2002 Ford Explorer Vs. 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer

Until you drive either one, you'll never know how much better these SUVs really are (compared to the old ones)-they've both come a long way since they spun off from pickup trucks more than a decade ago. It boils down to this: If you need a versatile, around-town seven-passenger carlike SUV you rarely use for towing or off-roading, you'd probably prefer the Explorer. If, on the other hand, you travel for hours over several zip codes or state lines with a trailer or in search of off-pavement destinations, and max power is an important concern, then you'd likely find the new TrailBlazer a better truck. Ford buyers will tout the Explorer's improved handling and safety, while Chevy loyalists will claim a superior powertrain performance, high content-to-price ratio, and bold, new looks.

We suggest you determine your sport/utility needs and tastes, test drive both, and plunk down your hard-earned bucks. You really can't lose either way.

How Are They Off-Road?We tested both of these all-new SUVs at the track, on highways, on challenging, wet, off-road trails, and even through snowy mountain road passes. What we learned furthered our understanding of the vehicles' underlying missions.

We found shortcomings with the inadequate-for-off-road-use tire fitment on our preproduction Explorer, but this SUV's off-road challenges go a bit deeper than that. The Control Trac 4WD-version of the Explorer comes with a system that's switchable between variable 4x4 Auto, full-time 4x4 High, and 4x4 Low. When in the default auto mode, the Explorer delivers all the power to the rear wheels. When tire slip is detected, it directs as much as 100 percent of available torque to the end of the driveline with traction, or splits it up as conditions dictate. In 4x4 High mode, there's an equal 50/50 split to both axles, and likewise in 4x4 Low, with a 2.48:1 gear reduction. When we arrived at our snowy impasse, we found both trucks' auto 4WD systems to be as transparent and effective as billed. Yet, when we ventured out of bounds into deep mud and dirt, the Ford proved less capable on a fairly steep, lose-packed incline. No matter which mode was selected, the Explorer sat idly, spinning first the right front wheel, then the left rear. That this happened surprised everyone, considering the intelligence of the electronic system. We blamed the tires, yet couldn't explain single wheels spinning in vain.

Similarly equipped with Chevy's AutoTrac 4x4 system: an automatic 4WD, 4HI, 4LO, yet with far better tires and a selectable 2WD mode, the TrailBlazer met every challenge without trouble. Not only was it more able to make the climb, the overall ride was predictably softer and more comfortable. The only elements hampering the TrailBlazer's raw abilities are its front and rear overhang. With a front approach angle of 29, and rear of 23, the Explorer barely ekes out an advantage at 31 and 25. Also, the Explorer betters the TrailBlazer by about an inch in actual ground clearance. Still, the fact that we got stuck in the technically better-equipped Explorer and not in the soft-riding TrailBlazer makes us pick the Chevy for getting us where we want to go-when the surface turns to goo.-Chris Walton