2021 Honda CR-V 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 the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior followed the same restrained styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended in with other compact crossovers, with few distinguishing features. The grille and some chromed plastic details set it apart slightly, but it wasn't a vehicle bought for its looks. The CR-V was available in eight colors, though many were shades of gray, black, or white, with more vibrant colors limited to higher trims. The interior offered black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, with wood panels and chrome on higher trims for a more upscale appearance. The seats had a modern, angular design, but the CR-V's competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel particularly powerful off the line but had enough grunt for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, but it lacked agility on twisty roads. The AWD system, which had to be manually activated, could send torque to individual wheels but didn't noticeably improve handling. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, average for the segment.

The 2021 Honda CR-V featured a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all trims, with a 0-60 mph time of about 7.8 seconds. The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided smooth, steady acceleration but lacked engagement. Competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more entertaining driving experiences with conventional transmissions. The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. The suspension setup was typical for the class, with a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, providing decent handling and ride quality.

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 rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 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 on the Premier and High Country models. However, interior storage options were limited compared to minivans.

The 2021 Honda CR-V aimed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear, with 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The tailgate options varied by trim, with manual operation on lower trims, a power tailgate on the EX-L, and a hands-free version on the Touring. Roof rails were standard only on the top Touring trim. The CR-V's interior was practical, with ample space for passengers and cargo.

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 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, while the EX-L added two more speakers. The Touring trim had a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and satellite navigation. Charging ports were plentiful, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and a wireless phone charger on the Touring trim.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it had "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact tests. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with many features only available on higher trims.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It missed the Top Safety Pick+ due to lower headlight scores and the updated side crash test. The CR-V's LATCH system received an "Acceptable" rating. Honda's approach to safety was commendable, with the Honda Sensing system standard on all trims, including features like a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Blind spot monitoring was standard from the EX trim upwards.