If you’re shopping for a comfortable alternative to a minivan, the Chevrolet Traverse SUV is a worthy contender. The Traverse earns extra points for its quiet cabin that comes with the latest in-car electronics. Thanks to its comfy and modern interior, the 2021 Chevy Traverse already impresses critics like U.S. News.

The 2021 Chevy Traverse delivers on comfort 

The Traverse might not be the first third-row SUV that comes to mind, but it can hold its own against popular models like the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot. With the Traverse, you get a well-rounded ride that offers numerous amenities. This Chevy is mostly a good option if you are in the market for a family-friendly vehicle that provides connectivity. The Traverse also stands out for its impressive cargo space. 

U.S. News explicitly recommends the Traverse over minivans if user-friendly tech is among your top priorities. The Traverse comes with many infotainment features, including a wifi hotspot, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Plus, the Traverse’s standard 7-inch touchscreen is easy to master and presents sharp graphics. If you desire more tech, you can upgrade to a larger touchscreen, Bose sound system, or with a rear-seat entertainment system. 

It’s not the flashiest model in its class, but the Traverse’s interior is comfortable and stylish. The lower level trims accommodate eight people; the higher trims seat up to seven. Cloth upholstery is standard, with leather seating available as an upgrade. You also add other amenities such as heated and ventilated front seats and a sunroof. 

Driving the Traverse

The Traverse earns praise for being a comfortable ride, not a sporty one. This SUV has a car-like quality and features a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse’s engine offers enough power, but it’s not the liveliest option in the class. U.S. News also notes that the biggest drawback for this SUV is its stop-start function, designed to save gas as the vehicle sits idle. For the most part, this function works well, but you can’t completely disable it. 

Regarding fuel-efficiency, the Traverse is average for the class. Models with front-wheel-drive get up to 21 mpg. If you opt for all-wheel-drive that sacrifices just one mpg.

Safety and reliability

The NHTSA hasn’t rated the 2021 Traverse yet, but the 2020 version received a five-star crash-test safety rating. To help prevent crashes altogether, the Traverse has many available active safety features. These include forward-collision warning adaptive cruise control.

Should I buy the 2021 Traverse or the 2020 version?

Overall, the Traverse is a good SUV because it is practical and dependable. What this Chevy lacks in sportiness, it makes up for in comfort. The 2021 Traverse entices because it’s the newest option, but there are no significant changes between this model and the outgoing 2020 version. It’s also worth shopping for 2018-2019 Traverse models, which offer many of the same modern features. We can expect a fully-designed Traverse for 2022.