2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer was a testament to Ford's consistent design philosophy, echoing the brand's signature style across its SUV lineup. It featured a sporty exterior with raked belt lines and distinctive visages, making it easily recognizable among other SUVs. The Explorer offered a variety of trims, each with unique grille designs ranging from black to full chrome, catering to different aesthetic preferences. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard, with the base model offering cloth upholstery. The interior was designed for comfort, with a clean dashboard and an 8-inch LCD touchscreen dominating the center stack. The XLT trim was particularly popular, offering enhanced features like a power front passenger seat and nicer finishes, while higher trims provided leather upholstery and additional luxury.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, meanwhile, presented itself as a practical yet stylish choice for those seeking a family-friendly SUV. It underwent a light restyle for the model year, featuring new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with updated color choices. The Traverse RS trim, in particular, showcased blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, adding a touch of sophistication. Inside, the Traverse RS boasted black leather upholstery with contrast stitching and a logically laid-out interior. Despite the prevalence of hard plastic surfaces, the Traverse's design was functional, with easy-to-use controls and a focus on practicality. The Traverse's ride quality was pleasant, offering a firm feel on the road while remaining compliant enough to absorb minor road imperfections.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered a range of powertrains, starting with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing a balanced performance for its weight of 4,345 pounds. The Explorer Limited Hybrid increased power to 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, while higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The sport-oriented Explorer ST offered the most engaging driving experience with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing capabilities, with a capacity ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse's tow rating was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, with various driving modes available for different conditions. The V6 engine provided adequate power for the Traverse's size, and the SUV returned a fuel economy of 20.9 mpg in combined driving. The Traverse offered a firm yet comfortable ride, with good handling characteristics on highways and mountain roads. However, the RS trim's all-season tires and the vehicle's tendency to feel disconnected from the road at higher speeds were noted as drawbacks.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, which was competitive within its segment. The Explorer boasted 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed and 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, though this was less than some competitors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, offered seating for seven in the RS, Premier, and High Country trims due to the inclusion of captain's chairs. The Traverse RS featured 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 easy access to the third row. The Traverse provided generous legroom and headroom, though the captain's chairs lacked leg support. Cargo space was abundant, with 23 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet with seats folded, making it one of the roomiest SUVs in its segment.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering features like AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen and a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Explorer also provided multiple USB ports and power points for charging devices.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the LS and LT Cloth models, with an 8-inch display in higher trims. It offered Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The Traverse's infotainment system included voice recognition technology, which performed well in tests. The RS trim came with a Bose premium sound system, though it was not particularly impressive. The Traverse also offered a digital rearview mirror and a surround-view camera for enhanced visibility.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered additional driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most collision-related tests, though it was rated "Acceptable" in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Traverse at the time of writing.