2019 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is offered in 7 trims: L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and High Country. It can be availed in two engine configurations- the standard one is a 3.6L V6 and the other 2L Turbocharged Inline-4. The base trim is already sufficiently equipped with 18" Bright Silver-Painted Aluminum wheels, Dual-outlet exhaust with round tips, LED DRLs with HID Headlamps, 3.5-inch driver info display, Keyless Open and Start, Steering wheel-mounted controls, Tri-zone automatic climate control with individual climate settings for driver, front passenger, and rear seats, and many others.

Apart from the above features, Chevy offers a few additional packages which can be availed during the car’s purchase. These include:

• Convenience and Driver Confidence Package.
• LT Premium Package.
• Driver Confidence II Package.
• Redline Edition.

Which Trim should you buy?

The brawny SUV arrives in a total of 7 trims, with 2 engine options. Broad choice levels can be intimidating because of the plethora of features offered. Nevertheless, it is not an issue. In our opinion, the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse Premier trim with Driver Confidence II Package must be the best fit, as it adds a handful of creature comforts and the latest safety features. While the pricing does feel steep, the SUV provides the best value for money in the segment. 

The 2019 Traverse returns a decent fuel economy of 18 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. It also comes fitted with a large fuel tank of 19.4 gallons. Despite sporting a larger V6 engine, the fuel efficiency figures are adequate. The 2.0L Turbo inline-4 on the RS returns even better fuel economy in the city but it takes a hit in terms of highway economy.

The 2019 Traverse comes with the best fuel capacity, but in terms of efficiency, the Highlander has an edge averaging 23 MPG. It offers the best fuel economy figures. Moreover, it comes with a similar-sized fuel tank as the Traverse and has a notable advantage in terms of range averaging 441 miles, combined. The Ford Explorer is the heaviest and offers the least mileage in the competition, but at 20 MPG it remains only a notch behind Chevrolet and Honda.

The 2019 Traverse being large in terms of size, merit in terms of interior spaciousness, and comfort. The cabin materials come in a variety, for example, the base trim comes wrapped with premium black cloth leather upholsteries and as you go up higher the quality of the materials gets a subtle upgrade. The High Country trim comes with a Loft Brown Premium Perforated Leather or Dark Galvanized Perforated Leather Upholsteries. The cabin can seat 8-people with adequate head and legroom. However, if you opt for the middle-row captain seats, the seating capacity falls to seven passengers. The seats are cushioned well, wide and upright, further. You also get 8-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support and 6-way power-adjustable seats for the front passenger. 

Moreover, the front seats come heated and with higher trims, ventilation can also be added. At the rear, the second and third-row seats can be folded 60/40 for additional trunk space. The cabin is well-engineered and provides all necessary comforts like a 4.2” driver information display, Tri-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Interior lighting with theater dimming, cargo light, reading lights for front seats, 10 cup holders, and many others. The SUV offers a generous amount of trunk space- 23 cubic feet. The seats as mentioned above can be folded in a 60/40 split for a colossal 98.2 cubic feet of trunk space, which is adequate for your overnight camping trips or any weekend getaway. 

All the cars, except the 2019 Ford Explorer come in an 8-person seating arrangement. The Chevrolet Traverse offers the most interior room, while the Highlander trails at the bottom. While Toyota’s front seats are immensely spacious, the third row is best suited for kids. In terms of cargo capacity, the Traverse ranks second in the segment at 21 cubic feet followed by the Pilot that offers 16.5 cu ft, while the least cargo capacity at 13.8 cubic feet is managed by the 2019 Highlander.

Standout interior features:

• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• 8-way power driver and 6-way power-adjustable passenger seats with power lumbar support
• 7-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs
• SkyScape power tilt-sliding sunroof and fixed rear skylight with sunscreen
• Leather upholstery
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated second-row seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

2019 Traverse features a 7-inch touch LCD that supports AM/FM Radio, Bluetooth audio streaming, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The infotainment system also comes with a Wifi hotspot and SiriusXM with a 3-month trial. Apart from these, you also get an optional Premium 10-Speaker Sound System by Bose, an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, wireless device charging, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

Standout infotainment features:

• 8” High-resolution touch LCD
• Android Auto and Apple Carplay Support
• Handsfree Messaging Assistant
• SiriusXM satellite radio and HD radio
• Bose Premium 10-Speaker Sound System. (Optional)
• In-built 4G Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Wireless charging

The 2019 Traverse despite being bulky and a well-accommodating 8-seater SUV looks impressively sleek and muscular from the outside. Though not as appealing as its competitors, it comes blessed with a traditional SUV look. This shows how GM refers to practicality and function, rather than appeals. Talking about the materials and their quality, the chassis is mainly composed of galvanized steel sheets and hard plastics at some places. 

