Overview

What's New for 2021

The Chevrolet Traverse is offered in seven trim levels: L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and High Country. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on every trim except the base L. The LS is the popular trim, but our pick for the best value and features is the LT Leather.

L

The L is the low-priced choice with an entry price of $30,995 (including a $1,195 destination charge). The base L trim comes with notable features like 18-inch alloy wheels, a backup camera, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, heated power-adjustable outside mirrors, keyless open/start, tri-zone climate control, cruise control, Chevrolet's Infotainment 3 system, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a WiFi hotspot, and six USB ports.

LS

The LS trim has all of the L's features, plus deep-tinted rear windows.

LT Cloth

The LT Cloth ($36,895 MSRP) adds an 8-way power driver's seat with power lumbar control, second-row captain's chairs, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lamps, roof rails, and automatic power front windows.

LT Leather

The Traverse LT Leather starts at 40,295 and has the best combination of features and price. The LT Leather adds desirable safety features like lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a high-definition backup camera. Other features include an 8.0-inch touchscreen, a programmable rear liftgate, leather upholstery, remote start, passive keyless entry, an enhanced driver information display, a 6-way power passenger seat, heated front seats, universal garage door opener, and a 4.2-inch driver information display.

RS

Shoppers looking to add sportiness should look at the Traverse RS model, priced from $45,195. The RS trim slots above the LT and adds blacked-out exterior accents for a unique appearance. That includes 20-inch dark-painted wheels, black exterior accents, gloss-black window trim, black fog lamp bezels, and dual exhaust outlets. The RS also comes with Chevy Safety Assist, a suite of safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, front-pedestrian braking, and lane-keep assist. It also adds a 120-volt power outlet, an automatic heated steering wheel, and a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system.

Premier

The Premier is only slightly more expensive than the RS, but it trades the appearance upgrades for more interior luxury. The Premier has soft, perforated leather seating in the first and second rows. The front seats are heated and cooled while the second-row seats are heated. Wireless smartphone charging is standard, as are LED headlights, auto-dimming mirrors, chrome body accents, a motion-activated rear liftgate, a power tilt/telescoping steering column, a surround-view camera, and navigation.

High Country

The top-line High Country model is equipped with perforated leather seats, 20-inch polished wheels, LED headlights, Bose premium 10-speaker audio system, panoramic sunroof, and power-folding third-row seats. It also includes high-speed automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a trailering package. The MSRP for the all-wheel-drive High Country is $54,295, which is higher than the top-level Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The top-of-the-line Ford Explorer has a base price of about $1,200 more.

With an overall length of 204.3 inches and a width of 78.6 inches, the Chevrolet Traverse is one of the largest, roomiest crossovers in the midsize segment. Most of its competitors, including the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander, have significantly less passenger volume and cargo space. If you need to haul a lot of people and cargo, the Traverse is the hot ticket for midsize SUVs. It provides plenty of rear headroom and legroom as well as vast cargo space for strollers and other family gear. Getting into the third row is a bit of a challenge, but the seat itself is accommodating. The second-row seats slide back and forth for additional versatility and convenience. Some vehicles in the class have an infotainment display larger than the available 8-inch touchscreen in the Traverse, but Chevrolet's infotainment interface is one of the best in the business. Available high-definition surround-view cameras and a rear camera mirror also aid overall convenience and "parkability."

When it comes to cargo space, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is in the same ballpark, but other competitors don't come close. The Traverse's 23 cubic feet behind the third row is roomy as is, and the usable space expands to a whopping 98.2 cubic feet with both rows folded out of the way.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Traverse a five-star safety rating, the organization's highest honor. While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety chose nine of the Traverse's competitors as either a Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick, the Traverse did not achieve that honor.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse can be equipped with an array of electronic safety features and driving enhancements, but they aren't standard. Most are contained in the Chevy Safety Assist package, which is available on LT Cloth and LT Leather trims, and standard on the RS, Premier, and High Country trims. The package includes automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking are standard on the top-level High Country.

On the strength of its roomy interior space, high standard horsepower, and wide range of models, the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse will please a broad portion of the midsize-crossover audience. "Practical" might be the best word to describe the Chevy Traverse. What it gives up in sharp handling is made up for with interior room and versatility. If you want to consider similar vehicles with nearly as much interior room, the Volkswagen Atlas and the Honda Pilot are good bets. If you seek a sportier, more fun-to-drive model, the Ford Explorer ST with its 400-horsepower turbocharged V6 is an excellent choice. However, if you're looking for something slightly less expensive, the Chevrolet Equinox has a lot of similarities to the Traverse with a lower price.

Chevrolet Traverse vs. Chevrolet Equinox

Chevrolet Traverse vs. Ford Explorer

Chevrolet Traverse vs. Honda Pilot

Chevrolet Traverse vs. Volkswagen Atlas