Used 2021 Chevrolet Traverse for Sale near Illinois

How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse cost?

Prices have softened 12.46% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,071 listings available, which gives you a solid pool to compare against. If you find a listing below $21,871.34, 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 — the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse earns a 5/5 user rating and a 6.67/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Form and function at 8/10.

Owners consistently praise the spacious interior, excellent driving experience, and strong value for money. They also highlight the power delivery and the useful feature set, though some note that the amount of equipment can feel a bit overwhelming.

On the downside, the expert notes point to poor handling and interior materials that feel cheap. In practical terms, that means you should view it as a family-first SUV that prioritizes space and usefulness over polish or sharp road manners.

The Traverse fits buyers who want a three-row crossover for everyday family duty, and its 30.3% good-or-great deal share suggests there are still attractive listings to find.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?

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

The owner feedback also points to a dependable, trouble-free ownership experience, with repeated praise for the kind of spacious, useful setup you can count on over time. The expert notes reinforce that it is a straightforward family SUV rather than a complicated one, which can help keep ownership predictable.

Chevrolet’s warranty coverage is average for the segment, so your long-term risk is less about the platform being exotic and more about finding a well-kept example with a clean service history.

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

At 71% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then focus your inspection on bodywork quality, panel alignment, and signs of prior repair. Because this model is often used as a family hauler, it also makes sense to check wear in the cabin, especially seats, controls, and cargo-area trim. A thorough test drive should confirm that the transmission shifts cleanly and that the ride feels composed.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The Traverse is offered in L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and High Country trims. The base Traverse L gets 18-inch wheels, while higher trims can have 20-inch wheels, and the RS and High Country bring distinct appearance treatments. If you want the best balance of equipment and value, the LT Leather and RS are the trims to compare closely.
• 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 delivers solid highway passing power, though the transmission can shift roughly at times.
• Safety package: Chevy does not make its driver-assist suite especially generous here. Adaptive cruise control is only standard on the High Country, 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.
• Infotainment: Standard equipment includes a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims can add an 8-inch screen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: EPA ratings are 21 mpg combined, 18 mpg city, and 27 mpg highway with front-wheel drive, or 20 mpg combined, 17 mpg city, and 25 mpg highway with all-wheel drive.

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:

• L: This is the entry point, and it makes sense if you want the lowest price and are comfortable with a simpler feature set. It gets the basics, but you give up the richer equipment and styling touches found higher up the range.
• LS: This is the next step up if you want a little more everyday usability without jumping too far in price. It is still a value-oriented choice, but you should compare it carefully against the better-equipped mid-level trims.
• LT Cloth: This is where the Traverse starts to feel more complete for family use. It is a sensible middle-ground choice if you want more comfort and convenience without paying for luxury-oriented extras.
• LT Leather: This is the best-value trim for many shoppers because it adds a more upscale cabin feel without pushing all the way to the top of the range. If you want the sweet spot between price and equipment, this is the one to focus on first.
• RS: This trim adds a distinct blacked-out look and a more individualized appearance. It suits you if style matters and you want your Traverse to stand apart a bit more.
• Premier: This is the better pick if you want a more premium-feeling Traverse with more available convenience and tech. It is a strong choice for shoppers who plan to keep the SUV for a while and want a richer daily experience.
• High Country: This is the top trim and the one to choose if you want the most equipment, including the only standard adaptive cruise control setup in the lineup. It is the right fit if you want the most complete Traverse you can buy.

Chevy’s safety-tech lineup is thinner than many rivals’, and several driver-assistance features remain optional on lower trims.

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

The market looks moderate, with enough inventory to shop selectively rather than rush.

• Deal availability: 30.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,071 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.46% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 71.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $21,871.34, 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 $21,867 sits slightly below last year's $24,981.

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 number. If you shop carefully now, you may have less downside left than a buyer who paid closer to last year’s average.

Its broad family appeal and strong owner satisfaction should help keep demand steady among used shoppers. That matters because vehicles with a reputation for usefulness and happy owners tend to stay easier to resell.

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 top “Good” IIHS crash-test scores and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech. It also earns a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with four-star ratings in frontal crash and rollover, and five-star ratings in side-impact crash tests.

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

Chevrolet’s driver-assistance list is less generous than many rivals’. Adaptive cruise control is only available on the High Country trim, and several other features are optional rather than standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The main caveat is that headlight performance varies by trim, with both “Acceptable” and “Poor” ratings appearing in the IIHS results. That means you should pay close attention to the exact trim and equipment on any used example you consider.

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:

• 30.3% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 71% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 12.46% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It offers a roomy three-row layout with a powerful V6 and a comfortable highway ride.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $25,088, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $21,867 average.
• It adds the updates that were delayed from 2021.

The bottom line: If you want the better value play, the 2021 is the smarter buy because prices are softer and owner satisfaction is strong. If you are willing to pay more for the newer model year and its updates, the 2022 is the cleaner alternative.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 4, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.