2021 Chevrolet Traverse review

2021 Chevrolet Traverse Review:

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse has a simple formula: It's big, it seats eight, and it's comfortable. For 2021, the Confidence II package was renamed Chevy Safety Assist. That's an available package that includes forward collision warning and lane-keeping assistance. The Traverse is otherwise unchanged for 2021. 

Its primary appeal is its size. It's one of the largest three-row crossover SUVs you can buy, but despite its size it is more manageable to drive than a truck-based SUV like the Chevy Tahoe. Getting in and out of the vehicle is easier, and the ride is more comfortable. It's adequate when it comes to towing, but if you need to haul larger boats or trailers, you should check out a truck-based SUV like the Tahoe. 

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse have?

Connectivity

Every 2021 Traverse provides access to Bluetooth®, Apple CarPlay®, and Android Auto™. In addition, USB-A ports and an auxiliary input jack are available to front seat passengers, and Chevy makes USB-A ports and a power outlet available to rear passengers. 

Through the standard OnStar® technology, Traverse owners can subscribe to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, providing internet connectivity for up to seven devices. Upper trim levels also offer a 10-speaker premium audio system that produces quality sound. 

Infotainment

Accessible through a seven-inch or an eight-inch touchscreen display, the Traverse's infotainment system offers the features you're most likely to want. Most versions of this SUV also have wireless smartphone charging, and you can activate a subscription to SiriusXM® satellite radio if you wish.

Traverse models with leather upholstery have the larger screen and a navigation system. The map detail and graphical clarity were impressive when this SUV was new, and the voice controls worked well. In addition, the overall user experience is simple, making it easy to use the technology. 

Driver-Assist Tech

Every 2021 Traverse includes Chevy Safety Assist, a collection of driver-assistance and collision avoidance technologies. They include forward collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. 

All versions except the base LS also have blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The more expensive versions of the SUV offer highway-speed automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and a camera-based rearview mirror that dramatically improves the view to the rear of the Traverse.

In use, these technologies perform adequately, and the camera-based tech on the more expensive versions of the SUV greatly enhances visibility to the rear, which is otherwise a problem.

How comfortable is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse? 

Front Seating

The 2021 Traverse has a large interior, and the supportive front seats offer the driver and passenger plenty of room. Cloth upholstery is standard, and the base LS trim level is pretty basic inside. For example, it doesn't have power adjustment for either of the front seats, which is standard on the rest of the Traverse lineup.

Choose one of the more expensive versions of the SUV, and you can get leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The triple-zone climate control system is effective, but the heated seats and steering wheel are somewhat slow to provide warmth on the coldest days.

Starting with the Premier trim, the tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel adds power adjustment, and a memory system recalls specific settings for the driver's seat, steering wheel, and outside mirror positions.

Rear Seating

With the LS trim, the Traverse has a second-row bench seat. Upgrade to the LT, and captain's chairs with a pass-through to the third row replace it. The seats slide forward and back to ensure comfort for everyone.

A climate panel gives the rear passengers control over the temperature, and the second-row seats are heated with the Premier and High Country trims. People riding in the second row will enjoy plenty of legroom and headroom, and in the Traverse High Country, a panoramic sunroof makes it seem even roomier inside.

An area where the Traverse excels is third-row seat room. Unlike in many of this Chevy's rivals, adults can ride in the rearmost seats without too much complaining.

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

In addition to its roominess and comfort, the Traverse's interior is quiet inside. The engine gets loud under hard acceleration, but otherwise, the interior is commendably hushed while driving.

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse have good storage?

Cargo 

When it comes to carrying cargo, the Traverse is one of the most accommodating midsize three-row SUVs you can buy. Only the similar Buick Enclave and Volkswagen Atlas come close to offering the same amount of cargo volume.

Traverse models equipped with leather seats have a power liftgate. Open it, and you'll find 23 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third-row seat. That figure includes the generously sized compartment under the load floor, which has enough space to accommodate any loose items you want to secure.

Fold the third-row seats down, and the Traverse provides 57.8 cubic feet of cargo room. That's plenty for a long family road trip. Maximum volume measures 98.2 cubic feet.

Storage

Chevrolet provides easily reached cupholders in all three rows of seats, although the ones in the third row are on the smaller side. In addition, the bin under the front center armrest is generous, and you can raise the infotainment screen to reveal a hidden storage location within the dashboard. Chevy locates the wireless charging tray forward of the transmission shifter, and it might be too narrow for larger smartphones.

How easy is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

Thanks to its relatively low height and large doors, the Traverse is easy to get into and out of. However, loading children into the second or third row could be challenging in tight parking situations due to the length of the rear doors.

With plenty of room and clearance, installing and using child seats is relatively easy. However, it might be hard to find the LATCH anchors in the second row, which are located deeper in the seats than expected.

Interior Layout and Visibility

Generally speaking, Chevrolet locates the Traverse's controls where you expect to find them, and they're intuitively marked in white on a matte black background for easy readability. The exception is the climate control panel, which Chevy unnecessarily dresses up with a chrome ring and blue lighting that adds visual distraction to an already jumbled layout.

Without the Traverse's visibility-enhancing technology, seeing out to the rear of this SUV is challenging. At a minimum, you'll want the parking sensors, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert systems that come with the LT trim. Spend more for a higher-end Traverse, and upgrades like a surround-view camera system and a camera-based rearview mirror are particularly helpful when reversing and parking.

What’s the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse like to drive?

Driving

The 2021 Traverse has a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine providing acceleration to 60 mph in just over seven seconds. Front- and all-wheel-drive Traverse models use a nine-speed automatic transmission. It has snappy and smooth shifts, but it's eager to upshift to help ensure the best possible fuel economy.

Chevrolet tunes the Traverse's suspension for a smooth ride in the city and on the highway. In other driving situations, the SUV can feel too soft, and it suffers body roll in curves and corners, which can lead to carsickness for sensitive passengers. The steering feel is good, and the brakes provide good stopping power.

Towing

With the Traverse's available trailering equipment, the SUV can handle up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity when properly equipped. That's a competitive number, but if you need to tow more weight, the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer are good alternatives.

To help you connect a trailer, the Traverse offers specific rear camera views to help a driver line the SUV up with a trailer and to position the hitch for an easy connection.

Fuel Economy

The Traverse returns slightly lower fuel economy than some of its rivals, though not by a significant amount. In combined city and highway driving, the front-wheel-drive Traverse gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg combined, while the all-wheel-drive model returns 20 mpg combined. There are more efficient choices in the class, but they're smaller inside.

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates