Driven: 2024 Chevrolet Traverse Is A Mid-Size Crossover With Full-Size Space

If you have a large family and need an equally enormous vehicle to tote them around, you can spend up for a full-size SUV or accept minivan life. Mid-size SUVs, even the largest ones on the market, simply can’t compete with the storage space and passenger volume found in something like a Tahoe or a Sienna. Or can they?

The Chevrolet Traverse is the second largest SUV in the Chevy portfolio, sitting just below the Tahoe in the lineup. The 2024 model is a bit smaller than the outgoing one on the outside, but it still packs more space than competitive mid-size three-row options.

The Traverse retains its title as the most capacious crossover on the market, but it spices up the formula with more aggressive styling, new technology inside, comprehensive standard safety equipment, and a new four-cylinder engine derived from trucks. Do all of these changes make the Traverse top of the heap in more than just space? We drove a 2024 Traverse RS for a week to find out.

Exterior: Downsized Tahoe

The outgoing Traverse had very little flavor, but this new model gets injected with a sriracha bomb. Chevy ditched the “minivan without sliding doors” motif in exchange for a new design that presents itself more like a baby Tahoe. All trims get a large grille with split headlights that contain the daytime running lights near the top and the main headlights lower on the bumper. 18-inch wheels come standard on the LS and LT trims, while the RS gets bold 22-inch black wheels. The RS also gets black accents, including black Chevy bowties that make it look meaner in the school pickup line.

Buyers who like to go off-road can opt for the Z71 trim, which wraps its unique 18-inch wheels around thicker all-terrain tires with a one-inch suspension lift and underbody skid plates. Ground clearance ranges from 6.8 inches on most trims to 7.8 inches on the Z71. For 2025, Chevy will add a High Country trim that blends the RS’s luxury with some of the Z71’s ruggedness.

A number of interesting colors are available, including our tester’s Radiant Red Tintcoat ($495), and no-cost options like Lakeshore Blue Metallic, Harvest Bronze Metallic, and Stardust Metallic (which looks pinkish-purple). More simple exterior hues include Mosaic Black Metallic, Sterling Gray Metallic, and Iridescent Pearl Tintcoat ($995). This third generation Traverse actually shrinks by 1.4 inches compared to the previous model, though the wheelbase remains the same. It also shrinks a bit in height and width despite having more space inside.

Interior: Big Tech

Giant screens dominate the Traverse’s interior. A 17.7-inch touchscreen uses Android Automotive software with built-in Google voice command, making it easy to control various car functions via voice or even ask random questions such as current sports scores. Unlike Chevy’s recent electric vehicles, the Traverse still keeps Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, both of which are wireless. Chevy also kept a number of physical controls for volume, temperature, fan speed, and more. An 11-inch gauge cluster screen sits in front of the driver with the ability to select from several layouts, including a full Google Map view.

We wouldn’t call this the most premium cabin in the segment, but it comes pretty well-equipped even at the base level. The LS comes with cloth seats, while the LT can get cloth or optional Evotex. The Z71 also gets a choice between cloth or Evotex and adds red accents on the dashboard. Opting for the top RS trim brings Jet Black heated and ventilated leather with Torch Red accents and more red accents on the dash and doors. Some buyers might like the sporty touch that the red accents add, while others might find it tacky. We look forward to the High Country trim, which should offer a more luxurious interior.

Practicality: Minivan Antidote

If you need a lot of space in your mid-size crossover, it doesn’t get any better than the Traverse. It boasts 97.6 cubic feet of total storage, just edging out the Toyota Grand Highlander for the most in its class. The only two vehicles that can match the Traverse are the GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, both of which are corporate siblings that ride on the same platform. There’s 57.9 cubes behind the second row, which is actually a tenth less than the Grand Highlander. The Traverse earns back some points with a massive 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, a segment leading number. There’s additional storage in a deep area underneath the floor.

You can get the Traverse with eight seats on the LS and LT trims, seven seats come optional on the LT and standard on the Z71 and RS. Each row offers a tremendous amount of space for passengers, growing over the outgoing Traverse in all but the third row. Some competitors offer more space for third row passengers, but the Traverse has its rivals outclasses in total legroom. Speaking of the third row, the RS trims adds one-touch power-folding controls as well as buttons to lower the captain’s chairs from the trunk.

