WHY CHOOSE THE CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER OVER THE HYUNDAI KONA?

Kelly Blue Book (KBB.com) recently looked at two subcompact SUVs and compared them. In one corner is the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the sportier of Chevrolet’s two models in this segment, with a starting MSRP of just $23,100. They compared it to the 2024 Hyundai Kona, a veteran in this category that just received its first redesign for 2024 and has a starting MSRP of exactly $1000 over the Trailblazer at $24,100. Mcfarland Chevrolet offers this brief rundown of the comparison.

DESIGN

The 2023 Trailblazer received a significant styling change inside and out that looks just as fresh a year later. Channeling the Camaro’s looks up front, the Trailblazer announces its presence with a body featuring distinctive character lines and available two-tone color combinations. Inside, the Trailblazer features a surprising amount of room and an attractive, cohesive dash with an available 11-inch infotainment screen while retaining plenty of physical controls for convenience. 

The Kona was fully redesigned for the 2024 model year. The model has an electric version, and the EV influence can be seen in the thin LED DRL across the front with a similar strip for the taillights in the rear. In its SUV of the Year issue (which crowned the Chevrolet Blazer EV as its winner, BTW), Motor Trend described the Kona’s appearance as follows: “It’s like two different cars sitting on top of each other. The one on top is sleek and futuristic looking, and then there is this blocky, chunky thing underneath.”  

The Kona interior is also roomy for its size. The dash is redesigned with a single glass panel encompassing the driver’s information center and the infotainment screen, as seen on many Hyundai and Kia models.Like the Trailblazer, the Kona has a set of physical controls for commonly used functions. 

POWERTRAINS

The Trailblazer model line starts with a turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500 rpm combined with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which drives the front wheels. Every Trailblazer grade is available with all-wheel drive, and that brings about a drivetrain upgrade to a turbocharged 1.3-liter 3-cylinder with 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque @ 1600 rpm combined with a 9-speed automatic transmission.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona also has two gas engines, starting with a non-turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and just 132@ lb-ft of torque @ 4500 rpm, which is also matched with a CVT. Either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive is available with this engine configuration. The performance-focused N-Line comes with a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged up to 190 horsepower with 195 lb-ft of torque and is also available in FWD and AWD.

UTILITY

The two models are closely matched in exterior dimensions. The Trailblazer’s 140-inch wheelbase is shy of the Kona’s by 0.7 inches yet is longer and taller by about an inch and a half, respectively. The Kona is 0.7 inches wider. 

Cargo volume with the rear seats up is effectively the same. With rear seats down, the Kona can boast greater cubic feet of 63.7 vs the Trailblazer at 54.3. However, that does not consider the Trailblazer’s hat trick in which the front passenger seat can fold flat forward as well, significantly increasing total cargo space and enabling the ability to carry long cargo. 

Of the two, the Trailblazer takes its off-roading role seriously with the ACTIV grade that features all-terrain tires, a front skid plate, and revised suspension tuning. It may not be rough-trail-ready, but these features, plus the Trailbazer’s tidy dimensions, make it a good candidate for light off-roading duty. The Kona model line has no answer for this. 

Here is how Kelly Blue Book concludes its Trailblazer description: “It’s spacious for its size and offers a good amount of updated tech and safety equipment. Buyers looking to make an occasional light off-road excursion or carry long items may find the Trailblazer better suits their needs.”

If you are looking for a small yet useful model to add to your stable, the Chevrolet Trailblazer warrants your attention. See it up close and get behind the wheel at McFarland Chevrolet.