2026 Chevrolet Traverse

Every midsize 3-row SUV claims to be family-friendly, but some fill that role better than others. One of our top recommendations in this class for families who will actually use all three rows of seats on a daily basis is the Chevrolet Traverse. In addition to its adult-friendly space in the third row, the Traverse also has generous cargo space. Add in one of our favorite infotainment systems, available Super Cruise hands-free driving, and variety that includes a rugged Z71 trim and a sporty RS model, and the Chevy Traverse is a family SUV that’s practical, versatile, and, arguably, even cool.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Chevrolet Traverse.

The Chevy Traverse carries over to the 2026 model year with minor changes. It introduces two new paint options, Polar White and Sandstone Gray, and a new Key Card feature allowing drivers to lock, unlock, and start the car by tapping a card on a designated spot.

The pricing of the Chevy Traverse is about average compared to the rest of the midsize 3-row SUV class, while having more interior room than most. You’ll notice similar pricing on the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, and Toyota Grand Highlander.

Before buying a Traverse, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Chevrolet Traverse resale value is below average for the segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse is powered by a 328-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). We tend to like having an old-fashioned V6 in a vehicle dedicated to hauling lots of people and cargo, but this turbo-4 did just fine when we tested it in real-life family car duty with all three rows occupied. Even when loaded up with passengers, the Traverse never felt underpowered, but the engine did get a bit noisy under hard acceleration.

Ride quality is par for the course in the Chevy Traverse; it rides about as well as anything else in this class. Handling is stable and confident for such a big SUV, and body roll never feels excessive in daily driving duties. The steering feels right, the brakes are adequate, and, overall, it’s a pleasant car to drive. As for its off-road capabilities, we’ve driven the Traverse Z71 off the beaten path and can confirm that its extra ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and standard all-wheel-drive system make it a confident off-roader.

One of our favorite features of the Traverse is Super Cruise (optional on every trim), which allows for almost effortless hands-free driving on more than 750,000 miles of North American highways. It even does automatic lane changes. The Traverse’s comfortable driver’s seat with Super Cruise on and the available Bose audio system delivering your music or podcasts isn’t a bad way to eat up miles on the highway.

Fuel Economy

The Chevy Traverse gets up to 20 city/27 highway/23 combined mpg with front-wheel drive. With all-wheel drive, those ratings drop to 19 city/24 highway/21 combined mpg. These efficiency ratings are ok for a midsize 3-row SUV, but hybrids are getting more popular in this class with offerings like the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, and Mazda CX-90 PHEV.

A sizeable 17.7-inch infotainment display is the centerpiece of the Traverse’s interior. This is one of the more user-friendly systems out there, thanks to its Google built-in functionality. Google Maps and Google Assistant come standard, plus you get wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There’s also a customizable 11-inch digital gauge cluster. It’s all very modern and high-tech without ever feeling intimidating.

We’ve tested more than enough midsize 3-row SUVs to confirm that not all third-row seats are created equal. However, the way back of the Chevy Traverse is one of the good ones. Third-row access is fairly easy when the car is equipped with Smart Slide seats. Once you’re back there, third-row accommodations are pretty good, with 32.1 inches of legroom, four cupholders, two USB-C ports, and two air vents. This third row is still more suitable for kids than adults, but it’s one of the roomier and more easily accessible seating arrangements in this class.

Another strength of the Chevy Traverse is its cargo room. There are 22.9 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 56.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 97.6 cubic feet behind the first row. That puts it up there with the Toyota Grand Highlander and Volkswagen Atlas as one of the roomiest midsize SUVs available.

All of this to say that the Chevrolet Traverse is one of the most ready and willing midsize SUVs to comfortably carry eight people and a load of groceries with little compromise.

The Chevy Traverse is boxy while still having a nicely sculpted body with some distinct character lines. Its squared-off look is part of what makes it so roomy inside. We like that there’s some visual variety in the model range, with the RS bringing a sportier look and the Z71 hinting at its off-road capabilities.

Great infotainment system
With a 17.7-inch display, Google Maps built in, and wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay functionality, the Traverse’s infotainment system has just about everything we’re looking for in a modern car’s screen.

Super Cruise
There are a few hands-free highway driving systems out there, and Super Cruise is one of the best. It allows for eyes-on-the-road, hands-off-the-wheel driving on approximately 750,000 miles of North American highways, and it can even do hands-free lane changes. We love that it’s available on the Traverse.

Standard hands-free liftgate
Speaking of hands-free, every 2026 Chevy Traverse comes standard with a hands-free power liftgate. This is a strong asset on a family vehicle, and it’s a costly option for most of its competitors.

Rugged Z71 trim
The Chevy Traverse Z71 has the off-road chops to back up the storied Z71 nameplate made famous on trucks and bigger SUVs. In addition to its macho appearance package, it has a twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system, added ground clearance, revised suspension, Terrain mode, and all-terrain tires making it as adventurous as it looks.

Sporty RS trim
Anyone looking for a sporty look on a practical family hauler will be drawn to the stylish Traverse RS. This SUV’s top trim comes with 22-inch black wheels, unique front and rear fascias, black leather seats with red accents, and a flat-bottom steering wheel.

Smart Slide seats
The Chevy Traverse was designed with families in mind, so it has one of the better systems for getting the second-row seats out of the way for easy third-row access. We’ve tested these seats with child car seats in them, and they work great for loading up the cabin with kids.

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 tow 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

The Chevy Traverse received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) top overall safety rating of 5-Stars. It also earned the Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 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.