2021 Audi Q5 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a typical SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of competitors like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The RS model featured blacked-out trim, while the High Country model had chrome accents. The base Traverse L came with 18-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels available on higher trims. The interior had a restrained style, with an optional Dual SkyScape sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 price tag.

The 2021 Audi Q5 had a sharp, modern appearance that carried the Audi design language well. It featured LED headlights, a big Singleframe grille, and crisp character lines. The rear had bold taillights, and the fit and finish were exceptional. The plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version had S-Line trim pieces and enhancements, including standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Q5 was classy and modern, with smartly grouped buttons and high-quality materials like real wood and metal. The 10.1-inch touchscreen was well-placed, and the second row was nicely appointed with standard leather seating surfaces.

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 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well but had occasional rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and could send torque to individual wheels. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 362 horsepower and 373 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed the Q5 PHEV to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and achieve 65 MPGe combined. In gasoline-only mode, it was rated at 27 mpg combined. The battery pack could be recharged overnight with household current or in 2.4 hours with Level 2 service. The Q5 PHEV used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive and offered various driving modes. Handling was good, with a slightly stiff, sporty setting, minimal body roll, and powerful braking.

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 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. However, interior storage options were limited compared to minivans.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, preserving cargo space. It offered 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 53.1 cubic feet with the second row folded. The second row provided reasonable legroom (37.8 inches) and plenty of headroom (37.7 inches) and shoulder room (56.5 inches). The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with a wide range of adjustments, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The front row had several storage options, including cupholders and cubbies, and the interior layout was smart and functional.

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 8-inch screen was easy to use, with large smartphone-like icons, and Chevy retained analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had 2 USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi's latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus instrument cluster. The system offered three views: classic, sport, and dynamic, and the cabin had customizable LED ambient lighting. The Prestige Package included navigation, which worked with the hybrid system to optimize fuel consumption. The Integrated Toll Module was standard on all Q5 models, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was also included.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS 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 being optional extras.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV hadn't been rated by the IIHS yet, but the 2020 Q5 received top "Good" ratings in every category except headlights, which received a "Marginal" rating. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Q5 gasoline model five stars, but the PHEV hadn't been rated yet. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system, Audi Pre Sense basic, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, and more. Available driver-assistance features included adaptive cruise control, park steering assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a top-view camera system.