2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Ford Bronco

The 2021 Ford Bronco had been eagerly anticipated since Ford first teased the public with the Bronco Concept in 2004. The excitement only grew with the release of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, a compact crossover SUV built on the Ford Escape platform but enhanced with standard all-wheel drive and adventure-ready styling. The original Bronco, produced from 1966 to 1996, was renowned for its off-road capabilities and remains a popular choice for customization. The new Bronco drew inspiration from its predecessor, embracing a "Retrofuturism" design philosophy that updated the classic look with modern technology and materials. This approach had proven successful with other models like the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger.

The Bronco's exterior featured a single-piece grille with bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering, round headlights, and a modestly bulging hood with removable off-road sights. The body sides were flat and simple, accented with fender flares and large tires, with options for 32-inch or 35-inch tires depending on the package. The rear included a full-size spare tire on a swing-away rack, a side-hinged half tailgate, and flip-up back glass. Available in two-door and four-door configurations, the Bronco offered a range of sizes and heights, with options for a black soft-top or modular removable hardtop and eleven paint colors. Inside, the Bronco combined retro styling with modern technology, featuring a color touchscreen, digitized cluster, and rugged materials designed for durability and functionality.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, while often seen as a glorified minivan, offered a practical and stylish alternative for those needing a family-friendly SUV without the bulk and expense of larger models. Starting at $33,700 for the base LS with front-wheel drive, the Traverse lineup extended to the High Country trim at $53,400. All-wheel drive was available across all trims, though the 7.5-inch ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The 2022 model received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, bumper, grille designs, and updated color choices, along with special appearance packages like Redline Edition, Midnight Edition, and Sport Edition.

The RS trim, positioned above the LS and LT but below Premier and High Country, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The Traverse's design was praised for its crisp lines, swollen fenders, and tasteful details, making it one of the more appealing vehicles in its segment. The RS test vehicle, equipped with all-wheel drive and a Dual SkyScape Sunroof, had an MSRP of $48,895. Inside, the Traverse RS boasted black leather upholstery with contrast stitching, gloss black trim, and a mix of hard plastic and metallic accents. The interior layout was simple and logical, with easy-to-use controls for the stereo and climate systems, though some materials, like the hard plastic on the upper door panels, were less than ideal.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered two engine options: a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission, while the 2.7-liter engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which was also optional for the 2.3-liter. All Bronco models featured standard four-wheel drive.

During a test drive in Holly, Michigan, the Bronco demonstrated its off-road prowess in challenging conditions, including mud, slick rock, and treacherous trails. On pavement, the Bronco drove like an off-road truck, with the 35-inch tires from the Sasquatch package providing a noisy and wiggly ride. The 2.7-liter engine and 10-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth power and responsive performance. Off-road, the Bronco excelled, handling various terrains with ease and providing a balanced and fun driving experience.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and offered driving modes for Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road, in addition to the standard Normal mode.

In town, the Traverse provided a firm yet compliant ride, absorbing smaller road imperfections while requiring caution over larger bumps and dips. On the highway, the Traverse excelled, though road and wind noise were more noticeable. In mountainous terrain, the Traverse felt athletic, with responsive steering, brakes, and suspension limiting body roll. However, the RS trim's all-season tires and the vehicle's tendency to feel disconnected at higher speeds on undulating roads were drawbacks.

The 2021 Ford Bronco's designers and engineers took inspiration from the marketplace, competition, and classic Bronco owners to create a modular and functional SUV. The Bronco featured removable doors with dedicated storage bags, integrated grip handles, and simple electrical connections. The chassis had standard protection and optional skid plates, with removable fenders, bumpers, and grille for easy repair and replacement. The hood's trail sights doubled as tie-down points for roof-mounted cargo.

Inside, the Bronco's design focused on practicality and ease of use. The center stack had buttons for suspension settings, while the overhead console featured toggle switches for auxiliary equipment. The interior materials were rugged and durable, with reinforced heavy-use points and stretchy mesh door pockets for storage.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, particularly in RS, Premier, and High Country trims, offered a seven-passenger seating configuration with captain's chairs in the second row. The RS trim included power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors facilitated access to the third row.

The Traverse's interior provided ample legroom, headroom, and foot room, though the captain's chairs lacked leg support for adults. The third-row seat was accessible and reasonably comfortable, though not as spacious as in larger SUVs. Storage space was abundant, with hidden compartments behind the infotainment screen and under the cargo floor. Cargo capacity was generous, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet.

The 2021 Ford Bronco featured the SYNC 4 infotainment system with an 8-inch standard touchscreen, upgradeable to a 12-inch touchscreen with the High Package. The Lux Package added a 10-speaker B&O sound system, voice-activated navigation, and a wireless charging pad. The G.O.A.T. system offered up to seven drive modes for various terrains. Push-button start, proximity key entry, and a rear-view camera with backup assist lines were available with higher trim packages. The Sasquatch Package included position-sensitive Bilstein shock absorbers for enhanced off-road capability.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims had an 8-inch high-definition display. The Premier and High Country trims featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. The infotainment system supported Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services with a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch system offered navigation, SiriusXM 360L, and Alexa Built-in. A Bose premium sound system was standard from the RS trim upwards. The voice recognition system was effective, and the digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera enhanced visibility and safety.

The 2021 Ford Bronco's safety features were packaged by trim level. The Base model included airbags, while the Big Bend and Black Diamond trims could add the Mid Package with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included pre-collision assist, blind-spot information, lane-keeping system, auto high-beam headlamps, and a rear-view camera. The High Package added a 360-degree camera, forward-sensing system, and side-view mirror LED approach lamps. The Bronco's side curtain airbags were designed to deploy appropriately in off-road situations. Neither NHTSA nor IIHS had released crash-test ratings for the 2021 Bronco.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. The optional Safety Package for the LS trim added rear parking assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert, which were standard on higher trims. The RS, Premier, and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and rear pedestrian alert. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS collision tests, except for an "Acceptable" rating in a new side-impact test. NHTSA had not published 2022 Traverse crash-test ratings at the time of writing.