The Chevrolet Traverse is a comfy but unexciting three-row SUV. It’s now only in its second generation, despite having been on sale for well over a decade. Even so, it offers plentiful standard features, great tech, and excellent space for families and gear. Chevy also equips every Traverse with a spunky V6 engine and a supremely comfortable suspension system that irons out all but the worst road imperfections. On top of that, Chevy’s tech is easy to use and easy on the eyes.

Buyers have responded to this crossover with enthusiasm, scooping up well over 100,000 units each year. That said, the Traverse competes in one of the most cutthroat segments around, facing rivals that include the Kia Telluride, Subaru Ascent, Ford Explorer, Hyundai Palisade, and many others.

Generations: Two

• Chevrolet Traverse 1st Generation
• Chevrolet Traverse 2nd Generation

Pros: Spacious interior, smooth ride, lively standard V6
Cons: Not as plush inside as some rivals, no available hybrid, MSRP climbs quickly

Chevrolet Traverse 2nd generation (2018-Present)

Chevrolet redesigned the Traverse for the 2018 model year, which brought a significant shift in appearance, new tech, and a zesty 3.6-liter V6 engine with improved specs. Styling updates pushed the Traverse closer to Chevy’s truck line, with a more muscular look, squarer wheel arches, and an upright shape. The previous generation’s rounded, frumpy look went out the window. The updates also increased the Traverse’s wheelbase by 2 inches and shaved its weight by 111 pounds.

The 2022 Traverse is offered in several trim levels: LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and High Country. The Traverse High Country trim edges on GMC levels of luxury, and it brings several upscale features, including a chrome grille, power-adjustable front seats, a power-folding third-row seat, a Wi-Fi hotspot, roof rails, a hands-free power liftgate, and a heated steering wheel. The Traverse RS trim brings sporty style, 20-inch black aluminum wheels, and tech upgrades that include a Bose audio system and an HD surround vision camera.

The Traverse LT Cloth and Traverse LT Leather are nearly identical, save for their upholstery, and the base LS Chevy Traverse trim brings solid value with great features such as GM’s Teen Driver Mode and heated outside mirrors.

Though it’s only available with the V6 now, Chevy originally offered a four-cylinder engine in the Traverse. It’s a 3.6-liter mill that produces 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic and front-wheel drive (FWD) come standard, and Chevy also offers all-wheel drive (AWD).

While it may not be as plush or luxurious as some of its competitors, the Traverse wins with incredibly easy-to-use technology and a solid set of standard comfort and convenience features. The standard 7-inch color touchscreen accesses an infotainment system that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, six USB inputs, a six-speaker sound system, and more. There’s also three-zone automatic climate control and keyless entry with push-button start.

Though not a full-size SUV, the Traverse does have a usable third-row seat and plenty of room for a midsize SUV. At the same time, all Traverse models offer good outward visibility from the driver’s seat, and there are plenty of standard and available safety features. The list includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warnings, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic high beams, a rear camera mirror, automatic emergency braking, and more.

Chevrolet Traverse 1st generation (2009-2017)

The original Chevy Traverse debuted in 2008 as a 2009 model, following a herd of nearly identical three-row SUVs from General Motors that included the GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, and Buick Enclave. It featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. Only the LTZ trim took full advantage of the 3.6-liter V6 however, with all the lower trims shorted about seven hp and four lb-ft of torque due to their single exhaust outlet.

There were certainly trucks that performed better than the Traverse’s 17/24 mpg with the default FWD configuration (one mpg less with AWD). However, its 5,200-pound optional towing capacity and nearly 117 cubic feet of cargo space (24 with all seats in place) made it mighty tough to argue with the Traverse’s utility.

The base LS and LT1 were the only trims offering eight-passenger seating by default, but the seven-passenger LT2 and LTZ could have their second-row captain’s chairs swapped out for the bench seat. As a budget offering, the LS came with only expectedly basic amenities like power accessories, air conditioning, and a six-speaker CD- and MP3-playing stereo with auxiliary audio jack and satellite radio connectivity—but moving up to the LT1 afforded inclusions like heated side-view mirrors, rear parking sensors, and leather touches.

The LT2 took things a step further with tri-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker Bose stereo with USB connectivity, rear audio controls, power liftgate, and a rear-view camera in the rear-view mirror. At the top of the line, the LTZ offered leather upholstery, heated and ventilated power front seats, driver memory, Bluetooth connectivity, and remote ignition. Most of the upper-tier features were available as options, and highlights of the remaining list included a trailering package, navigation system with real-time traffic, dual sunroofs, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.