Looking for a new vehicle can almost be a religious experience. Hang with us for a moment. When hitting the lot for your next purchase, not only are you looking for features you need but also the things you desire. What do you want your new car to say about you? How do you want it to make you feel? Do you want it to bring excitement, style, and refinement to your life? If you’re honest, the answer is yes. Good news for you if you’re looking for a family vehicle, the 2021 Chevy Traverse is one of the most comfortable SUVs under $30,000. However, it’s not one of the most stylish models on the market – until now.  

There’s a lot to like about the Traverse, but it doesn’t display the sleekness of other popular three-row SUVs like the Kia Telluride. With the SUV market more saturated than ever, choosing the right model that checks all your boxes while also getting your heart pumping can be a daunting task. Automakers take this into consideration, offering appearance packages that add a little extra flair to popular models. Chevrolet is no different, as it’s had success with stylish editions like the RS package in the past.

What exactly is Chevy adding the 2021 Traverse to make it stand out from the pack? Let’s take an in-depth look into the latest additions to this three-row SUV.

Paint it black

Everything could use a little touch up now and again. However, the typically dull 2021 Chevy Traverse needs a whole new look before it can start turning heads. Thankfully, the American automaker may have accomplished this with its latest appearance packages.

Chevrolet announced that it expanded its Midnight and Sport packages to the new 2021 Traverse via a press release. These eye-catching additions include exterior design enhancements that help intensify the SUV’s edgy aesthetic. Notably, these editions are limited to the lower-end LS and LT trim levels.

The Midnight edition takes a blacked-out approach, giving the 2021 Chevy Traverse a cool dark theme. This package includes Mosaic Black Metallic paint, a black ice grille, blacked-out wheels, black roof rails, and a black Chevy ‘bowtie’ logo.

Meanwhile, the Sport edition also utilizes some black details. Shoppers can get the Sport models in an array of exterior color choices, but the real details lie in its accents. It comes with black-painted aluminum wheels and adds black to the roof rails, badging, fog light bezels, grille, and tailgate applique.

What else is there to love about the 2021 Chevy Traverse?

Chevrolet is known for its larger SUVs, as they tend to be spacious and well-appointed. Meanwhile, the 2021 Traverse is already impressing critics, thanks to its cozy interior and wealth of driver-assistance technologies.

A 3.6-liter V6 powers every Traverse model, and it delivers a potent 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. It’s also pretty fuel-efficient for a big-bodied vehicle, as it achieves an EPA-estimated 21 MPG city/highway combined when equipped with front-wheel drive. Meanwhile, adding the all-wheel-drive system drops its gas mileage down to 20 MPG combined.

However, the most impressive aspect of this midsize SUV is its cargo capacity. It offers a best-in-class 98.2 cubic feet of storage space when its two rear rows are folded down.

Are the Traverse’s Midnight and Sport packages worth the hype?

According to Chevrolet’s press release, the RS trim package accounted for around one-third of its small and midsize SUV sales last year. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a ton of shoppers jump on the chance to buy a spruced up 2021 Chevy Traverse with a Midnight or Sport appearance package.

These sporty editions undoubtedly give the midsize SUV some much-needed flavor to help it compete in a crowded segment. If you were already interested in purchasing a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, this should only further entice you to do so.