2022 Chevrolet Traverse

The Traverse is the smallest of Chevrolet’s three-row people-haulers, slotting under the Tahoe and Suburban. Significantly redesigned for 2018, the 2022 Traverse is mildly updated with refreshed styling, wireless connectivity and a wider range of standard or available driver-assist safety technologies across the trim levels. Pricing ranges from $34,895 to $55,540, including a delivery charge of $1,195.

At 205.9 inches in length, the Traverse is technically a full-size SUV even if it primarily competes with midsize rivals like the Ford Explorer, Kia Telluride, or Subaru Ascent. Its first- and second-row legroom falls slightly short of those, but Traverse’s huge third row beats them all, with 33.5 inches of legroom. Those last-row seats are hard and flat, like most in this segment, but they’re on a riser and provide a seating position somewhat in tune with human anatomy. The second-row seats slide ahead and flip forward, offering easier access to the wayback than many rivals as well. The Traverse also handily bests its rivals for cargo capacity, offering 23 cubic-feet of space with the third row in place and up to 98.2 cubic-feet with both rows folded. 

Six trim levels are on offer: LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and High Country. In addition, a Midnight or Sport trim appearance package is available on the LS and LT trims; a Redline version brings blacked-out trim bits illumination housings and includes red accent stripes on the wheels. All start with front-wheel drive (FWD), but all-wheel drive (AWD) is available across the lineup. Depending on the trim, adding all-wheel runs between $2,000 and $3,750, as extra features are bundled in on some models. 

All Traverse models use a 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It’s not the most powerful in the segment, but it provides sufficient highway passing power, and the pair work together unobtrusively in normal conditions. Ride quality is typical of the segment, composed and comfortable at the cost of any hint of sportiness, though it turns and stops predictably.

The cabin design is plain, and in the upper trim levels, that dated styling doesn’t always look like it qualifies for the price. That said, its simple controls are easy to use, with a minimum of distraction when operating the center touchscreen or the buttons and dials for the climate control. There’s good small-item storage, and the eight-inch touchscreen slides up to reveal a hidden compartment behind it. 

New for 2022, all models include driver-assist technologies of emergency front braking, lane-keeping assist and automatic high-beam headlamps, while adaptive cruise control and rear pedestrian alert extend to more trim levels. This answers a major criticism of earlier models, which were pretty lacking in the active-safety department. The competition is intense in this segment, but the Traverse’s blend of maximum interior space and healthy order sheet of optional colors, features and packages make it easy for buyers to zero in on their ideal version.

Performance: 11/15

All Traverse models use a 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque and a nine-speed automatic transmission. It’s about midway, power-wise, with the competition, making more horsepower than the Kia Telluride and Subaru Ascent, but not as much as most of the Ford Explorer’s available engines. Nevertheless, acceleration is smooth, and the Traverse has enough power for highway passing without distress. Adding a smaller turbocharged engine or a hybrid version would likely provide better fuel efficiency and better position the Traverse against the Explorer. 

The AWD system runs primarily in front-wheel drive, sending power to the rear wheels as needed for traction. It’s a selectable system, allowing the driver to move between FWD and AWD via a console dial, but it seems for many pointless. Keeping it permanently in AWD has minimal fuel economy penalty and distracted drivers won’t forget to switch it over on a rainy or snowy day when needed.

Fuel Economy: 9/15

The EPA rates the Traverse in front-wheel drive at 18 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg in combined driving. For the AWD model, the numbers drop to 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg. The fuel requirement is 87-octane regular grade.

That puts the Traverse below many of its main rivals. The Ford Explorer offers a choice of engines, and while its 3.0-liter V6 meets the Traverse at 20 mpg in combined driving, its turbocharged four-cylinder rates 24 mpg, and there’s a hybrid at 27 mpg. The Kia Telluride’s 3.8-liter V6 is rated at 23 mpg in FWD and 21 mpg in AWD, while the Subaru Ascent, which comes only with all-wheel, is rated at 23 mpg.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 12/15

The Traverse gets the highest “Good” rating in crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Unfortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not tested the 2022 Traverse, which will be necessary due to its revised front fascia. Still, the 2020 model earned the top five-star rating.

For 2022, all models come standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep warning and assist, following distance indicator, forward collision alert, and automatic high-beam headlamps. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on all trims but the base LS, where it’s optional. Adaptive cruise control, rear pedestrian alert and a Safety Alert Seat, which vibrates the seat to issue warnings from the assist features, are now standard or available on a broader range of trims.

