2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with its design relying heavily on styling details to distinguish between trim levels. Its exterior was a classic SUV silhouette, featuring a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a prominent grille, which appealed to buyers seeking a clean and handsome design. While it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer or Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9, the Traverse's restrained styling allowed for cosmetic elements to shine across different trims. The RS model boasted blacked-out trim, while the High Country model featured chrome accents. The Traverse shared its platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6, but it aimed for a more accessible feel. Inside, the Traverse offered a restrained interior with an optional Dual SkyScape sunroof, and while materials were decent, they didn't quite match the vehicle's price tag.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, with a design that announced wealth and taste. Its exterior was a sporty adaptation of the big Range Rover's profile, featuring a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a trapezoidal roof. The Velar's design was both blocky and streamlined, with flush door handles and special details like taillight lenses with depth illusions. The R-Dynamic trim added bronze accents and a more aggressive front bumper. Inside, the Velar's cabin was slick, with high-quality materials and exemplary fit and finish. The interior featured three screens with sophisticated graphics, and upper trims offered extra leather and richer textures. Despite being a base trim, the Velar S impressed with its quality and reminded drivers of its 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. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, though it lacked agility on twisty roads. Its AWD system, which required manual activation, could send torque to individual wheels but didn't noticeably enhance handling. The Traverse offered off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a lower center of gravity and lighter weight for improved cornering and braking. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The Velar's optional air suspension provided a plush ride and could raise the body for increased clearance. The optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, offered 340 to 395 horsepower, delivering high performance while reducing emissions. The Velar's Terrain Response system included six driving modes, but its street-focused design limited off-road capability.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. It excelled in cargo space, providing 23.0 cubic feet with all seats up, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was available, and higher trims featured a gesture-activated liftgate. However, interior storage options were limited, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had a tighter interior, with reduced headroom and limited visibility due to thick B-pillars and small rear windows. Cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with seats folded. The Velar's design sacrifices practicality for style, and it lacked a discrete parking brake control, which was replaced by a multifunctional transmission button. The Pivi Pro infotainment system improved usability, and the Velar featured a heated windshield, advanced navigation, and a 360-degree camera system.

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 WiFi hotspot, and a Bose audio system. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio and climate, and its rearview camera mirror improved visibility. USB ports were standard across all rows, but wireless phone charging was limited to higher trims.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system was reliable and user-friendly, with a simplified layout and customizable features. It included a voice assistant, air quality monitoring, and advanced navigation. The Velar featured a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo. The instrument panel offered various display configurations, though its driving assist display was less detailed than competitors.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores from the IIHS in crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. However, it had "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and limited standard driver-assist tech. Features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking were optional.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored five stars in Euro NCAP tests, but U.S. ratings were unavailable. It offered standard driving assists like forward emergency braking and lane-keeping assist, with optional 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control.