2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Honda HR-V

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs like the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot, which had more traditional and intimidating SUV looks. The HR-V’s distinctive styling included upper and lower window lines converging near the taillights, housing the rear door handles. Most trim levels featured 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Sport models getting matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. The interior was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. Higher trims like the EX and EX-L offered features such as push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with the EX-L also getting leather upholstery.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse underwent a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, a fresh front bumper, modified grille designs, redesigned aluminum wheels, and updated color choices. The RS trim, which was tested, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The Traverse’s styling was considered appealing, with crisply tailored lines and tasteful details. Inside, the RS trim had black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, black carpets, a black headliner, and gloss black trim. The materials were a mix of hard plastics and polished metallic accents, with a simple and logically laid-out design. The switchgear was decorated in matte-finish black with white markings, making it easy to use.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While AWD was available on all trim levels, FWD was standard. The HR-V’s powertrain was considered underpowered for highway driving, and the CVT was ineffective. Competitors like the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek offered more powerful engine options. However, the HR-V’s chassis made up for its engine, providing a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads and decent ride quality. The HR-V’s AWD system was not designed for rough terrain, and it had minimal ground clearance and no towing capability.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided adequate power for the Traverse’s bulk, and the official EPA fuel economy rating for the AWD model was 20 mpg in combined driving. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride quality in town and performed well on the highway, though it had more road and wind noise than preferred. The Traverse’s handling was predictable, and it felt more athletic than some rivals in mountainous terrain.

The 2021 Honda HR-V had impressive cargo space for its size, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. With the seat folded down, it offered 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models), and with the seat up, it provided 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD). The HR-V led the segment in rear-seat legroom, though front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The interior had sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, and a standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made finding the perfect driving position easier.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, in RS trim, had captain’s chairs in the second row, reducing capacity to seven passengers. The RS trim featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row had a Smart Slide function, making it easier to access the third-row seat. The all-black cabin was comfortable, with generous legroom, headroom, and foot room for second-row passengers. The third-row seat was less comfortable for adults but better than many rivals. The Traverse had abundant storage space, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo space measured 23 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, 57.8 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet.

The 2021 Honda HR-V’s base LX trim came with standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. The Sport and higher trim levels featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while the EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was considered small, and many competitors offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse LS and LT Cloth models had a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while other versions had an 8-inch high-definition display. The Premier and High Country trims featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. Both infotainment systems offered Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and access to connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen system was available with integrated navigation, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and expanded connected services. The RS trim had a Bose premium sound system with seven speakers. The Traverse’s voice recognition system was excellent, and the available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera were appreciated features.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it got “Marginal” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing. The HR-V’s Honda Sensing safety features were only available on the EX and EX-L trim levels, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and more.

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 sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims like the RS, Premier, and High Country had adaptive cruise control, a higher-speed automatic emergency braking system, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse had not been fully assessed by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing, but it received top “Good” ratings in most collision-related tests.