2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 iteration of the SUV returns a decent gas mileage and offers a cushioned ride even on rough roads. The Traverse can seat people in all three rows and has quite a good amount of space for cargo. The infotainment setup is very user-friendly and convenient too. The Chevy starts climbing the ladder at a price point of $29,800 and goes up all the way up to $52,095, and this puts the Traverse in contention with the likes of Ford Explorer, Kia Telluride, and the Hyundai Palisade.

The 2021 ChevroletTraverse is offered in 7 trims with different configurations. The base trim ‘LL’ starts at a price of $29,800, and the price goes up all the way to $53,100 for the fully loaded ‘High Country’ trim, which is actually dripping with the most amount of tech that chevy could stuff in that car. The 'RS' trim of the SUV will be reviewed separately. The Base model is available only with an FWD drivetrain, while the trim just above that, from ‘LS’ to the ‘High Country,’ are all available in both FWD and AWD drivetrains. 

Which trim should you buy?

All the trims are pretty comfortable and capable, but our precise choice would be either the ‘Premier’ or the ‘High Country. The two trims are the topmost and loaded with features, and to make it more convincing, the top trims are those that are equipped with the most safety features too. All in all, the top two trims offer better value for money in the lineup.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine, which churns out a good 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission, which is the only one on offer. All trims excluding the ‘LL’ Trim are offered in both FWD and AWD drivetrains. The Traverse is easy to maneuver, thanks to its properly weight-adjusted steering. The suspension handles the Traverse's weight well. The 2021 Traverse accelerates quickly from 0-60 MPH in just 6.9 seconds, and it completes the quarter-mile sprint in 15.5 seconds, which is pretty good.

Although the Travers is really good, there is one SUV posing a tough challenge to the Traverse, and that would be the Ford Explorer. It is down on power by 10 hp than the Traverse and yet manages to accelerate to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds. While the Kia Telluride weighs 120 pounds more than the Traverse, it boasts a better acceleration. The Hyundai Palisade is the slowest amongst all.

How well does the Transverse handle?

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse performs amazingly and offers impressive comfort and handling. It does not feel like the older generation of the car that it replaced in 2018. The new Traverse feels even better than the previous model with the suspension adjusted to make it feel a bit more planted and flat. There is a recognizable body roll, and yet it feels quite comfortable around the corners. The ride quality is a point to be mentioned considering how good it is. The Traverse rides undisturbed, as the suspension absorbs the road undulations well. The steering offers good feedback and offers more confidence to the driver.

Braking Performance

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offers sharp and confidence-inducing braking performance. It is equipped with 12.6-inch rotors in the front and 12.4 inches rotors at the rear, and that helps to anchor the SUV in 127 feet from a speed of 60 mph. Even with a heavyweight of 4,362 lbs, the smaller rotors do the braking job really well. A gentle pressing of the brake pedal will make the SUV stop, inducing confidence while driving the SUV.

The Kia Telluride surprises us with its incredible braking capability. It completed the braking test in 120 feet to beat the Ford Explorer which took 121 feet. The Traverse finds itself behind the Explorer, while the Hyundai Palisade comes in last place as it takes 129 ft to halt from 60 mph. When comparing the curb weight, Chevrolet Traverse is the heaviest, although not by a large margin.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse returns 18 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highways. With a fuel tank of 19.4 gallons, and that is a good number, it offers a range of combined 430 miles when the tank is filled. The mileage figures fall to 17 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway if the AWD option is chosen. There is a stop-start engine function, which helps in fuel-saving. This system works well, and it can't be disabled.

Amongst the rivals, the Ford Explorer turns out as the most fuel-efficient car. It has an 18.6-gallon fuel tank and delivers great mileage in the city and on the highway, measuring 21 mpg and 28 mpg, respectively. The Hyundai Palisade and the Kia Telluride offer similar mileage figures, whereas the Traverse offers just 21 mpg combined. 

The Traverse's interior is used to having an inferior level of plastic, which reduces as the trim levels increase. The Traverse has seating for 8, but it reduces to 7 if the optional second-row captain chairs are chosen. The seats are made of cloth in the base trims and are available in leather as the levels increase. The rear seats offer good comfort during long travels, with the second and third-row very well spaced and having decent head and legroom for tall passengers. The Traverse owners have a good amount of boot space, more than enough to store six large bags. 

