2021 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 BMW X5

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 Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome accents on the High Country model. The interior mirrored the exterior's simplicity, with the standout feature being an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 price tag.

In contrast, the 2021 BMW X5 was a testament to BMW's high-quality craftsmanship. The X5's design was unmistakably BMW, from the kidney grille to the body shape, ensuring it stood out as a luxury SUV. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and various trim options, including the sporty M Sport styling. The interior, while sharing many elements with other BMW models, was not lacking in quality. It included leather and soft-touch materials, though the abundance of black plastic was a minor drawback. The M Sport models had unique styling elements, such as an M sports steering wheel and M-specific pedals, adding to the sporty feel.

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 Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and a comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and didn't fully utilize its torque vectoring capabilities. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, which was average for the segment.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M50i boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, while the X5 M delivered 600 horsepower, increasing to 617 with the Competition Package. The X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid achieved 389 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, with up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's driving dynamics were a mixed bag, with the steering feeling truck-like at low speeds and less engaging at higher speeds. The cabin was quiet, and the suspension absorbed bumps well, but the steering and lane-keeping systems had issues, particularly in bright sunlight or light rain.

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 rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats 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 lower trims and standard on higher trims. However, interior storage options were limited, making it less practical than a minivan for carrying lots of people or cargo.

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of space, with cupholders positioned out of the way and a wireless phone charging pad. The front seats were comfortable for short trips but felt hard after a few hours. Heated seats and armrests worked well, and the rear seats were spacious enough for two adults. The X5 also offered an optional third row, though it wasn't tested. The split liftgate was easy to operate, and the vehicle height adjustment button was helpful for loading cargo. The X5's cargo area was spacious without the third row, though the xDrive45e model offered slightly less space. Moving children and cargo in and out of the second row was somewhat challenging due to the narrow door openings.

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 user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had two USB ports, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 BMW X5 featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, a proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was easy to use once familiar.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded 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. Standard driver-assist features were limited, with many only available on higher trims.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems had issues, particularly in bright sunlight or light rain. The X5 received nearly all "Good" ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being the subject of seven recalls.