2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2020 Honda CR-V, a familiar face since its fifth generation debut in 2017, showcased a design that was both fun and familiar. Its exterior leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, with curvy, car-like lines and a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup. Inside, the CR-V was a mix of high and low-quality materials. While pricier models featured wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these upscale touches clashed with some low-quality plastics. The base CR-V LX trim started at an MSRP of $26,270, with AWD available for an additional $1,500. The CR-V came in four trims: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring, each with a standard three-year or 36,000-mile warranty. Standard 17-inch alloy wheels adorned the base model, while higher trims featured 18-inch and optional 19-inch wheels. Fabric seating was standard on lower trims, with leather available on higher trims. A retractable moonroof was included on all but the LX trim, and roof rails were exclusive to the Touring model.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, relied heavily on styling details to differentiate its trim levels. Its exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille. The Traverse’s restrained styling emphasized cosmetic elements keyed to different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country model. The base Traverse L featured 18-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels available on higher trims. The Traverse shared a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel. Inside, the Traverse featured a restrained design with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. Materials in the higher-level RS model were fairly good but not quite worthy of its roughly $50,000 MSRP. The Traverse’s interior was practical but not as agile as some competitors.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine making 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a well-matched and fuel-efficient driving experience. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor was reflected in its excellent road manners, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. The CR-V’s low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel economy. FWD models were rated at 30 miles per gallon combined, while AWD models managed 29 mpg. The CR-V Hybrid, introduced in 2020, offered even higher fuel economy.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 powertrain didn’t feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, combining a quiet cabin and bump-absorbing suspension with good body control and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads. The Traverse’s AWD system, which required manual activation, could send up to 50% of torque to either front wheel or 85% to either rear wheel. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity with the tow/haul mode engaged.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with good head- and legroom in both the driver’s seat and passenger seats. The CR-V’s excellent seating position and low cowl provided great front visibility. The cargo compartment offered 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. The center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, and the rear had a two-position load floor for maximizing cargo space. Even the door pockets were spacious, making the CR-V easy to live with.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS model, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse had a significant advantage in cargo space, with 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. However, the Traverse was stingy on interior storage options compared to minivans.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age. The base LX trim featured a 5-inch screen with limited features, while higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen. The CR-V Touring trim added a wireless phone charger and more USB ports, but the overall infotainment experience was lacking compared to competitors.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with 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 Traverse’s infotainment system was easy to use, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Chevy provided 2 USB ports for each row, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the “Honda Sensing” system as standard, offering forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. EX trims and above added blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with caveats for trims below Touring due to headlight performance.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top “Good” scores from the IIHS in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received “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. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with many features available only as optional extras.