How much does the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse cost?

Prices have softened 11.13% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 3,134 listings available, which suggests you have room to compare prices and equipment. If you find a listing below $22,476.14, 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 5/5 user rating points to strong owner satisfaction, and the expert rating is 6.67/10. The standout strength is Form and function at 8/10.

Owners consistently praise the spacious interior, the value for money, and the power delivery. The review summary also points to a comfortable driving experience, which fits the Traverse’s family-first mission.

The trade-offs are familiar: the feature set can feel overwhelming, and the interior materials may not feel especially premium. The expert review also notes that handling is not especially agile.

For you, that means the Traverse makes the most sense if you want a roomy three-row SUV with a comfort-first personality rather than a sporty one. With 31.0% of listings marked as good or great deals, there are still some attractive opportunities in the market.

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse reliable?

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

The owner summary emphasizes a dependable-feeling ownership experience, with praise for the Traverse’s spaciousness, driving experience, and overall value. That kind of feedback usually matters most when you’re planning to keep a used SUV for several years.

The expert review also describes the powertrain as solid in everyday use, with enough grunt for highway merging and overtaking. It adds that the drivetrain and cabin are built around comfort and practical daily use.

Chevy’s warranty coverage is average for the class, so your long-term ownership risk will depend more on how well a specific used example was maintained than on standout factory coverage.

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

At 71.6% 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 prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage example or one with multiple owners. Focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, and whether the cabin and controls show wear that matches the mileage.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base model gets 18-inch wheels, while higher trims can add 20-inch wheels, blacked-out or chrome styling details, and available appearance packages. The interior also varies by trim, with the optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof standing out as a notable upgrade.
• 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 passing, but 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, and other driver-assist features are optional. Automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are all available, but not universally standard.
• Infotainment: The standard setup uses a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims can add an 8-inch screen, navigation, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system.
• Fuel efficiency: The Traverse gets 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.

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, High Country.

Here's the short version:

• Base trim: The L is the most stripped-down choice, with the smallest wheel setup and fewer upscale touches than the higher trims. It’s the one to skip if you want more comfort, style, or convenience features.
• Sweet-spot trim: The LT Leather is the best balance for many shoppers because it moves you into a more upscale cabin without jumping all the way to the top of the range.
• Premium/top trim: The High Country is the most feature-rich choice, and it’s also the only trim where adaptive cruise control is standard.
• Off-road trim: The RS is the one to watch if you want the sportier look, but the review still points to a comfort-first SUV rather than a truly athletic one.

If you want the most useful safety-package note, remember that several driver-assistance features are optional rather than standard, so you should verify exactly what’s installed on any used example.

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

This is a moderate market for selective buyers, with enough inventory to shop carefully but not so much that every listing is a bargain.

• Deal availability: 31.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 3,134 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.13% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 71.6% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $22,476.14, 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 $22,471 sits slightly below last year's $25,285.

That price movement suggests the Traverse has already absorbed a meaningful amount of depreciation, which can help future buyers if you plan to sell later. If you buy at the right price now, you may have less downside left than you would with a newer, pricier SUV.

The model’s strong owner satisfaction also helps support demand in the used market. Family buyers tend to keep looking for roomy three-row SUVs with good comfort and value, which can help resale stability.

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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it top Good scores in all crash tests and a Superior rating for front-crash prevention tech. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it a five-star overall safety rating, 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.

Chevy’s driver-assistance setup is less generous than what you’ll find on some rivals. Automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are available, but many of these features are optional rather than standard.

You should also note the headlight results: the Traverse received Acceptable and Poor headlight ratings depending on trim level. That makes trim selection especially important if safety equipment matters to you.

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:

• 31.0% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 71.6% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 11.13% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 5/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• The 2021 model keeps the Traverse’s roomy three-row layout and strong V6 performance while avoiding the higher price of the next year.

Consider the 2022 if:

• At $25,484, the 2022 costs more than the current year's $22,471 average.
• It adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The bottom line: If you want the better value, the 2021 is the smarter buy because prices are softer and the core strengths are already in place. If you’re willing to pay more for a newer model with wireless smartphone integration, the 2022 is the cleaner upgrade path.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 14, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.