Is the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS Worth the Money?
The 2023 Chevrolet Traverse is an American midsize three-row SUV that’s great for small families. The Traverse is actually what some drivers are looking for in a midsize SUV because it is both powerful and spacious. Is the Traverse’s final trim, the RS, worth the money?
The 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS is nearly $45K
The Chevy Traverse is an affordable midsize SUV, but certain configurations can get pretty pricey. The final RS trim starts at a whopping $44,445. The real question is, does the midsize SUV provide enough value to justify its price?
The 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS uses a mighty 3.6-liter V6 engine to make 310 horsepower. It achieves 18 miles per gallon in the city and 27 miles per gallon on the highway. The Chevy Traverse makes more horses than the popular Kia Telluride, Toyota Highlander, and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Traverse RS’ power is impressive, but its fuel economy is nothing to write home about. There’s also no hybrid powertrain option for the American midsize SUV, so kiss any chance at better fuel efficiency goodbye. The Chevy Traverse RS’ true value comes in the form of its many standard features.
The Chevy Traverse RS is packed with standard features
The 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS comes standard with Jet Black perforated leather upholstery with red accents and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. It also includes a power liftgate with programmable height adjustment, a six-way power passenger seat, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Chevy Traverse RS features a 10-speaker sound system with Bose Audio. It comes with plenty of standard driver assistance and safety features like a rear camera mirror and adaptive cruise control that responds to traffic flow. It also includes a rear pedestrian alert, a blind-spot monitor, and enhanced automatic emergency braking.
The 2023 Chevrolet Traverse RS costs $10,525 more than the base model Traverse. That $10K buys you creature comforts like leather upholstery and plenty of advanced driver assistance features. Ultimately, the RS provides decent value for its price, but there are plenty of better midsize SUV options in the same price range.
Buy the Kia Telluride SX or the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy instead of the Chevy Traverse RS
If you’re going to spend close to $45,000 on a midsize SUV, the Kia Telluride SX or Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy are both better options.
The 2022 Telluride SX starts at $43,290 and comes standard with Kia’s Drive Wise suite of driver assistance features. It’s the final trim of the current most popular midsize SUV, and it’s more affordable than the Traverse RS. Car and Driver gave the Telluride a perfect overall score.
The Palisade Calligraphy is practically a luxury SUV. It comes with second-row captain’s chairs, heated second-row seats, and a standard heads-up display. The 2022 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy starts at $47,290.
Read more about the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy in the next article below.
