If you want a new car without making your wallet cry, Chevrolet offers two SUVs on a smaller scale. The 2022 Chevy Spark and 2022 Chevy Trailblazer both start under $22,000. Let’s see if the Chevy Spark or Chevy Trailblazer is the better affordable SUV. 

The 2022 Chevy Spark vs. the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer 

You can get started in the 2022 Chevy Spark for $13,600. The 2022 Chevy Trailblazer costs a bit more and begins at about $21,600. Keep in mind that these prices are the MSRPs. They are listed before the destination fees, and dealership markups have been added. 

The Spark probably looks more attractive because it starts for about $8,000 less. But the Trailblazer may come with more standard features for comfort and convenience. The Spark is pretty bare bones. 

Does the Spark or Trailblazer have a better performance? 

With the 2022 Chevy Spark, you get a 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 98 hp and 94 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 10.7 seconds. This is a little slow for the class. 

The Spark provides plenty of power for driving in the city, but it may struggle to pass others on the highway. On a positive note, it does get an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city and up to 38 mpg on the highway. 

With the 2022 Chevy Trailblazer, the 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with 137 hp ad 162 lb-ft is standard. You can upgrade to the 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine for 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. 

The Trailblazer can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.4 seconds. It’s a bit slower than its rivals and could use a little more passing power. Also, the Trailblazer gets an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in the city and up to 33 mpg on the highway.

While the Trailblazer may have a bit of a smoother ride than the Spark, the Spark may have a quieter interior. Both SUVs have responsive steering, but the Spark has more confident brakes. 

If you need a vehicle for winter conditions, we would recommend the Trailblazer, because it has all-wheel drive available. The Spark is only available in front-wheel drive.

Does the Trailblazer or Spark have better features? 

The 2022 Chevy Spark has an attractive cabin. To avoid feeling cheap, plastic trim pieces incorporate textured patterns. You can add leather trimmings and heated front seats. The 2022 Chevy Trailblazer also uses textured plastics but has colored trim pieces and chrome accents for a more upscale feeling. 

You can access up to 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats of the Trailblazer with up to 54.4 cubes total. The Spark provides 11.1 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear with up to 27.2 cubes total. 

Both SUVs come with a standard 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but you can upgrade to an 8.0-inch unit in the Trailblazer. You can also upgrade to wireless connectivity with the Trailblazer. 

The Chevy Trailblazer comes with standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. A few of these features are available with the Chevy Spark. 

So the Chevy Trailblazer is a little faster, more spacious, and has more standard goodies than the Chevy Spark. But it’s not that much faster. There’s no need to upgrade from the Chevy Spark unless you need more room, need AWD, or want more of an upscale feeling.