2013 Trailblazer 4x4 AT vs 2012 Mazda CX9 4x2 AT -amazingly similar cost of ownership

[d_mac]

Hahaha... mahirap yan!

Mind says TBZ (practical), but heart says Santa Fe (good looking)...

Which car will make you say:
1. Sayang! Dapat pala...
2. Buti na lang!

Hehehe.., Sorry to confuse you further.

Chief Ano727, we all feel the same most of the time in choosing between options, and take it that that's the beauty of having choices/ options/ alternatives from among available rivaling car brands in Philippines. It's better to have that choice in time you need it than not having at all when you need it.

Nonetheless, if PRACTICALITY still weighs more than GOOD LOOKS, the Chevy Trailblazer is still the best among the relatively cheap SUV segment. This is what i posted (an excerpt only) at TopGear Philippines in relation to testimonies from two Trailblazer owners thereat (one of them is even a BMW owner who now raves about his TB) and a Monterosport owner here at tsikot as regards to land speed versus the engine-rpm they're at when driving their respective SUVs. Take note that the land speed were calculated based on tyre specs and gearing specs, and rpm they mentioned during series of discussions.

WOW chief nicely described! Thanks sa advice re the speed of Trailblazer 2.8 Duramax running 130 kph * 2100 rpm, Mas naging kumpleto listahan ngayon ng currently-available SUV/ CUV sa Pinas, ranked from super-bagal to mas mabilis among the top-spec variants:

MITSUBISHI

Monterosport 2.5 GT-V A/T (174 hp, 350 Nm) at PhP1.71 M ---- 107 kph * 2100 rpm
Pajero 3.2 Di-D A/T (165 hp, 363 Nm) at PhP2.70 M ---- 107 kph * 2100 rpm

TOYOTA

Fortuner 3.0 D-4D A/T (163 hp, 343 Nm) at PhP1.72 M ---- 117 kph * 2100 rpm

HYUNDAI

2010-12 Santa Fe 2.2 R-eVGT A/T (197 hp, 437 Nm) at PhP1.76 M ---- 119 kph * 2100 rpm
(118.63 kph to be exact with 235/60/R18 tyres)

2013 Santa Fe 2.2 R-eVGT A/T (197 hp, 437 Nm) at PhP2.23 M ---- 119 kph * 2100 rpm
(118.93 kph with 235/55/R19 tyres)

Hyundai Tucson 2.0 R-eVGT A/T (177 hp, 392 Nm) at PhP1.72 M ---- 119 kph * 2100 rpm
(118.82 kph with 225/55/R18 tyres)

CHEVROLET

Trailblazer 2.8 Duramax A/T (180 hp, 470 Nm) at PhP1.72 M ---- 134 kph * 2100 rpm

Chief, i finally got hold of the gearing spec of the Trailblazer 2.8, just private message me if you don’t have a copy. Tama ka sa claim mo re 130 kph at 2100 rpm with the 265/60/R18 tyres.... With the 245/70/R16, on the other hand, it is speeding at 129 kph.... Ganda talaga ng Trailblazer WOW lalong matutuwa yung kaibigan ko nito na pa-order ng 2.8 this December 2012 hehe! Same thing goes for the Trailblazer 2.5, according to Mindkinetic, he's running about 127 kph at 2100 rpm.... SULIT-na-SULIT talaga ang pinaghirapang PhP1.3 M to PhP1.7 M hehe, hindi gaya nung isa haha!!!!

Obviously, the Fortuner, Santa Fe, Tucson, and Trailblazer 2.5 and 2.8 achieve better cruising speed at any one-point along the rev-range than the Monterosport.

Practicality-wise, the lesser engine-rev you make, the lesser sequential pressure combustion there is in a 4-stroke or 2-stroke cycle engine. In this case, we're talking of 4-stroke diesel engines.

Good luck!