2021 INFINITI QX80 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a throwback in design, relying heavily on styling details to differentiate its trim levels. The exterior was a generic SUV look 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 emphasized the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The base model had 18-inch wheels, while higher trims offered 20-inch wheels. Sharing a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6, the Traverse aimed for a more blue-collar feel and featured car-like unibody construction, unlike the body-on-frame Chevy Tahoe.

Inside, the Traverse continued its restrained styling, with the standout feature being an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. The materials in the higher-level RS model were fairly good but not quite worthy of its $50,000 MSRP. This was a common issue among midsize three-row crossovers, which tend to get expensive quickly with options.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 reflected its origins with a mix of Nissan Armada and Infiniti styling elements. The basic body shell carried over from the Armada, evident in the roofline profile and rear window curve. The QX80's face was distinctly Infiniti, with a grille and headlight design introduced in 2018, giving it an assertive yet not overly aggressive look. Standard LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights, along with automatic high beams and windshield-wiper interlock, added to its appeal. The base Luxe trim rode on 20-inch wheels, while the Premium Select and Sensory trims featured 22-inch wheels.

The interior design closely resembled the Armada, with Infiniti adding wood trim, contrast stitching, and standard leather upholstery. However, the dashboard shape and switchgear were recognizably Nissan, and the foot-operated parking brake felt out of place in a luxury vehicle. Despite this, the interior still felt luxurious, though buyers seeking exclusivity might be disappointed.

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 ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well overall, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier 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 drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. This was average for the segment, with competitors like the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer offering higher towing capacities.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 featured a 5.6-liter V8 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and 4WD as a $3,100 option. The V8 produced 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, providing responsive performance in all situations. However, the transmission shifts could have been smoother. The QX80's body-on-frame construction was complemented by independent suspension and a rear auto-leveling feature, with Sensory models including Hydraulic Body Motion Control to limit body roll during cornering.

The QX80 offered a comfortable ride, with some shudders over bumps but a quiet interior. It felt less composed in corners, with noticeable body roll even with Hydraulic Body Motion Control. The speed-sensitive power steering promoted a relaxed driving style. The QX80's 4WD drivetrain featured low range and a forward skid plate, making it better off-road than many competitors, though its size and wheel-and-tire combinations limited its off-road capabilities. The QX80 had a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds, higher than the Cadillac Escalade but slightly less than the Lincoln Navigator.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with headroom and legroom in all three rows above average but not segment-leading. 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, 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 was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. The Traverse had a power 60/40 split-folding third row on RS and higher trims. However, interior storage options were limited, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with second-row captain's chairs and a center console. An eight-seat configuration with a 60/40 split-folding second-row bench seat was optional. Standard features included a 10-way-adjustable power driver's seat and an eight-way front passenger's seat, with heating and cooling on Sensory models. However, the front seats lacked thigh support, which could be uncomfortable on long trips. Passenger space in all three rows was competitive but not class-leading, with the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator offering more space. The QX80 had 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in place, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with both the third row and second-row captain's chairs folded. The center console could open from both the front and back, but storage space was limited, and the front-door cupholders were not well-designed.

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, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. While Ford and Toyota offered larger screens, the Traverse's 8-inch screen was easy to use with large smartphone-like icons. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio volume and climate control, which were appreciated. The analog instruments, supplemented by a small LCD screen, were functional but might seem dated to tech-savvy buyers. The Traverse also offered a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had 2 USB ports as standard, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 featured the Infiniti InTouch dual-screen infotainment system with 8.0-inch upper and 7.0-inch lower touchscreens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a built-in WiFi hotspot, and navigation. Standard features included Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system, with a 17-speaker Bose system and a Theater Package rear-seat entertainment system as options. The touchscreens were backed by analog controls, but the user interface was confusing and the screens were small and hard to reach. The QX80 included helpful tech like the Smart Rearview Mirror, which could switch to a streaming-video display, and the Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), along with 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 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. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist only available as options.

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 received a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars for side crash tests, four stars for frontal crash tests, and a three-star rollover rating. The IIHS did not test the QX80. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and Backup Collision Intervention. These features were common on mainstream SUVs, but Infiniti made them standard equipment.