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- Highs Spacious cabin, strong performance, surprisingly efficient V-6.
- Lows Best features reserved for expensive trims, big blind spots, a few cheap-looking interior plastics.
- Verdict The Traverse is one of the most spacious family haulers in its segment, but it's outclassed by several rivals that approach the luxury end of the mid-size-SUV game.
Overview
Chevrolet is the brand of family school buses, as it offers not one, not two, but three three-row SUVs. Among that trio is the 2021 Traverse. Sitting alongside the Suburban and Tahoe in the showroom, the Traverse differentiates itself from its brothers by offering a more carlike driving experience (i.e., it's not as trucky). An adequately powerful 3.6-liter V-6 runs smoothly and quietly under the hood, and up to eight passengers can settle into relative comfort inside the Traverse's spacious cabin. Infotainment tech is plentiful, even on the base model, but the Traverse's offerings are underwhelming when compared with similarly sized rivals that offer a more luxurious feel—namely, the Kia Telluride and its twin, the Hyundai Palisade.
What's New for 2021?
Chevrolet had planned to launch a refreshed Traverse for the 2021 model year, but that's been pushed to 2022 thanks to the coronavirus pandemic that has shuttered manufacturing facilities across the world. The Traverse will carry over from 2020 to 2021 without any changes while Chevrolet works to get the facelifted 2022 model ready for prime time.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Given how many trim levels Chevy offers on the Traverse, you're sure to find one that's right for your budget, but the niceties get kicked up a big notch once you reach the RS model. It comes standard with a slew of features, including 20-inch wheels, heated front seats, automatic high-beam headlamps, in-dash navigation, a 120-volt household-style outlet on the back of the center console, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and a dual exhaust with sporty-looking rectangular finishers.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
A potent V-6 engine gives the Traverse its legs, and a slick-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission changes gears unobtrusively. The 3.6-liter V-6 pulls strongly and the Traverse is on the quicker end of its class. The cabin is so quiet that you need to steal a glance at the tachometer to ensure the engine is running while at a stoplight. And it might not be, as the Traverse features what is perhaps the most seamless automatic stop-start feature we've tested. When parking or maneuvering at low speed, the Traverse feels every bit its size. Pick up the pace, however, and the big Chevy handles like a much smaller vehicle—poised, if not overtly athletic. Steering effort is low, but the system is precise and makes aiming the big SUV easy. And the Traverse's suspension strikes a good balance between agility and ride comfort.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Judge the Traverse by its class-average EPA fuel-economy numbers and you'd be doing so with only half the information. In our real-world testing, the all-wheel-drive V-6-powered Traverse High Country delivered 27 mpg, the best highway fuel consumption among its key competitors.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Traverse provides spacious accommodations for seven or eight passengers, including a third row sized for adults. Chevrolet's six-tier model lineup provides a lot of options for buyers, and the feature content, naturally, increases with the price. The materials in the top-level High Country are handsome but fall slightly short of expectations given that version's lofty sticker. As for space, we found that six carry-on suitcases will fit behind the third row, which is impressive for this segment. Drop all the Traverse's folding seats and it becomes a cargo-hauling champ, with more space than any of its rivals. It offers the most first-row cubby storage in its class, too.
Infotainment and Connectivity
USB ports are thoughtfully placed throughout the Traverse's cabin, and the SUV's infotainment system is simple to use and quick to respond, with colorful graphics, a high-mounted touchscreen, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
The 2021 Traverse earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but it was not named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Unfortunately, most driver-assistance features are available on only the two highest-priced trims (whereas some rivals offer these things as standard). Key safety features include:
- Available blind-spot monitoring
- Available forward-collision warning
- Available lane-keep assist
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The only thing that distinguishes the Traverse from its peers is the one free maintenance visit. Otherwise, the warranty coverage offered by Chevrolet is average for the segment.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
