2021 INFINITI QX50 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 mirrored the exterior's simplicity, 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 INFINITI QX50 stood out in the luxury compact crossover segment with its distinctive design and innovative VC-Turbo engine. The large honeycomb grille and athletic hood gave it a sporty look, while the panoramic moonroof brightened the cabin. However, thick B-pillars and a short rear window hampered visibility. The Sensory AWD model featured 20-inch alloy wheels and a spacious interior with soft-touch materials and aluminum accents. The front seats offered heating and cooling, enhancing comfort in various weather conditions. The QX50's interior controls were user-friendly, with actual knobs and buttons for radio and climate settings, though the gear shift lever's design was a bit unconventional.

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 as powerful as expected, though it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well but occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway driving with a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. 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 off-road and tow/haul modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The VC-Turbo engine adjusted the compression ratio for a balance of power and efficiency. The engine operated smoothly and quietly, though the CVT's simulated shift points aimed to mimic a traditional automatic transmission. The QX50 offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional cost. The intelligent AWD system provided stability on various surfaces, and the drive mode selector allowed customization of engine torque, transmission shift points, and steering effort. Sport mode enhanced responsiveness, while Eco mode prioritized fuel efficiency.

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, 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 INFINITI QX50 felt spacious inside, with ample hip and shoulder room and plentiful headroom, even with the panoramic moonroof. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed 38.7 inches of legroom, and the sliding second-row seats allowed for flexible legroom or cargo space. The cargo area offered 31.1 cubic feet behind the second row and 64.4 cubic feet with the seats folded, increasing slightly in models without the moonroof. The optional Cargo package provided additional storage solutions. The QX50 also featured numerous cupholders, storage bins, and charging options, including USB ports and a 12-volt charging port.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse's standard infotainment system included a 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 in the RS model was user-friendly, with large icons and analog controls for audio and climate settings. 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 INFINITI QX50's technology included standard Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 10-speaker audio system. The Essential and higher trims featured Infiniti's InTouch infotainment system with dual display screens, voice recognition, and connected services. Pairing a smartphone via Bluetooth was easy, and Apple CarPlay integration was seamless. The 16-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system delivered excellent sound quality. The QX50 also had an Around View Monitor with front and rear sonar and moving-object detection. ProPilot Assist, available on all but the base trim, combined adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance for a semi-autonomous driving experience.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (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. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with many features optional.

The 2021 INFINITI QX50 boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including blind-spot warning, predictive forward-collision warning, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear automatic braking, and more. Lane-departure prevention and blind-spot intervention were standard on all but the base trim, and traffic sign recognition was standard on higher trims. The QX50 received four out of five stars for rollover resistance from NHTSA and top ratings for crash protection from IIHS.