2021 Ford Explorer vs Chevy Blazer

The 2021 Ford Explorer is a midsize three-row SUV with seating for seven or six, with optional second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats are spacious and comfortable, though there is less room in the rear seats. Cargo space gives you 18.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and up to 87.8 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded down. Cloth upholstery and power-adjustable front seats are standard and leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, front sport seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, power-folding third-row seats, and massaging front seats are available. A power liftgate comes standard and an available hands-free liftgate and a cargo management system that adds under-floor storage and a reversible cargo floor is an option. The Explorer is available in base, XLT, Limited, ST, and Platinum trim levels. The base Explorer has a starting price of $33,000 and ranges to a starting price of $59,000 for the Platinum.

The 2021 Chevy Blazer offers spacious seating and cargo room, with 2 rows of comfortable seating up front and enough room for up to five people. The seats are supportive and it is easy to enter and exit the SUV, but it's Camaro-like styling slopes the roofline, which makes it harder for taller passengers to sit in the rear. Cloth upholstery is standard and leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, and heated rear seats are available. An additional option is a heated or power adjustment steering wheel. Cargo capacity is 30.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 64.2 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Chevy Blazer features six trim levels: L 1LT, 2LT, 3LT, RS, and Premier, with a starting price of $28,800 for the L trim and ranging to $43,000 for the Premier trim.

The Ford Explorer has an impressive list of safety and tech features, including a highly rated SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen that quickly connects to your smartphone with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Six speakers, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and four USB ports are also standard. Available features include a 10.1-inch touch screen with a portrait layout, a 12.3-inch customizable driver display, a 14-speaker Bank & Olufsen sound system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and wireless device charging. For added assistance, the Explorer comes with Ford Co-Pilot360 technology and driver-assist features to add ease and safety to your driving. Standard safety features include blind spot monitoring, rearview camera, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and auto high-beam headlamps.

The Blazer features plenty of available advanced safety features, including lane keep assist, lane departure warning, lane change alert, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, high-speed automatic emergency braking, rear camera mirror, adaptive cruise control, safety alert seat, and a surround-view parking camera system. A rearview camera and Teen Driver come standard. Chevrolet offers an easy-to-use Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system and 8-inch touch screen, with graphics that are crisp and easy to see. It also has a handy shortcut bar and responsive touch controls. It comes standard with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, four USB ports, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker audio system.

The Ford’s standard turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower delivers a smooth and sturdy ride with its 10-speed automatic transmission and a rear-wheel-drive platform. There are two available twin-turbocharged V6s that will put out 365 and 400 horsepower and are also paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive comes standard in the two highest trims, but you can add four-wheel drive to the other trims for added cost. The base engine is not short on power, however, the V6 options are quicker. Estimated fuel economy is 21/28 mpg in the city and on the highway with its base engine and 18/26 mpg city/highway with the twin-turbo V6 engines. When properly equipped, the Explorer can tow up to 5,600.

The Blazer will give you the choice of three engines. Its base engine is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 193 hp but if you want more power, there’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 230 horsepower or a top-of-the-line 3.6-liter V6 with 308-horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines are paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This 3.6-liter V6 engine will be powerful enough for most driving situations and can tow up to 4,500 pounds. It handles well, with quick and responsive steering, and is composed around turns. There are several drive modes available, including Tour, Sport, and Snow/Ice, as well as available Off-Road and Tow/Haul. Front-wheel drive is standard, and Chevy’s twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system is available. It delivers a 21/27 mpg city and highway rating with its base engine.