The Hyundai and the Kia have the least legroom in the last row but do really well in the second row. The Explorer offers just 18.2 cu-ft. of dedicated cargo space behind the third row. Chevy is the one car that is currently excelling well in terms of interior dimensions as it offers decent cabin space along with the class-leading cargo capacity of 23 cubic feet. The Transverse’s interior features are as below:

• 6-way power front passenger seat
• 8-point digital compass
• 8-way power driver seat
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Dual skyscape sunroof
• Automatic heated steering wheel
• Chevrolet Connected Access capable
• Collapsible cargo area organizer
• Heated and ventilated driver and passenger seats
• Heated rear outboard seats
• Interior lighting
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The Traverse comes equipped with Chevy's Infotainment 3 system that has a 7-inch (lower trims) or 8-inch (higher trims) touchscreen display. A 6-speaker sound system is offered as standard on lower trims, but the higher trims are equipped with a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can be accessed wirelessly. 6 USB ports are available in the Traverse. Irrespective of the size of the touchscreen, the response is good and smooth.

Major infotainment features available with the SUV include:

• Voice recognition & navigation system
• 6 & 10-speaker system
• multi-function leather steering wheel 
• 7 & 8-inch infotainment screen
• leather-perforated seats
• Power front seats and power lumbar support
• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Wi-Fi hotspot

The Chevrolet Traverse looks the same as the previous year. The Traverse is softer when compared to the rest of the maker's SUVs. The Premier and High Country models come equipped with LED headlamps and DRLs. It has a ground clearance of 7.2 inches, which is not favorable for off-roading. The windows of the Traverse are wide enough for a great view. The Traverse has an overall length of 204.3 inches and a wheelbase of 120.9 inches, which helps in offering better interior space.

The Ford Explorer has 0.7 inches more ground clearance, which makes it a better option for off-roading purposes. The Palisade is the lightest SUV, weighing 4,231 pounds, and yet it manages to be slower than the Traverse. The Kia's wheelbase is nearly 6 inches less, which suggests that it has a smaller interior room. Some highlights of the exterior are:

• LED headlamps
• LED DRLs
• LED fog lamps
• LED brake lights
• auto-dimming exterior mirrors
• Power liftgate
• Chrome grille
• Chrome window trim
• Dual exhaust chrome tips

The Traverse's cabin is loaded with seven airbags. The Traverse has just a few safety features as standard like Teen Driver, a rearview camera, and a rear-seat reminder. The rest of the top safety technologies come under an optional package that costs some extra dollars. When it comes to safety ratings, it has received a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA and a 'Good' rating from IIHS in multiple areas. Some of the highlight features are:

• Automated Emergency Braking
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• Lane-Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Front Collision Alert
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Intelli Auto HighBeam

2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride is down on power by 19 hp in comparison to the Chevy Traverse, and the performance is also poorer than the Chevy. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Telluride is more fuel-efficient than the Traverse. The space and storage offered are better in the Transverse, with a lot of legroom in the third row. Chevrolet is also a bit cheaper than Telluride, resulting in a better value for money deal.

2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The Hyundai Palisade is low on power and is the slowest car in this competition. Fuel economy figures are quite similar for both cars. Passenger space too is almost similar, but when it comes to practicality, the Traverse is better. However, the Palisade offers better features for a lower price point, which are available only in higher trims for the Traverse.

2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer churns out 10 hp less than the Chevy Traverse but is a bit faster than the Traverse. The Explorer is the most fuel-efficient SUV in this segment, despite its dimensions. The Traverse, on the other hand, offers class-leading passenger space and an amazing cargo capacity with all the seats folded. The choice between the two remains yours.

The 2021 Ford Explorer might be really practical and great on almost all fronts and is a great daily use car, but if the thirst of power does overcome you, the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse just makes everything better. It also turns out to be a better car as it is coupled with more power, comfort, and practicality than the Ford. All in all, if all-out performance is not what you crave, which you get better from the Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse makes for a decent pick in the segment.