2021 Genesis GV80 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Genesis GV80, as a new entrant in the luxury SUV market, offered a fresh design perspective unburdened by a long legacy. This allowed Genesis to innovate and establish its signature look, characterized by a massive trapezoidal grille, Quad Lamp LED headlights, and elegant two-box design. The GV80's exterior was marked by its long hood, short front overhang, and distinctive wheel arches, which housed 19-inch to 22-inch wheels. The rear design mirrored the front with Quad Lamp taillights and twin trapezoidal tailpipes. Inside, the GV80 boasted a sleek, uncluttered dashboard with a 14.5-inch widescreen display, real wood, metal, and leather materials, and a bridge-like center console with minimal controls, creating a luxurious and spacious feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse relied on styling details to differentiate its trim levels, offering a more traditional SUV appearance with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille. While its design was cleaner and more handsome than some competitors, it lacked the personality of others like the Ford Explorer or Kia Telluride. The Traverse's restrained styling allowed for cosmetic variations across trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model or chrome on the High Country. The interior mirrored the exterior's simplicity, with an optional Dual SkyScape sunroof and materials that, while decent, didn't quite match the vehicle's price point. The Traverse's design focused on practicality, offering a spacious cabin with seating for seven or eight and substantial cargo space.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. The V6 models came standard with all-wheel drive, while the four-cylinder models had rear-wheel drive with optional AWD. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The GV80's ride was enhanced by independent multi-link suspension, with the 3.5T models featuring electronically-controlled suspension with road preview. The 2.5T's 300 hp was adequate for its weight, while the 3.5T offered a smoother and more powerful experience, aided by active noise cancellation. Fuel economy for the 2.5T was 21 mpg city/25 mpg highway, while the 3.5T AWD achieved 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a single 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking, it lacked the off-the-line strength expected from its specs. The Traverse excelled in highway comfort, with a quiet cabin and smooth suspension, but its handling on twisty roads was less impressive. The AWD system required manual activation and offered torque vectoring capabilities, though its impact on handling was not noticeable. The Traverse's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, average for the segment, but less than some competitors.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 featured a sophisticated interior with a focus on technology and ergonomics. The center console housed a rotary gear selector and a circular multimedia controller with dual control capabilities. The HVAC panel used capacitive touch buttons with intelligent masking to prevent accidental misuse. The GV80's second row was spacious, with available power seats and window shades, while the third row was standard only on specific models, offering power-fold functionality.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse provided seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom across all rows. The RS model included standard heated front seats, 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 up, 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 lower trims and standard on higher ones, with a gesture-activated liftgate available on top models.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 featured a sixth-generation Genesis UX infotainment system with a 14.5-inch HD screen, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system offered cloud connectivity, over-the-air updates, and user-configurable displays. Android users could utilize a digital key function, while Genesis Connected Services provided various remote and guidance features. A head-up display and a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster were available on higher trims, along with a Lexicon Quantum Logic Surround audio system with 21 speakers.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth, with an 8-inch screen, navigation, and a Bose audio system available on higher trims. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio and climate, and offered a rearview camera mirror and an HD surround-view camera system. USB ports were standard for all rows, with wireless phone charging available on top trims.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Genesis aimed for top safety ratings. The GV80 included 10 airbags, a vehicle stability management system, and a suite of driver-assist features such as blind-spot collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision-avoidance assist. Adaptive cruise control with machine learning and highway-driving assist were also available, along with Remote Smart Parking Assist.

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 mixed ratings for headlights and LATCH ease of use. The Traverse offered fewer standard driver-assist features than competitors, with adaptive cruise control and other safety technologies available only on higher trims.