Used 2020 Chevrolet Traverse

#9 in Best Midsize SUVs for 2020

Chevrolet’s Traverse is an attractive, comfortable and capable family-sized crossover SUV with three rows of seating, up to 8-passenger capacity, and more overall interior room than the significantly more expensive Chevy Tahoe. It competes against a long list of similar vehicles, including the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Atlas, among others. Your selection in this segment has never been better, and the Traverse is worthy of consideration.

Don’t be fooled by the low starting price, though. Most Traverse buyers will want to upgrade to the LS trim at a minimum, which costs thousands of dollars more and for no other reason than to obtain dark-tinted privacy glass and access to some options. And to get driving-assistance and collision-avoidance features that are increasingly standard in competitors, you’ll pay closer to $40,000 at a minimum.

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Since the Traverse’s last redesign for 2018, we’ve spent quality time in the High Country trim level with all-wheel drive. It’s the most expensive version of this Chevy, but also allowed us to sample every feature and function the SUV has to offer.

How fast is the Chevy Traverse?
Stab the accelerator pedal, and the Traverse’s 310-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine won’t shove you back into your seat. But this big SUV certainly is quick enough to get out of its own way. In our experience, the 9-speed automatic transmission operates smoothly most of the time, with occasional clunks and hiccups depending on the driving situation.

Does the Chevrolet Traverse get good gas mileage?
When equipped with all-wheel drive, the EPA says the Traverse should get 20 mpg in combined driving. With only the driver aboard, we averaged 19 mpg on a testing loop that included city, country, highway and mountain driving. Temperatures were hot, though, requiring continual use of the air-conditioning system, and the automatic engine stop/start system rarely engaged.

How does the Chevy Traverse handle?
Chevrolet’s latest vehicles excel in terms of dynamic tuning. From how the steering and brakes respond to input and feel when used, to how the suspension virtually eliminates wallow and provides remarkably athletic handling, the Chevy Traverse is good to drive. Better yet, in urban situations, this character makes it feel smaller and more maneuverable than you might guess.

However, the Traverse needs better brakes. On two different testing occasions, they demonstrated low fade resistance under extended, hard-use conditions in mountainous terrain. This finding doesn’t bode well for an SUV designed to carry up to eight people and tow as much as 5,000 pounds.

How does the Chevrolet Traverse ride on the highway?
On the open road, the Traverse’s expert suspension tuning provides a comfortable ride. You’ll feel the surface, but only in terms of baseline communication to let you know what’s happening where the rubber meets the road. And when you load the Traverse with people or cargo, both the drivetrain and suspension accommodate the extra weight with grace.

Perhaps due to its lofty perch atop the Traverse lineup, we felt the High Country trim allowed too much road and wind noise to enter the cabin. This might not be an issue in lower-trim levels, where such intrusion is to be expected.

How does the Chevy Traverse perform off-road?
Sitting on all-season tires, the Traverse is meant to battle snowstorms and to traverse well-trodden trails. While the SUV’s wheels are pushed out to the corners, helping to reduce approach and departure angles, the nose sits fairly low and has a plastic air dam that’s susceptible to damage. Plus, Chevy doesn’t publish a ground-clearance number, which means it probably isn’t worth bragging about.

With the High Country trim, Chevrolet offers a sophisticated dual-clutch all-wheel-drive system that can put up to 85 percent of engine power to a single rear wheel. Other Traverse models have a basic AWD system that can send power to the rear wheels when the front wheels slip.

Are the Chevrolet Traverse’s driving-assistance systems helpful?
As far as their effectiveness is concerned, the Traverse’s driving-assistance technologies are helpful. For 2020, they’re also more widely available, either as standard or optional equipment, than ever before. Still, if you want adaptive cruise control and an enhanced automatic emergency braking system that works at higher vehicle speeds, you need to spend over $50,000 for the High Country trim level.

Is the Chevy Traverse fun to drive?
Rather than characterize this SUV as “fun” to drive, it makes sense to call it “enjoyable” to drive. With a strong V6 engine, a mostly agreeable transmission, and athletic dynamic tuning, the Traverse is a good companion for daily driving. However, occasional transmission hiccups, brakes that can fade under duress, and a sometimes-aggravating automatic engine stop/start system might give some potential buyers pause.

Each time we’ve driven the current version of the Traverse, it’s had High Country trim with Loft Brown leather. This, in our opinion, is the best combination. But it doesn’t come cheaply.

