2021 Volvo XC60 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a throwback in design, relying heavily on styling details to differentiate its trim levels. Its 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 competitors like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. 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 interior mirrored the exterior's simplicity, 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 Volvo XC60, positioned between the compact XC40 and larger XC90, was built on Volvo’s SPA platform. It featured an elegant, tailored crossover design with short front and rear overhangs, and crisp details that emphasized an agile form. The upright grille with Volvo’s iron mark logo and Thor’s hammer-shaped LED daytime running lights added a distinct Swedish touch. Inside, the XC60 boasted clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene aura. The 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen was easier to accept by 2021, and the elegant HVAC vents and harmonious textures and colors elevated the interior to near-luxury status.

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. 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 overall but had occasional rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners with a quiet cabin and bump-absorbing suspension, though it lacked agility on twistier roads. The AWD system, which required manual activation, could send up to 50% of torque to either front wheel or 85% to either rear wheel, but its impact on handling was minimal. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, average for the segment.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 offered a range of powertrains, all based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 model produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6 model, with both a turbocharger and supercharger, delivered 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T8 model, a plug-in hybrid, combined a gasoline engine with an 87-horsepower electric motor for a total of 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, with the T8 Polestar Engineered variant pushing it to 415 horsepower. The XC60 T8 could drive up to 19 miles on electric power alone. The XC60 felt solid and secure on the road, with excellent handling and a quiet cabin. Fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the T5 FWD to 27 mpg combined for the T8 PHEV, with 57 MPGe in electric-only mode.

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 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 Volvo XC60 was designed for comfort and style, with highly adjustable front seats that excelled in winter conditions. The heating system, heated seats, and defrosters performed exceptionally well in sub-freezing temperatures. The cabin featured smart storage solutions in the center console, dashboard, and door panels, with intuitive controls for passengers. The XC60 offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Each model was rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

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, 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 were retained. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Two USB ports per row were standard, with wireless phone charging available on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a tablet-style touchpad interface. The system used swipe, pinch, and pull gestures familiar to iPad users and segmented the screen into function quadrants for easy navigation. Smartphone integration included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot with a three-month trial. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system on the test model was exceptional.

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. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with many features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking only available on higher trims.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was awarded a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA for the T5/T5 AWD and T6 AWD models. Standard safety features included LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and more. Volvo’s semi-autonomous driving system, Pilot Assist, was available, integrating adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. The XC60 was also governed to a top speed of 112 mph for safety.