2021 Chevy Traverse Praised by The Car Connection for “Crisp-All Around New Edges, Superb Sharp Look”

Going on sale during late 2020 right here at West Chevy of Knoxville, the folks on staff at The Car Connection blog first claimed about the new Chevy Traverse that “it is among the most prolific three-row family crossovers on the road, and there's hardly a shopping center without one”. The biggest change for the Traverse this year is a new nose and tail, and the body sides sport a deeper crease right under the windows. In the rear, Chevy has a horizontal strip across the liftgate and revised taillights that have have a narrower appearance.

Under the hood is a 3.6-liter V-6 that cranks out 310 horsepower and is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, with the choice of front or all-wheel-drive. Managing Editor Aaron Cole claimed after his test drives that the Traverse “steers quite well and tracks down the middle of the road with comfort”, with much thanks to a 4-wheel independent suspension that does a fantastic job of soaking up every little dent in the road. Up to 8 can fit into the 2021 Traverse's three rows of seats, and 7-passenger configurations are available.

Behind all three rows, there are 23 feet of cubic storage that expands heftily to nearly 100 cubic feet with rows 2 and 3 in the folded position. Standard equipment on the 2021 Traverse includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, and automatic high beams, with adaptive cruise control available as an add-on. The testing team had much appreciation for the look of the chrome surrounds around the fog lights, and remarked that they now look better than what's on the Tahoe and Suburban. In the rear, the Traverse now borrows the tailgate look from the Tahoe as well, a now-wider strip that spans the liftgate like the larger breed of Chevy models.

When they got out on the more open stretches of road, the acceleration was definitely on par with the competition, and the V-6 is up to the task of hauling a unit full of cargo or passengers. When properly equipped the tow rating is 5,000 pounds, and the group rated the transmission as “flittering through gears with a preference for fuel economy”. We fully agree to the notion that there's “no mistaking the Traverse's bulk”, but also have noticed just how this makes for tracking down the middle of a highway with the ultimate in confidence.

The Car Connection crew gave the Traverse a 9 out of 10 overall for comfort, as the first two rows especially provide tons of space to stretch out during a long trip. This year saw the addition of a wireless phone charger as well as wireless smartphone compatibility software. Rear passengers see 38 inches of leg room and their own set of USB chargers. You'll also see active lane control and automatic high beams as standard equipment on the 2021 Traverse, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen is standard on LT and higher trims.