Does the Chevrolet Traverse have a nice interior?
Like most of its competitors, the Traverse’s interior is a mixture of inexpensive but durable plastic panels with nicer bits and pieces placed in strategic locations. In High Country trim, simulated-wood trim, piano-black accents, and metal-look detailing provide a properly upscale look — especially with the high-contrast Loft Brown leather.

What Chevy Traverse interior colors are available?
Every Traverse offers Jet Black as an interior color. If you’re seeking an alternative, most trims offer Dark Galvanized (dark gray) over Jet Black and Medium Ash Gray over Dark Atmosphere (brown). We think the best color combination is the Loft Brown over Jet Black leather interior, but to get it you need to buy the High Country trim.

Are the Chevrolet Traverse’s controls easy to use?
Chevrolet doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the Traverse’s controls, and that means you can easily find, identify and use the knobs, buttons and stalks. Everything in this SUV is intuitive, and that includes the new Chevrolet Infotainment 3 technology.

Is the Chevy Traverse’s infotainment system easy to use?
As was true with the MyLink infotainment system that came before it, Chevrolet Infotainment 3 is simple, easy and intuitive to use. New software and graphics improve the system for 2020, and each version includes Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Chevrolet Connected Access services through OnStar, including a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. A reversing camera and Teen Driver safety technology are also standard.

Versions with an 8-inch rather than a 7-inch touch screen add a high-definition display and reversing camera, along with enhanced voice recognition and premium SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Navigation, Bluetooth supporting two different devices, in-vehicle app support, and more are available depending on the trim level.

Is the Chevrolet Traverse comfortable?
While the Traverse is big inside, Chevrolet could make it more comfortable. For example, the driver’s seat could use improved thigh support through a separate power adjustment, and Chevrolet really should make the upper door-panel trim soft rather than hard.

The 2nd-row captain’s chairs are exceptionally comfortable, and they slide forward and back depending on seating and cargo requirements. Chevy’s Smart Slide right captain’s chair moves forward and tilts even when a child safety seat is installed in that location.

Can adults fit in the Chevy Traverse’s 3rd-row seat?
Adults can fit into this SUV’s 3rd-row seat, but given the Traverse’s impressive interior dimensions we expected better accommodations. Unless the people in the 2nd-row seat are willing to slide forward, the 3rd-row seat is best reserved for kids. Still, in spite of its lack of legroom, foot space and thigh support, it sure beats a Chevy Tahoe’s squished park bench of a third row.

Is the Chevrolet Traverse’s cargo area useful?
Measuring 23 cubic feet, the space behind the 3rd-row seat is more generous than in many of the Traverse’s competitors. We could load two full-size suitcases plus a compact folding stroller into the SUV’s trunk, and without using the handy under-floor storage compartment.

Most people will want to keep the 3rd-row seats folded down unless they’re necessary. Doing so creates a huge 57.8-cubic-foot cavern of a cargo hold. Maximum volume with the 2nd-row seats folded is equally impressive, at 98.2 cubic feet. The only way to beat these numbers is to get a Suburban or a minivan.

What else should I know about the Chevy Traverse?
Remote-engine starting is standard with any Traverse equipped with leather seats. To use it, you’ll need the OnStar Remote Access service plan, which costs $14.99 per month or $149.90 per year.

Chevy got the Traverse’s styling exactly right. Balanced forms, sculpted flanks, flared fenders, and tailored detailing give this crossover SUV an athletic and upscale appearance. It definitely looks best with 20-inch aluminum wheels, which are standard or optional for all trims except the base L version.

For a popular blacked-out look, options can transform any Traverse except for the L and High Country, adding the requisite black 20-inch wheels, black grille, black badges and other details. The Traverse RS comes this way right from the factory, and the Premier’s Redline Edition adds exclusive red-tinged highlights to the blacked-out trim for that version of the SUV.

What Chevy Traverse colors are available?
Buy the Traverse L, and you can pick between two paint colors: white or black. Upgrade to the LS trim, and four colors are available. The only versions of the SUV that come in all eight of the paint colors listed below are the LT Cloth, LT Leather and the Premier.

Mosaic Black Metallic
Black Cherry Metallic
Graphite Metallic
Satin Steel Metallic
Silver Ice Metallic
Summit White
Iridescent Pearl Tricoat ($995)
Cajun Red Tintcoat ($395)

HUGE INTERIOR
Believe it or not, the Traverse is larger inside than the more expensive and less efficient Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. According to the EPA, the Traverse has 157.3 cubic feet of passenger volume while the Tahoe offers just 120.8 cubic feet and the Suburban musters no more than 122.4 cubic feet. The Traverse beats the Tahoe in every cargo-space measurement, too, but not the big ‘Burban, which is more accommodating in this regard.

