2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy relying on styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride offered more personality, while the Mazda CX-9 had a more streamlined appearance. 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 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 fairly good but not quite worthy of the car’s $50,000 MSRP.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, on the other hand, was a fresh take on electrified mobility. It featured a polished exterior with minimal character lines and a unique Parametric Pixel design that gave it a concept car feel. The exterior design included aerodynamic wheels and a set of five horizontal lines creating silver-contrast plastic bits around the vehicle’s bottom half. Inside, the Ioniq 5’s cabin was low-key and comfortable, with a “Living Space” design theme. The interior was available in black, gray, and dark green hues, with a “Relaxation” mode for the driver’s seat. Sustainable materials were used throughout, including recycled fibers and bio-materials. The interior also featured soft touch points and a moveable center console, enhancing the overall comfort and usability.

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 powertrain didn’t feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed well overall, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and a comfortable ride. 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 a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, which was average for the segment.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came in two drive configurations, three trims, and three powertrains. The base SE Standard Range model featured a single 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor with 168 horsepower and a 220-mile range. The extended-range lineup included SE, SEL, and Limited RWD variants with a 168-kW rear motor producing 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, offering a 303-mile range. The AWD variants had a dual-motor system with a total power output of 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, with a 256-mile range. The Ioniq 5 handled well on various road conditions, with four drive modes including Sport mode, which added excitement but reduced range. Paddle shifters allowed for adjusting regenerative properties, and the vehicle featured noise-reducing technologies for a quiet ride.

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, while higher trims offered ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats. 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 available on the Premier and High Country models. However, interior storage options were limited compared to minivans.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 sat on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), offering a longer wheelbase and maximizing interior space. It had a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Palisade and was roomier than competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The Ioniq 5 offered a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, with a passenger volume of 106.5 cubic feet. The interior featured soft touch points and a moveable center console, enhancing usability. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, with a modern take on the retro front bench seat allowing for easy entry and exit from either front door.

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 easy to use, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Two USB ports were provided for each row, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured next-generation high-voltage, energy-dense technology with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80 percent battery capacity in 18 minutes and gaining 68 miles of range in 5 minutes with a 350-kW charger. Hyundai partnered with Electrify America to offer unlimited 30-minute fast-charging sessions for two years. The Ioniq 5 also featured a redesigned Blue Link connected car app, digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, and over-the-air updates. The 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegant and intuitive, with an anti-glare coating for clear visibility.

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, 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 available as optional extras.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came with Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I (HAD) was also standard, featuring machine-learning adaptive cruise control with stop & go. The Ioniq 5 also offered a head-up display (HUD) with augmented reality overlays, though it could be distracting in actual usage. While the NHTSA and IIHS had not released crash-safety ratings for the Ioniq 5, Hyundai had a strong track record with IIHS Top Safety awards.