2025 Chevrolet Traverse

Totally redesigned just last year, the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse is a more formidable competitor within the midsize 3-row SUV class. We believe its blend of usable space, comfy furnishings, convenience features, and advanced tech couched in a handsome wrapper powered by a robust turbocharged engine should be compelling to any buyer in search of family transportation.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of 3-row SUVs, including the Chevrolet Traverse.

Despite Chevrolet redesigning the Traverse just a year ago, it takes a pronounced step upmarket in 2025 by jettisoning the entry-level LS grade in favor of the returning High Country trim now sandwiched between the Z71 and RS grades. Some of the standard features it gains over the Z71 are a 10-speaker Bose audio system, memory settings for the 8-way power driver’s seat, camera as a rearview mirror, rear pedestrian alert, a 6-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, power-folding third-row seat, ventilated front seats, heated outboard second-row seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel, and more. The Sun and Wheel Package, which adds 22-inch wheels, is an option on LT models.

The most popular of Traverse trims is the LT. If the Traverse doesn’t quite fit your needs, Chevy has a wide array of SUVs. If smaller better suits you, we recommend the Blazer for a couple of grand less. If you need a larger, stronger, and more rugged SUV, the Tahoe, at about $20,000 more, is a capable full-size hauler.

Rivals at the bigger end of the midsize 3-row SUV class are the Toyota Grand Highlander and Volkswagen Atlas. More commonly sized rivals include the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Subaru Ascent, Mazda CX-90, Ford Explorer, and Nissan Pathfinder. Most of their prices begin in the same ballpark or somewhat less than the Traverse.

Before buying a new Traverse midsize 3-row SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Historically, the Traverse hasn’t held its value as well as rivals from Honda, Toyota, or Subaru. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Chevy Traverse has the most powerful base engine in its class. This makes for spritely acceleration away from traffic lights, as well as confidence-inspiring entries onto freeways.

In general, we’ve found the new Traverse easy to drive. We like the seat comfort, the outward vision, and the way the suspension keeps body roll in check through the corners. We also took the Z71 version on an off-road course that Chevrolet had kindly laid out, but it was so undemanding that we could probably have done it in a Mini Countryman. We’re sure the Z71 is capable of much more.

Fuel Economy

The Traverse tops out at 23 mpg with front-wheel drive and 21 mpg with all-wheel drive. Both are government estimates based on mixed city-and-highway driving. That’s a bit better than the outgoing model, and just on the higher side of what’s typical among 3-row midsize SUVs.

At 32.1 inches, the Traverse has enough space in the third row to accommodate adults, if needed. It’s roughly the same as the Honda Pilot but less than the Grand Highlander. It’s also less than the previous Traverse generation. However, this layout makes sense to us because not many people with midsize 3-row SUVs will regularly transport seven or eight grown-ups. Better to keep the third row as a place for smaller family members and enhance the space and environment where the more mature will be spending their time. Second-row legroom is about average for the segment.

Where the Traverse shines is cargo space, where it boasts better-than-average accommodations for cargo.

Because it’s based on the same platform as the last-gen Traverse, this latest generation of Traverse retains similar dimensions, making this 3-row  SUV one of the most spacious in the midsize class for passengers and cargo alike. The front end’s sharp lines give the new Traverse a look similar to larger Chevy vehicles but also sufficiently distinct. The rear end is more squared-off now, enhancing practicality. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but we think this is a solid design.

360-degree camera system
We’re impressed to see this as standard in the Traverse. A midsize SUV isn’t always the easiest vehicle to maneuver, so being able to see all the way around it helps tremendously.

Safety Alert Seat
This tech is a bit of a General Motors specialty. The driver’s seat has a couple of little motors that create vibrations. The left motor activates if a hazard is on the left side, and the right motor performs a corresponding task. If the hazard is straight ahead, both motors click on. It saves the driver from looking at any alerts on the dash. And it’s another standard feature in the new Traverse, part of a whole raft of safety equipment.

Column shifter
By placing the gear shifter on the steering column, Chevrolet maximizes stowage space in the center console.

Big infotainment screen
Chevrolet has a 17.7-inch infotainment screen standard in the new Traverse, making the Honda Pilot’s largest 9-inch display look particularly behind the times. We also like the user-friendliness of the infotainment system and how Google Maps can migrate from the center screen to the driver’s cluster.

Super Cruise
First seen from Cadillac, this hands-free driving technology is now trickling down to Chevrolet. This optional feature combines adaptive cruise control and steering assistance, allowing drivers to keep their hands off the wheel and their feet off the pedals — on certain roads (hundreds of thousands of miles are already stored in the system, and more are being added) — and helps with changing lanes. Even more impressive, this feature works with trailers. Drivers must still keep their eyes engaged, though, or the system turns itself off.

Z71
For the first time in the Traverse lineup, a Z71 version is available. Like Z71 models of the Silverado truck and Tahoe SUV, this treatment bolsters the vehicle’s off-road prowess. Starting with all-wheel drive as standard, the Z71 also fits a dedicated suspension, all-terrain tires, tow hooks, and a skid plate. Ground clearance increases over the regular Traverse, and the all-wheel-drive system has switchable terrain modes.

The Traverse’s turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine makes 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, a meaningful boost over the 310 horses and 266 lb-ft of the previous generation’s V6. That extra torque makes its presence felt when accelerating from a standstill. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to the wheels. Average for this class, the Traverse can tug up to 5,000 pounds.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Chevrolet’s bumper-to-bumper limited warranty for its new vehicles lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These are the usual arrangements for the class. The first service is also free, which isn’t so typical.

Safety Ratings

The Chevy Traverse received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) top overall safety rating of 5-Stars. Standard driver assistance features are quite comprehensive, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and more.