SMART SLIDE 2ND-ROW SEAT
Midsize SUVs often have a child-safety seat installed in the second row, securely fastened to the LATCH anchors. This can make it hard to access or load passengers into the 3rd-row seat. In the Traverse, the standard Smart Slide function allows the right side of the 2nd-row bench seat or the right captain’s chair to slide and tilt forward to maximize 3rd-row access — even with an empty child-safety seat installed in that location.

TEEN DRIVER
Remember how you drove your parents’ car as a teenager? So do General Motors software engineers. Teen Driver is the result, a standard technology that allows Mom and Dad to set specific vehicle parameters, save them to a specific key fob, and then receive a driving report card after their offspring has taken the Traverse for a drive.

REAR-SEAT REMINDER
Every summer, news reports of children left in hot cars are all too common. General Motors developed its Rear Seat Reminder to combat situations in which parents might forget they have a child with them. If you open the Traverse’s rear door before driving the SUV, you’ll receive an audible and visual alert to check the back seat before leaving the vehicle.

REAR-CAMERA MIRROR
Load an SUV to the roof for an epic road trip, and the rearview mirror is rendered useless. That’s where the Traverse’s Rear Camera Mirror technology is useful. Flip the mirror to the camera view, and a live video feed provides an unobstructed, 180-degree view of what’s behind the Traverse.

HIDDEN STORAGE
In the Traverse, the infotainment screen powers up to reveal a hidden storage compartment. The screen continues working while in its raised position, and you can lock this compartment using a PIN code if you’d like. There is another hidden storage area in the trunk, under the floor. It’s perfect for hauling groceries in plastic sacks, or for stowing sports equipment.

CAPLESS FUEL FILL
Standard with every 2020 Traverse, capless fuel fill makes stopping for gas a quicker and more pleasant experience because there isn’t a gas cap to unscrew for fuel filling and then screw on after you’re finished.

When buying a new Chevrolet Traverse, you choose among L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier and High Country trim levels. Below you’ll find the highlights for each.

What comes in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse L?
Available only with front-wheel drive, the Chevy Traverse L comes with white or black paint and with black cloth seats. The only factory option is a front license-plate bracket, but you can upgrade the Traverse L with a variety of accessories.

Why does this version of the Traverse exist? One reason is so that Chevrolet can advertise a low starting price — even if that number is attached to an SUV that few dealerships stock and few people want to buy. Another reason is to provide a low-cost version of the SUV to government and business fleet buyers.

Highlights of the 8-passenger Traverse L include 18-inch aluminum wheels, automatic headlights, heated side mirrors, cruise control, and a triple-zone automatic climate-control system. The infotainment system includes plenty of features, such as a 7-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Chevrolet Connected Access services through OnStar.

Additional standard equipment includes a rear-seat-reminder system, which intends to prevent parents and pet owners from accidentally leaving someone important in the back seat. Teen Driver technology is also standard, giving parents of young drivers a report card detailing how the SUV was driven.

What comes in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse LS?
The Traverse LS is just like the Traverse L, except that it costs several thousand dollars more and includes both dark tinted rear privacy glass and two additional paint colors. Basically, this is the Traverse that dealerships will stock as the lowest-priced model. Also, it’s worth noting that you must get the LS trim if you want to upgrade the Traverse with any options.

What comes in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse LT Cloth?
Choose the Traverse LT Cloth, and this SUV automatically swaps out the useful 2nd-row bench seat for a couple of captain’s chairs. Don’t worry, though, because you can stick with a bench seat if you’d like.

This trim comes in a wider variety of exterior and interior colors, and includes fog lights, roof rails, and body-color side mirror caps. Inside, the driver enjoys an 8-way power-adjustable seat with lumbar support, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and express-up operation for the driver’s window. SiriusXM satellite radio is also standard with this trim.

What comes in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse LT Leather?
Clearly, leather upholstery is an upgrade with this trim. It also gets heated front seats, a 6-way power-adjustable front-passenger’s seat with lumbar support, an upgraded driver-information display, and a universal programmable remote control.

Remote-engine starting is handy in both cold and hot climates, and this version of the Traverse includes a power rear liftgate, a blind-spot-monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, a lane-change alert system, and rear parking sensors. The infotainment system is upgraded, too, equipped with a high-definition 8-inch touch-screen display and premium SiriusXM 360L satellite radio.

