2020 Toyota 4Runner vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner had a timeless design characterized by tall slab sides, a high beltline, short overhangs, and a near-vertical front fascia. Its utilitarian attitude was reminiscent of an XJ Jeep Cherokee, with flared wheel wells designed to accommodate bulky off-road tires and short overhangs for tackling steep pitches. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. The front end featured small, angular headlights, and the grille varied by trim, with body-color bars on most trims and blacked-out accents on the TRD Pro. The Limited trim, aimed at comfort, featured leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen, but still had plenty of plastic and a seating position designed for off-roading.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse had a more generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille. Chevy used styling details to differentiate trim levels, with blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The Traverse shared a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel. The interior featured a restrained design with an optional Dual SkyScape sunroof and materials that were fairly good but not quite worthy of the $50,000 MSRP. The Traverse had a solid yet comfortable feel on the highway, but lacked agility on twistier roads.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner was powered by a 4-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. This engine was not designed for smoothness or efficiency, but for durability and off-road capability. The 4Runner had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 16 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined. The 4Runner excelled off-road with its body-on-frame construction, advanced traction systems like CRAWL control, and Multi-Terrain Select. The Limited trim featured a full-time 4WD system, while the TRD models had a part-time system for better off-road performance.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided adequate power for highway merging and overtaking, but didn't feel particularly strong off the line. The Traverse had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and featured a somewhat puzzling AWD system that required manual activation. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, combining a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads and had an average towing capacity compared to competitors.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tidy turning radius of 18 feet, 7 inches. The interior featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC and stereo controls, and an 8-inch touchscreen. The seating position was very tall, and power-retractable running boards were available on the Limited trim. The 4Runner offered an optional third row of seats, but they were best suited for short and occasional use due to their lack of legroom and comfort.

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 trim, 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 and power 60/40 split-folding third row were available on higher trims. However, the Traverse was stingy on interior storage options compared to minivans.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The system included Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB media port, and various subscription services like Sirius XM Radio, Safety Connect, and WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered a JBL stereo and navigation system. However, the 4Runner lagged behind competitors in total features and usability, with the top-of-the-line features hidden in the powertrain rather than the dashboard.

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, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio volume and climate control, and featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Chevy provided 2 USB ports for each row as standard equipment, with wireless phone charging available on higher trims.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. The 4Runner also had eight standard airbags. The NHTSA awarded it four out of five stars overall, with three stars in the rollover test. The IIHS gave it a Good rating in most crash tests, but a Marginal rating in the small overlap front: driver-side test.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS 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, 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 many features only available on higher trims.