LOOKS
The design of the Traverse is well-done both inside and outside of the vehicle.

On the exterior, you will see an attractive, sleek but still tough-looking design that stands out in the segment.
Exterior features include adjustable, heated mirrors with turn signal indicators, Front fog lamps, HID head lamps, LED daytime running lamps and tail lamps. There is a power rear liftgate, roof rails, and my test vehicle featured dark 20-inch wheels.

The interior features comfortable and quality materials, but isn’t best in class in this regard. Highlights include leather appointed seat trim, driver and front passenger heated seats and a heated leather steering wheel.

Where the Traverse shines and gets truly high marks is storage, versatility and maneuverability inside the cabin. You can choose between 7 and 8 seat setups, and the interior of the Traverse is much larger than many alternatives. Maximum cargo volume comes in at 98.2 cubic feet, an impressive number. The second and third row seats fold down to increase cargo space.

Tri-zone auto climate control allows each row to set their own comfort level with the temperature.

Other options on the Traverse include an attractive dual skyscape sunroof for $1,400, trailering equipment for $650; And the interior enhancement package (for $445) features three rows of premium carpeted floor mats, and embroidered front row headrests.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The 2021 Traverse is powered by a 3.6-liter, V6 engine, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Output is 310 horsepower and 266 lb.-ft. of torque

The Traverse comes with front-wheel drive standard, but all-wheel drive is an option. Towing capacity is a respectable 5,000 pounds.

These are strong numbers, but not the most powerful in class. You’ll get moving quickly and effectively, but some of the competition will do it even better. Still, I would wager that for a good 80 percent of SUV buyers or more, what you get from the Traverse will suffice. I never had any difficulty with proper acceleration in situations like merging onto freeways or urgent passing scenarios. Zero to 60 miles per hour will take about 7 second seconds to complete.

Handling was decent, and the vehicle took corners quite well for its size. Braking was also responsive.

The driving experience won’t have you bursting with excitement, but it’s smooth and effective enough that drivers will be satisfied overall.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The Traverse features very high government safety ratings — nearly all five-star ratings — making it one of the safest vehicles in its class.

It offers Teen Driver settings, to help you monitor how your family’s young driver is driving even when you are not with them. Other helpful features for daily driving include Rear Park Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert The Chevy Safety Assist package includes features such as: Forward Collision Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Front Pedestrian Braking and Auto Emergency Braking.

Moving on to technology, the Traverse features an excellent infotainment setup that is easy to use, and voice commands work great as well. It’s very simple to connect your phone via Bluetooth for streaming of audio and phone calls.

The Traverse features an 8-inch diagonal HD color touchscreen, and is also compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for phone mirroring. Keyless entry and remote start are also offered.

Music lovers will enjoy the Bose Premium 10-speaker sound system, which is very loud and also very clear.

OnStar Services are offered, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot is available. You also get a free trial of satellite radio, a feature I highly recommended continuing via subscription.

All in all, tech and safety are two of the leading areas where the Traverse can claim to be equal or better than the competition.

MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the AWD version of the Traverse are 17 city/25 highway/20 combined. I averaged 17 mpg during my time in the vehicle, and my best mileage on an individual trip was 26 mpg, so these numbers proved accurate.

Compared to others in the segment like the Ford Explorer, Subaru Ascent and Honda Pilot, these numbers fall short by 2 to 3 miles per gallon, but this difference isn’t large enough to be a deciding factor for most people.
 

PRICE

The 2021 Traverse that I tested was priced at $51,030, and the base price for the Traverse starts around $30K. Trim levels include L, LS, LT, RS, Premier, High Country, and I tested the RS AWD version.

On the low end of the spectrum, the Traverse is priced very affordably for the segment, but the higher end is a bit steep for a nonluxury SUV..

In terms of warranties, you get a 3-year, 36K mile bumper to bumper limited warranty; as well as a 5-year, 60K mile powertrain limited warranty.

BOTTOM LINE

The 2021 Chevy Traverse offers a wide range of pricing for all budgets, and impresses in the areas of safety, technology, overall design and roominess. Overall it is a strong midsize SUV offering, especially for those who lean domestic in their vehicle purchases and are seeking alternatives to the segment-leading Ford Explorer.

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Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.