What comes in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse RS?
This year, Chevrolet drops the formerly standard turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine from the Traverse RS, replacing it with the same 3.6-liter V6 that comes in all other versions of the SUV.

Additionally, the Traverse RS features 20-inch aluminum wheels with a dark finish, automatic steering-wheel heating, a Bose premium sound system, and a slew of technology upgrades. They include a navigation system, a surround-view camera system, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlight operation.

The Traverse RS also equips the SUV with a rear-camera mirror. Flip the rearview mirror from standard view to camera view, and you get a live feed of what’s going on behind the Traverse, complete with an unobstructed, 180-degree field of view.

What comes in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse Premier?
If you’re not a fan of the Traverse RS’s dark-finish wheels and gray exterior trim, try the more upscale Premier. It comes with 20-inch machined-finish wheels, body-color exterior trim, and chrome door handles. A set of LED headlights illuminates the way forward, while auto-dimming side mirrors reduce glare after dark. A hands-free power rear liftgate helps to make loading easier when your arms are full.

Inside, the Premier features perforated leather, ventilated front seats and a power-adjustable steering wheel. Two different drivers can save their preferences using the memory-settings system, and the Premier includes a wireless smartphone charger.

What comes in the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse High Country?
This is the luxurious version of the Traverse, identifiable by its polished 20-inch wheels and dual-panel power sunroof. The Traverse High Country also offers an exclusive Loft Brown leather color in addition to Jet Black.

Additional upgrades with High Country trim include power-folding 3rd-row seats, adaptive cruise control, and an enhanced version of the automatic emergency-braking system that works at higher speeds. It also includes a Trailering Package with a hitch, heavy-duty engine cooling, and Chevy’s Hitch Guidance with Hitch View technology.

As we’ve established, the Traverse L is an optional-equipment desert, and the LS trim improves upon that only with items like 20-inch aluminum wheels ($1,995), a rear-seat infotainment system (from $1,750), and numerous exterior and interior upgrades mainly related to the SUV’s appearance and utility.

That makes your ticket to meaningfully useful options the LT Cloth trim level. With this version of the Traverse, the Convenience and Driver Confidence Package ($1,795) includes key infotainment and safety improvements, while the Driver Confidence Package II ($625) is a genuine bargain considering how it loads the Traverse up with nearly all of the important Advanced Driving Assistance System (ADAS) technology. Trailering equipment ($650), 20-inch wheels, and rear-seat entertainment are also available for the LT Cloth, along with a 2nd-row bench seat (no cost) to swap in for the standard captain’s chairs.

When you upgrade to the Traverse LT Leather, an LT Premium Package ($3,095) installs navigation, a premium sound system, a surround-view camera system, a rear-camera mirror, a 120-volt power outlet, and a handsome set of 20-inch aluminum wheels. The Driver Confidence Package II is the other main option package for this trim, along with trailering equipment, a dual-panel sunroof ($1,400), rear-seat entertainment, and a 2nd-row bench seat.

The Traverse RS trim includes most of the LT Leather’s optional equipment, leaving the trailering equipment and rear-seat entertainment system as the major upgrades.

If you’re trying to figure out which version of the Traverse offers the Redline Edition Package ($2,495), it’s the Premier. This upgrade equips the SUV with a blacked-out exterior appearance and 20-inch black wheels with red stripes — hence, the Redline Edition. Trailering equipment and the dual-panel sunroof are included with the Redline Edition Package. Separately, both trailering equipment and the dual-panel sunroof are available with the standard Premier, along with a rear-seat entertainment system.

The High Country trim is fully equipped, except for an optional rear-seat entertainment system and all-wheel drive. Optional for every version of the Traverse except for the base L trim level, AWD costs a minimum of $2,000 depending on the trim level.

As is always true, prices may have changed since this review was published. Be sure to research current Chevrolet Traverse prices on KBB.

With the departure of the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which was standard and exclusively available with RS trim, all Traverses have a 310-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine. A 9-speed automatic transmission powers the front wheels (FWD), and all versions of the SUV except for the L trim level are available with all-wheel drive (AWD).

3.6-liter V6
310 horsepower @ 6,800 rpm
266 lb-ft of torque @ 2,800 rpm
Fuel tank size: 19.4 gal.
EPA fuel economy (city/highway/combined): 18/27/21 mpg (FWD), 17/25/20 mpg (AWD)
Driving range (city/highway/combined): 349/523/407 miles (FWD), 329/485/388 miles (AWD)