Performance: Truck Power

While many of the Traverse’s competitors still offer a V6 engine, Chevy decided to downsize to a turbocharged four-cylinder. It’s a 2.5-liter unit that’s related to the 2.7-liter four-cylinder used in the Colorado and Silverado. You can tell this engine is from a truck from the moment you get up to speed, as the noise, vibration, and harshness all feel very truck-like. It’s unclear whether it’s the engine itself or the eight-speed automatic transmission that’s to blame here, but even casual driving forces the four-pot to frequently rev beyond 3,000 rpm, emitting a rough growl that doesn’t sound pleasant. We hopped out of the Traverse and into a Ford Bronco for our next test vehicle, and the smaller, less powerful EcoBoost engine sounded quieter and more refined than the Traverse’s engine.

It may not be our favorite engine, but it does impress on paper compared to the outgoing 3.6-liter V6. Horsepower increases from 310 to 328 hp, while torque jumps from 266 to 326 lb-ft. The increased output should theoretically improve the Traverse’s acceleration times, but we tested the car at 7.41 seconds to 60 mph, slower than the 6.8-second GM-estimated time for the previous model.

Fuel economy has improved, if only slightly. You can expect to see 20/27/23 MPG city/highway/combined from the front-wheel-drive variants, which is slightly better than the outgoing V6 (18/26/21). All-wheel-drive is available on every trim (standard on Z71) and drops the fuel economy to 19/24/21 (17/25/20 on the old V6). We achieved 24.1 MPG on the highway and 21.5 MPG overall. We hope Chevy will offer a hybrid in the near future, as GM says it will introduce them by 2027.

Driving Impressions: Super Cruiser

Aside from the loud engine, the driving experience in the Traverse is rather pleasant. It delivers a comfortable ride even with the largest wheels, though we found the Z71 to be a bit softer thanks to its additional sidewall. There’s a decent amount of road noise at highway speeds, but it’s quiet enough to have a conversation with rear passengers. Nothing about the handling can be described as outstanding – the steering and brakes are both vague – but scalpel-like drive and handling aren’t the point of a three-row family vehicle like this.

The Traverse’s key selling point is Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free driving assistance software. It’s available on all but the base trim, and comes standard on the RS. We drove the Traverse from Central Florida to Miami, and the system worked well nearly the entire time. There were a few deactivations in construction zones and during rough storms, but it worked perfectly for most of the four-hour drive. Super Cruise can now overtake slower traffic automatically, then move back into the middle lane. On one or two occasions, a fast-moving car might have been cut off by the system merging in the left lane, so we had to cancel the automatic lane change. This feature can also be turned off completely, meaning lane changes will only occur when you use the turn signals. Super Cruise is outstanding on long road trips because you will arrive at the destination feeling more relaxed having done less work keeping the car in its lane. Outside the GM family, the Ford Explorer is the only other vehicle in this class to offer hands-free driving.

Families will also rest assured knowing that the Traverse packs a heap of standard safety features that are optional in most competitors:

• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane keep assist
• 360-degree camera system
• Traffic sign recognition
• Side bicyclist alert
• Automatic emergency braking
• Reverse automatic emergency braking

Pricing & Verdict: Large Value

The Traverse may be among the biggest vehicles in its segment, but it’s not overly expensive. Pricing for the base LS trim starts at $37,600 (not including a $1,395 destination fee). Adding AWD costs $2,000, which may be worth it depending on where you live. The LT is an even $40,000, rolling in niceties such as a wireless charger, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, remote start, and more. We think the Z71 seems like good value for $46,400 (AWD comes standard) for its rugged styling and capability, nice level of standard equipment, and available Super Cruise. The RS trim we tested starts to get pricey at $54,200, though it does come fully loaded and requires no major additions besides AWD.

* MSRP excludes options and destination

Other vehicles in this segment, including GM’s own Acadia and Enclave, cost more than the Chevy Traverse. The Kia Telluride undercuts it slightly and has a nicer interior, but fails to offer as much space. The Nissan Pathfinder and Subaru Ascent are also a bit cheaper but, likewise, can’t match the Chevy’s size and storage. The 2024 Traverse is far from perfect with the engine being its number one detriment. Buyers who don’t mind a bit of engine noise in the background will find a lot to love here, including hands-free driving, an attractive price, lots of standard safety, and more storage than the competition. If that sounds like a winning recipe to you, the Traverse might be a great family ride.