The LED DRLs with HIDs are now wider and hug the corners. It sits between the large chrome grille and fog lamps to make it look preserved. At the rear, the LED lamps wrap around the corners which makes it look smart and polite. Other unsung exterior features that generously add to Chevy’s further appeal include the Roof rails, Fog lamps, Signature Black accents, and Dual-outlet exhaust with rectangular chrome tips. The 2019 Traverse leads in wheelbase, length, and height measuring 120.9, 204.3, and 70.7 inches, respectively, making it the largest car in the competition

The Ford Explorer is the heaviest car in this comparison followed by the Chevy weighing 4,443 and 4,362 lbs, respectively. The hefty weight with the large wheelbase on the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse can be an advantage as it can enhance maneuverability and makes sure the car stays planted on the road. Finally, the Highlander gets an edge in ground clearance which makes it the most suitable for driving in bad road conditions and is similar to the Chevrolet Traverse at 8 inches. The Honda Pilot at 4,217 lbs is the lightest SUV in the segment, however, it is smaller in overall dimensions.

Standout exterior features:

• LED D-Optic bi-function projector-beam headlamps and Fog lamps
• 20" Polished-Aluminum Wheels
• Deep-tinted glass
• Roof rails
• Signature Black accents
• Dual-outlet exhaust with rectangular tips

Being one of the most trusted and reliable car makers in the US, Chevrolet did consider safety before instigating the SUV in the market. The quality of the materials used is top-notch and uncompromised in terms of quality. 2019 Traverse received an overall rating of 5 stars from the NHTSA and ‘Good’ ratings from the IIHS. Most of the safety features can be equipped as you go up the trim ladder. Only a rearview camera and teen driver system are offered as standard across the lineup.

Standout standard and optional safety features include:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Front Pedestrian Braking
• Forward Collision Warning with Following Distance Indicator
• Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Change Alert
• Blindspot Alert with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Rear Park Assist with Camera
• Intellibeam HIDs

2019 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2019 Honda Pilot

Both of the cars in the segment shine and are distinct in their own manners. But if we were to recommend, the Traverse seems to be the more preferable option. Starting with the pricing first, the Honda Pilot is priced $5000 more than the latter and it outperforms the Pilot in many attributes. The 3.6L V6 engine of the Traverse offers better performance than the Honda. 2019 Traverse offers better cabin volume, leg rooms, superior braking performance, and a better set of features.

2019 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2019 Ford Explorer

The Chevy’s 3.6L V6 performs better than the 3.5L V6 offered by Ford. The better cabin space, large fuel tank, and trunk give the Chevy an edge over the Explorer. However, Ford has some advantages too. The 2019 Ford Explorer comes with a better cabin build quality and packs more features and safety programs. The chassis build quality is far ahead of the Chevy, and even the base trim comes loaded with more standard features.

2019 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2019 Toyota Highlander

If we happen to have a look at the spec comparisons in the table constructed above, you’ll find the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse more preferable, because of its notable attributes. It performs exceptionally well and has a large trunk. However, a few things are in the Highlander’s favor. The SUV has a better cabin in terms of looks and quality and it packs better features in the base trim. Most importantly, the Toyota Highlander offers class-leading mileage.

GM has given more thought to the practicality of the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse rather than appeal. That being said, it doesn’t compromise on the appeal anywhere. The car is nicely built with fine engineering which is evident in the powerful 3.6L V6 engine, the spacious and well-curated cabin, a fine fascia, a bunch of latest features, creature comforts, and safety programs. The 2019 Traverse is much preferred as a family car owing to its accommodating cabin with massive trunk space. Priced comfortably under $30,000, it’s definitely a fair deal.