How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse cost?

Prices have softened 10.91% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,020 listings available, which suggests you have room to compare options.

If you find a listing below $22,490.42, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse a good car?

Yes — owners rate it 5/5, and the expert rating is 6.67/10. The standout strength is Form and function at 8/10.

Owners consistently praise the Traverse for its spacious interior, excellent driving experience, strong value for money, and the power it delivers. That lines up with the Traverse’s family-first mission: you get a roomy three-row layout and a practical cabin that works well for hauling people and gear.

The trade-offs are worth weighing, though. The expert review calls out poor handling and interior materials that feel cheap, and it also notes that the feature set can feel overwhelming for some drivers.

For you, that means the Traverse makes the most sense if you want a comfortable, utility-focused three-row SUV more than a sporty one. With 31.4% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s also a decent amount of value in the market.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?

Owners rate it 5/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a dependable-feeling ownership experience, with praise centered on the Traverse’s spaciousness, strong value, and overall satisfaction. That kind of feedback usually suggests you can count on the vehicle to deliver the basics well over time.

The expert review also describes the powertrain as solid and the highway manners as composed, which supports the idea that the Traverse is built for steady everyday use. It also notes average warranty coverage, so long-term ownership risk for used buyers comes down more to condition and maintenance history than to standout factory protection.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?

At 71.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and confirm whether any prior damage was repaired properly. After that, prioritize a pre-purchase inspection that focuses on bodywork quality, alignment, suspension behavior, and signs of uneven wear. Because this is a family SUV, you should also pay close attention to interior condition, seat wear, and whether all convenience features work as expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Traverse L gets 18-inch wheels, while higher trims can add 20-inch wheels and appearance packages such as Redline, Sport, and Midnight. The interior styling is restrained, and higher trims bring more cosmetic differentiation, including blacked-out trim on RS and chrome accents on High Country.
• Powertrain: You get one engine: a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic. It has enough power for highway merging and overtaking, but off-the-line acceleration can feel less impressive, and the transmission can shift roughly at times.
• Safety package: Chevy does not make its driver-assist tech especially generous here. Adaptive cruise control is only standard on the High Country trim, while automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are optional extras.
• Infotainment: The standard setup uses a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims can add an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. Wireless phone charging is standard only on Premier and High Country.
• Fuel efficiency: FWD models are rated at 21 mpg combined, 18 mpg city, and 27 mpg highway. AWD models are rated at 20 mpg combined, 17 mpg city, and 25 mpg highway.

Which 2021 Chevrolet Traverse trim should I buy?

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse is offered in 7 trim levels: L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and High Country.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The L is the most stripped-down choice, with 18-inch wheels and fewer of the upscale touches you’ll find higher up the range. It also sits at the low end of the safety-tech lineup, since several driver-assist features are optional rather than standard.
• Sweet-spot trim: LT Leather is the most balanced pick if you want a more polished cabin without jumping all the way to the top. It gives you a better sense of the Traverse’s comfort and family-friendly appeal while avoiding the highest-price territory.
• Premium/top trim: High Country is the most fully equipped version, and it stands out because adaptive cruise control is standard there. It also gets the most upscale presentation, including chrome accents and the strongest tech-and-convenience mix.
• Off-road trim: None of the trims here are really aimed at off-road use, so you should focus on comfort, value, and equipment instead.

Chevy’s safety-tech spread is thinner than many rivals’, so if driver assistance matters a lot to you, pay close attention to which trim includes the features you want.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Chevrolet Traverse?

This is a moderate buyer’s market, so you can shop selectively without expecting every listing to be a bargain.

• Deal availability: 31.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,020 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 10.91% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 71.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,490.42, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse's resale value?

The current average of $22,613 sits slightly below last year's $25,383.

That price movement suggests the Traverse has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future resale stability if you buy at the right price. If you keep the vehicle in good condition and maintain it well, you may be better positioned than someone who bought when prices were higher.

The market also shows that shoppers still respond to the Traverse’s space and practicality, which helps support demand. Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse safe?

The 2021 Chevy Traverse earns Good scores in all IIHS crash tests and a Superior rating for front-crash prevention tech. It also earns five-star ratings overall from NHTSA, with four-star ratings in frontal and rollover crash tests and five-star ratings in side-impact crash tests.

It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

Chevy’s driver-assistance setup is less standard than many rivals’. Adaptive cruise control is only standard on the High Country trim, while automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are optional extras.

There are also a couple of caveats to keep in mind. Headlight performance varies by trim, with both Acceptable and Poor ratings mentioned, and LATCH ease of use is rated Acceptable.

Should I buy a 2021 Chevrolet Traverse or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 31.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 71.5% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 10.91% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 keeps the Traverse’s roomy three-row packaging and strong highway-friendly V6 performance.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $25,715, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,613 average.
• It adds Chevy Safety Assist and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

The bottom line: If you want the better value play, the 2021 is the smarter target because prices have eased and the model still delivers the Traverse’s core strengths. If you’re willing to pay more for newer tech and a more modern safety package, the 2022 is the cleaner upgrade path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from July 31, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.