Driven: 2025 Chevrolet Traverse Is The Whole Package For Family Hauling

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse is a three-row SUV with seating for up to eight people. A smaller option than the Tahoe, it was fully redesigned for 2024 with a wide range of improvements. This year’s biggest changes are the discontinuation of the base LS trim and the return of the premium High Country. The Traverse maintains its fresh, truck-inspired look while integrating the latest technology and convenience features to enhance everyday usability. Whether you’re after spacious comfort, modern connectivity, or all-terrain capability, the Traverse has something to offer.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse stands out as a top choice for families thanks to its features, range of trims, and budget-friendly pricing. It’s a practical SUV with a roomy interior and durable finishes that are perfect for handling the wear and tear of family life. It’s a tough task to build an SUV that can handle the messes that come with kids while still being attractive, but the Traverse manages it well. There’s also an intuitive infotainment system with user-friendly controls and available hands-free Super Cruise technology to enhance its appeal and make road trips less tiresome. Here’s what it’s like to live with.

Exterior Looks: Bold And Commanding

The 2025 Traverse sports a truck-inspired design with a wide, aggressive grille flanked by slim LED headlights. Sharp lines along the body and a sculpted liftgate enhance its dynamic appearance. The Z71 trim gets off-road-ready upgrades, including a unique front fascia, a skid plate, red tow hooks, and all-terrain tires that give it plenty of personality. Other trims showcase stylish chrome accents and premium finishes, ensuring the Traverse maintains a modern and commanding road presence. The chrome is particularly abundant in the new High Country as a nod to its premium interior.

Interior & On-Board Technology: Made For Families

Inside, the Traverse offers a spacious cabin with premium materials and an updated design. The 11-inch instrument cluster and 17.7-inch touchscreen infotainment system take center stage, providing a sleek and user-friendly interface. Chevrolet put the gear shifter on the steering column, which creates an open center console layout to improve storage flexibility. Soft-touch materials and available leather upholstery elevate the interior, while multiple USB ports and wireless charging ensure passengers stay connected on the go. While the base trim is a bit heavy on the plastics, the overall lineup is attractive and appealing. If you want something more premium, look at the Mazda CX-90 or the Jeep Wagoneer.

Designed with families in mind, heated and ventilated front seats are available, providing year-round comfort regardless of the weather. Second-row captain’s chairs enhance passenger accessibility and create a more premium feel, while tri-zone automatic climate control ensures everyone in the cabin stays comfortable. Noise-reducing insulation keeps road and wind noise to a minimum, contributing to a quieter and more relaxing ride that lets kids nap easily on longer drives. Additionally, the available panoramic sunroof brings in natural light, making the cabin feel even more spacious and inviting. It has good cargo room and a tow rating of up to 5,000 pounds properly equipped.

Infotainment: High-Tech Convenience

There’s a massive 17.7-inch high-resolution touchscreen that offers a crisp and responsive interface. The system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration, ensuring easy access to navigation, music, and hands-free communication. Built-in Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa add voice-command functionality, allowing drivers to control various features without taking their hands off the wheel.

The available premium Bose audio system delivers rich, immersive sound, while multiple USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad keep devices powered on long trips. Additionally, Wi-Fi hotspot capability provides internet access for passengers, making the Traverse an excellent choice for families who rely on connectivity to stay entertained and informed on long drives.

Performance: Strong Acceleration

Despite its size, the Traverse delivers strong acceleration, making highway merging and passing effortless thanks to its turbocharged 2.5-liter engine. While not designed as a sporty SUV, its handling is composed and predictable, providing a smooth and stable ride with more power than a Kia Telluride and gas-powered Toyota Grand Highlander. The steering is well-weighted, and body roll is minimal for a vehicle of its size. Again, this isn’t a sporty vehicle, but it’s not a cumbersome one either.

The Traverse truly shines in bad weather conditions. A winter storm with over a foot of snow, high winds, and ice provided an excellent real-world test of its capabilities. It maintained its composure on slick roads and even in high winds, which can be quite a challenge in a large SUV, the Traverse was easy to manage. The available all-wheel-drive system and traction control features make it a great choice for families in colder climates who don’t want to worry about whether or not the plows have made a pass by the house.

Performance Impressions: More Fun Than Expected

There are some SUVs that are focused on delivering sports car performance combined with the versatility to carry people and lots of cargo. That’s a class of SUV unto itself, and it’s not where the Traverse resides. This is a family SUV that focuses on making hauling the kids around a less arduous task while keeping mom and dad comfortable up front. If performance is your priority, the Traverse is going to disappoint. However, if you’re looking for an SUV that is responsive, accelerates well, and has relaxed handling, then the Traverse is a good fit.

Ride and Handling: Smooth And Stable

The Traverse prioritizes comfort over sportiness, making it an excellent choice for long-distance cruising. The suspension is tuned to absorb road imperfections, delivering a composed and cushioned ride. Steering is light yet responsive, allowing for easy maneuverability in tight urban settings although parking in tight spots is a challenge simply due to its size. Body roll is well-controlled, providing passengers with a secure and comfortable experience that makes it easy for kids to nap.

The all-wheel drive system enhances control in bad weather and we found it fantastic in heavy snow. The Z71 trim, which is what we drove, brings added off-road capability with all-terrain tires and a revised suspension setup that also helped make the snow less of a challenge, especially the snowy berms at intersections and driveways.

Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined

According to the EPA, the Traverse’s gas mileage figures look as follows:

• Front-wheel drive: 20/27/23 mpg
• All-wheel drive: 19/24/21 mpg

Verdict & Pricing: A Fantastic Family Hauler

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse successfully blends power, practicality, and modern technology into a well-rounded package. With its spacious three-rows of seating, intuitive infotainment system, and strong performance in all weather conditions, it is a solid choice for families and adventure seekers alike. While it may not offer the most engaging drive, its refined ride quality and impressive safety features make it a compelling option. The addition of the High Country trim introduces a touch of luxury, while the Z71 boosts off-road capability. Overall, the Traverse remains a top contender in the midsize SUV segment, balancing comfort, technology, and performance seamlessly.

Its bold redesign, attractive interior, and wide range of features make the Traverse a top contender in the midsize SUV segment. Whether you’re commuting daily or heading out for a weekend adventure, the Traverse is built to handle it all with style and comfort.