How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse cost?

Prices have softened 10.89% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,116 listings available, which gives you a solid pool to compare prices and equipment.

If you find a listing below $22,489.78, 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, strong driving experience, and overall value. The review summary also points to impressive features and solid power, while noting that the feature set can feel overwhelming for some drivers.

On the downside, the expert review calls out poor handling and interior materials that feel cheap. In practical terms, that means you’re getting a family-focused three-row SUV that prioritizes space, comfort, and usefulness over sharp road manners or upscale cabin feel.

The Traverse is aimed at shoppers who want a roomy, comfortable family SUV with plenty of cargo flexibility, and it fits that role well. With 30.2% of listings marked as good or great deals, there’s still meaningful market opportunity if you shop carefully.

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 ownership experience, with praise centered on the Traverse’s spacious interior, strong driving experience, and value. 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 Traverse as competent and comfortable, with a quiet cabin and solid highway manners. On the ownership side, the warranty coverage is average for the segment, so used buyers should still pay close attention to maintenance history and overall condition.

For a used example, your biggest long-term risk is less about a known reliability red flag and more about buying one that has been neglected or heavily used.

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 so you can check for uneven wear, signs of bodywork, and any issues that might not show up in photos.

Pay close attention to how the cabin, electronics, and driver-assistance features function, since this model can be optioned in many different ways. You’ll also want to make sure the trim and equipment level match what you expect before you commit.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Traverse L gets 18-inch wheels, while higher trims can add 20-inch wheels, blacked-out or chrome styling details, and appearance packages. The cabin’s restrained design and optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof help separate trims, but the lower trims are more basic in presentation.
• 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 strength for highway merging and overtaking, but it can feel less eager off the line, and the transmission can shift roughly at times.
• Safety package: Chevy Safety Assist is not standard here. Adaptive cruise control is only available 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: Standard equipment includes a 7-inch touchscreen, 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 the Premier and High Country models.
• Fuel efficiency: The Traverse is rated at 21 mpg combined, 18 mpg city, and 27 mpg highway with FWD, or 20 mpg combined, 17 mpg city, and 25 mpg highway with AWD. Those figures are reasonable for a large V6 SUV, but they trail hybrid alternatives in the segment.

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 styling and convenience upgrades found higher up the range. It also misses out on the richer appearance details and available tech that make the upper trims feel more complete.
• Sweet-spot trim: The LT Leather is the best middle-ground pick if you want a more polished cabin without jumping all the way to the luxury-oriented trims. It gives you a better balance of comfort and equipment than the lower trims.
• Premium/top trim: The High Country is the most upscale version, with chrome styling, available 20-inch wheels, wireless phone charging, and adaptive cruise control. It’s the trim that most clearly adds luxury and convenience features.
• Off-road trim: The Traverse does offer off-road drive modes, but this is still a family crossover first, so that capability is more of a bonus than a reason to buy it for rugged use.

Chevy’s safety tech is spread thin across the lineup, so if driver-assistance features matter to you, verify exactly which ones are included on the specific trim you’re considering.

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

The market looks moderately favorable if you’re a selective buyer.

• Deal availability: 30.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,116 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 10.89% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 71.5% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,489.78, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse safe?

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse earns Good ratings from IIHS and a five-star overall rating 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 offering is thinner than what you’ll find on some rivals. Adaptive cruise control is only available 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 rather than standard.

IIHS also noted that headlight performance varies by trim, with both Acceptable and Poor ratings appearing depending on configuration. That makes trim selection especially important if safety equipment is a priority for you.

What is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse's resale value?

The current average of $22,560 sits slightly below last year's $25,318.

That price decline suggests the Traverse has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help you as a buyer today. For a future seller, though, it also means there may be less room for strong short-term appreciation.

The good news is that a model with broad family appeal, strong space, and solid owner satisfaction can still hold demand well in the used market. If you keep mileage reasonable and maintain it carefully, you should be in a better position when it’s time to sell.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 5/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

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:

• 30.2% 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 10.89% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It delivers a roomy three-row layout, strong V6 power, and a comfortable highway ride.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $25,623, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,560 average.
• It adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus Chevy Safety Assist standard across all trims.

The bottom line: If you want the better value today, the 2021 is the smarter buy because pricing has eased and owner satisfaction is strong. If you’re willing to pay more for newer tech and a more complete standard safety package, the 2022 is the cleaner upgrade.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 7, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.