Comfort & Room: 12/15

At 205.9 inches in length, the Traverse tiptoes into full-size territory even if it competes primarily with midsize rivals. Its 42.8 inches of front-row headroom is highest among the Explorer, Telluride and Ascent; its 40 inches for second-row is even with them, and its 38.2 inches of headroom in the third row is bested only by the Explorer at 38.9 inches. Seating is for seven with second-row captain’s chairs or eight with a bench.

The Traverse trails those competitors for legroom in the first row, at 41 inches, whereas the Explorer leads at 43 inches. The Chevrolet’s 38.4 inches of second-row legroom is also the tightest, the Telluride coming out on top with 42.4 inches. But the Traverse wins for its 33.5 inches of third-row legroom, an inch to two more than its rivals. Adding convenience, the second-row seats slide and flip forward, making it relatively easy to get back to those seats. Though the third-row seats lack the padding and support of the comfortable first- and second-row seats, they sit higher than the competitors providing for a better seating position. If you plan to use the third row frequently, the Traverse is hard to beat. 

Infotainment: 11/15

The entry LS and next-step-up LT Cloth trim use a 7-inch infotainment screen, while the LT Leather and up get an 8-inch screen. The larger screen is motorized, sliding up to reveal a hidden storage compartment behind it. All trims include a trial subscription to OnStar and SiriusXM satellite radio, and a WiFi hotspot is optional across the lineup. The screen icons are large and intuitive, and, in addition, to the touch functionality, the home screen can be called up with a hard button.

New for 2022 is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity on all trims. All three rows include USB ports. A six-speaker audio system is included on the three lower trim levels, while upper trims use a premium ten-speaker system.

Cargo Space & Storage: 14/15

The Traverse easily defeats its rivals for cargo space. It has 23 cubic feet with the third row upright, while the Telluride has 21 cubic feet, and the Explorer and Ascent have only 18.2 and 17.8 cubic feet, respectively. The benefit is that even with all three rows occupied, there’s still room for a large amount of gear in back. Folding down the Traverse’s third row provides 57.8 cubic feet, and then folding the second row increases the space to 98.2 cubic feet, while the next-best Explorer has 87.8 cubic feet.

Small-item storage is good, including a console cubby and large door pockets, and there’s a hidden compartment behind the center screen on most trims. The liftgate opening is at the bumper, so it’s easy to lift items up and over when stowing cargo.

Style & Design: 7/10

The Traverse benefits from its exterior restyling, with its sleeker grille and lights. The sportier RS trim includes a blacked-out grille and exterior accents along with 20-inch dark aluminum wheels and perforated-leather upholstery.

Styling isn’t as strong in the cabin. There is a benefit to the simplicity of the center controls, which are easy to locate and use with a minimum of distraction. Still, the plain dash and large swatches of average-grade plastic and the rubber covers on the steering wheel controls don’t seem to match the price tag when the trims start passing the $40,000 mark. Alongside its competitors, the Traverse’s interior looks dated.

Is the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse worth it? Which Traverse is the Best Value?

The Traverse’s price range starts with the LS in FWD at $34,895, including a delivery fee of $1,195, and tops out with the High Country in AWD at $55,540. The Ford Explorer is pricier, ranging from $35,040 to $57,290, but offers a variety of engines, including a hybrid. Kia’s Telluride goes from $35,345 to $48,115, while the Subaru Ascent is $33,420 to $46,570.

The Traverse’s LT Leather offers several features for $41,095, and its premium of $3,700 over the LT Cloth is more than just its upholstery. It builds on the LT Cloth trim by adding a high-definition rearview camera, power liftgate, larger digital instrument cluster, power passenger seat, remote starter, garage door opener, and larger 8-inch center screen. That’s in addition to items included on both LT trims, such as Chevy Safety Assist, blind-spot monitoring, roof rails, 18-inch wheels, power driver’s seat, and tri-zone climate control. However, if you prefer cloth to leather, adding AWD to the LT Cloth trim, at $3,750, also adds the extra features from the LT Leather.

How much does The Chevrolet Traverse cost to insure?

The Chevrolet Traverse is about average among its competitors in terms of insurance costs. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,862, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1,907 for the Ford Explorer, $1,964 for the Kia Telluride and $1,747 for the Subaru Ascent. Visit our car insurance calculator to get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses.