2020 GMC Acadia vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2020 GMC Acadia was marketed as a premium SUV, positioned between Chevrolet and Cadillac in terms of luxury. Built on the same platform as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared powertrains and assembly origins with its more luxurious sibling. The Acadia Denali trim, with its all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and Technology Package, had a sticker price of $52,385. The 2020 model featured a redesigned front with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille, while the interior saw minor updates like new electronic transmission shift switches and real open-pore wood trim in the Denali model. Despite these changes, the cabin still had a mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, with logical control layouts but limited premium touches beyond leather upholstery and wood trim.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, relied on styling details to differentiate its trim levels, reminiscent of how Chevy used to distinguish between models like the Impala and Caprice. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, appealing to buyers looking for a clean, handsome design. The Traverse RS model featured blacked-out trim, while the High Country model had chrome accents. The interior had a restrained styling, with the standout feature being an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. Materials in the RS trim were fairly good but not quite worthy of the $50,000 MSRP. The Traverse also shared its platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three engine options. Lower trims came with a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The SLT trim featured a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali trims included a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine, which was also available in other trims. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Acadia was available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), except for the AT4, which had a dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 and nine-speed automatic combination provided smooth, refined power and a towing capacity of up to 4,000 pounds. The test vehicle averaged 20.1 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA rating of 21 mpg. The Acadia's ride and handling were finely tuned, offering a comfortable but forgettable driving experience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The previously available 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine was discontinued. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed well overall, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse's highway road manners were impressive, with a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and didn't provide noticeable torque vectoring. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, average for the segment.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered seating for five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim level and configuration. The Denali trim provided six-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, though a bench seat was available as a no-cost option. The front seats were wide, supportive, and perfect for road trips, with 10-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and comfortable, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet for rear passengers. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, but cargo space was limited to 12.1 cubic feet behind the third row. Folding the third-row seat down increased cargo volume to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded, the maximum cargo volume was 79 cubic feet.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, depending on the choice of a second-row bench seat or captain’s chairs. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were above average. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate available on the Premier and High Country models. The Traverse had limited interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with essential infotainment features, including Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, a simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle included navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that worked well most of the time. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with new USB-C ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror providing an unobstructed wide-angle view.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in the RS trim was easy to use, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse also had a rearview camera mirror, eliminating blind spots and improving rear visibility. An optional HD surround-view camera system made parking easier. Chevy provided 2 USB ports for each row, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 GMC Acadia needed improvement in safety features. Standard equipment included a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, and GMC Connected Services with a short free trial period. The base Acadia SL and up had a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. However, forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were only available on SLT or AT4 trims as part of a Driver Alert Package. The Denali trim had an enhanced automatic emergency braking system. The NHTSA gave the Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS provided incomplete data, with high marks in available tests.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it had "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact crash tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with adaptive cruise control only available on the top High Country trim. Other features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional extras.