2025 Chevrolet Traverse

The Z71 has its own grille treatment plus a suspension with a wider track and a higher stance. It’s decidedly rugged, at least to behold.

The cabin has a well-organized appearance and an open feel. A curved wall of screens makes drivers feel like they’re in the vehicle’s nerve center, while a big 17.7-inch touchscreen rests over the vents and secondary climate controls. The big center console is full of space since the gear lever is now a stalk on the steering column. 

How fast is the Chevrolet Traverse?

It’s adequate, though you really need to wring out this engine. The 2.5-liter turbo-4 is reasonably smooth as it churns out up to 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, sent to the wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. While Chevy has trained the gearbox to shift up quickly to save fuel, it downshifts on command. But that’s part of the problem: all that power and too much of that torque is high in the rev band, so you’re constantly stabbing at the accelerator if you want to go anywhere quickly. Some of the blame also goes to a portly 4,500-pound-plus curb weight. 

The Traverse has steering that responds quickly and a great ride quality, so long as you skip the available 22-inch alloy wheels. RS versions ride a bit more firmly and have more heft to their steering, but they’re not exactly nimble. No Traverse snakes its way through traffic particularly well, and these SUVs can have a ponderous feel as they’re slotted into parking spots. 

The Traverse can bet outfitted to tow up to 5,000 pounds, which is decent for a crossover in this segment. If you really need to tow, though, look for something with a frame like Chevy’s own (admittedly pricier and thirstier) Tahoe. 

The front seats have good adjustments and support, though the cheapest Traverse has an inconvenient manually adjustable driver’s seat that seems a bit chintzy for the price. 

Rear-seat riders have about 41.5 inches of legroom, which is quite good for the class. The wide rear doors don’t have the kind of pointy edge that stands ready to dent the car next to it, either. 

Adults can squeeze into the third row, but they won’t be thrilled with the experience. The bench is wedged low to the ground, which creates an uncomfortable knees-up seating position. Headroom is decent, though, and rearmost passengers have cupholders and USB-C ports.

The cargo area expands from about 23 cubic feet of stuff-hauling space with the third row upright to about 57 cubes with its third-row folded. It maxes out at an impressive 97.6 cubic feet with rows two and three down, though the surface isn’t flat. There’s also a small storage area beneath the cargo floor.

All Traverse trim levels have decent materials inside, though the High Country doesn’t nudge real far into the luxury world given what should be a hefty price tag. 

The base LS includes cloth seats that are manually adjustable and heated up front, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 17.7-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and remote starting. 

All-wheel drive is $2,000 more on trim levels where it’s not standard. 

Which Chevrolet Traverse should I buy?

The LT costs about $2,500 more, and it’s worthwhile for its improved interior trim, power-adjustable driver’s seat, power tailgate, wireless device charging pad, and second row that can slide forward. It’s also available with second-row captain’s chairs, and it can be loaded up with useful synthetic leather (take that, spills!), a big sunroof, and Super Cruise. 

The $48,000-or-so Z71 has all-wheel drive and a taller suspension, plus it is equipped with the trailer towing package. It and the LT can be loaded up with Bose speakers, automatic parking, and a rear camera mirror. 

How much is a fully loaded Chevrolet Traverse?

While Chevy hasn’t priced the 2025 Traverse High Country as of press time, it’s likely to come in around $60,000. It has cooled front seats, ambient interior lighting, a power-folding third row, and Bose audio, plus pretty much every feature that’s optional on trims below it.