the requisite inside tech is here, like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, seven-speaker Bose audio with eight-inch touchscreen, WiFi hotspot, wireless charging and even leatherette seating.

2021 Kia Seltos

South Korean automaker Kia has occur with a incredibly able competitor to the Trailblazer in the segment, although a single that aims a minimal better up the maturity ladder than does the Chevy.

Like no other
Certainly, you will not oversight this Kia and its “Tiger Nose” front close for anything else, and the headlight treatment method is maybe even stranger than what’s shown by the Trailblazer. As opposed to the Chevy, the lights that align with the top of the grille are the headlights and the products below that are the transform alerts – they look unique to be certain but it ought to be regarded that the IIHS uncovered them not fairly satisfactory adequate for the Seltos to get paid its top basic safety select award.

Overall, the front close, rear fascia and stance of the design aid differentiate the Seltos from the Trailblazer it is the much more mature-looking automobile.

See also: 2021 Kia Seltos Overview: When’s a subcompact not a subcompact?

2021 Kia Seltos, inside

A techy but not sparkly inside
At initial glance the Seltos’ inside is a buttoned-down affair. There are no crimson highlights as found in the Trailblazer and there’s incredibly minimal in the way of flash and dash when it arrives to accents, earning for a monochromatic look. Even so, a closer look at the spots that most attract occupants’ interest displays that there is a total heck of a great deal to like here. The gauge cluster attributes a large seven-inch TFT display screen that even the newer, much more expensive K5 GT-Line doesn’t get. It will make the equal in the Trailblazer look positively juvenile by comparison.

It receives complimented on the top-spec SX variation we analyzed by a ten.25-inch key infotainment display screen (an eight-inch monitor is typical on reduce trims) that receives a incredibly neat occasion trick in the way you can pick from 6 different “sounds of nature” themes. And we’re not speaking “themes” that just adjust the look of the UI and that is it these are here to actually make you sense superior by pumping enjoyable audio through the excellent eight-speaker Bose system. You can select the enjoyable sound of crashing waves, a lively forest and its buzzes and fowl chirps and even the calming din of a coffee store, amid others (there are 6 in full).

What’s the position of all this? Nicely, I wondered that as well until eventually I uncovered myself on a extensive generate, not seriously seeking to hear to both music (the two Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported) or the drone of communicate radio. I was grateful for the third alternative, and the wet-day concept scratched me ideal the place I itched. Chat about a feature you by no means considered you required!

If you want to liven matters up, the bezels all-around the speakers will “dance” with your music, however I uncovered this feature tacky when I initial knowledgeable it in the Seltos’ Soul sibling, and that hasn’t changed a lot here. Luckily for us, it can be deactivated.

2021 Kia Seltos, turbo motor

Now that is what I call turbocharging
Though the Trailblazer receives two turbo’d crops, the Seltos receives the two a one.6L turbo and a 2.0L normally-aspirated Atkinson Cycle 4-banger. The turbo motor will make much more electricity than the Chevy’s one.3L, while the Kia’s 2. L splits the distinction among the two.

The turbo 4 in the Kia, however, is a true humdinger of an motor that is excellent for 175 hp and 196 lb-ft of torque. If you considered the Trailblazer was rapid on suggestion-in, the Seltos leaves it behind here and carries on to do so as speeds raise, all backed up by a rapid-shifting seven velocity dual-clutch transmission. You will not sense fairly the exact same drop in electricity at better speeds that you do in the Chevy, which after all over again factors to the Kia maybe staying the much more well-rounded automobile. It does sense a minimal much more jittery about smaller bumps than does the Trailblazer, even so, which can guide to a handful of squirrely times.

Like the Trailblazer, the Seltos feels way roomier than its exterior looks counsel in simple fact, the two of these motor vehicles have almost the precise exact same place the two front and rear, so that is not what’s likely to win about likely prospective buyers for both automobile. The Seltos’ rear window is a minimal smaller than that of the Trailblazer, even so, so the see out again is a minimal superior in the Chevrolet.

2021 Kia Seltos / 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, front

Advantage Chevrolet Blazer

The Trailblazer’s styling seriously is a sight to behold. It is intense without the need of staying extremely so or much too cheap-looking. And it displays what Chevrolet can do on the design and style front when their designers are specified some much more rope.

Advantage Kia Seltos

That infotainment system is fairly intelligent, but the true winner for the Seltos is its motor, which provides good electricity supply, awesome response at almost any velocity and electricity adequate to offer a true sensation of athleticism.

Similarities

The massive takeaway from the two of these is just how a lot place there is within the two for occupants and their cargo. It is tough to believe that crossovers like this can offer all that AWD gear and even now have headroom adequate for most grownups, and not look like they are towering awkwardly higher than all the things else.

Verdict

At the close of the day, the two of these are good choices in the segment. The two have good inside place, powertrains that are punchy adequate for the ordinary driver and of system, incredibly capable AWD devices. At a drive, the Seltos’ electricity – in particular in turbo variety – and infotainment system give it a slight edge, although you do save about $2,000 when it arrives to the base MSRP of the Seltos SX and the Trailblazer RS, so the latter wins some factors again there. Our recommendation? Try out them the two.

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer / 2021 Kia Seltos, profile

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer RS

We like

Charge of entry
Styling

We like a lot less

Operates out of puff at better speeds
Infotainment a minimal bland-looking

2021 Kia Seltos SX

We like

Highly effective turbo motor
Slick infotainment
Generous cargo potential

We like a lot less

Appears not for every person
Receives dear

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer / 2021 Kia Seltos, 3-quarters rear

Specifications

2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer / 2021 Kia Seltos, rear