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2025 Buick Enclave vs Honda Pilot2020 Chevrolet Traverse Review
The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is a spacious mid-size SUV that can comfortably seat eight people, but is it a compelling buy?
2020 Chevrolet Traverse – media.chevrolet.com | Shop 2020 Chevrolet Traverse on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse?
The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse receives a new infotainment system and some additional safety features. Among them are a trailer hitch and HD backup camera, a 360-degree top-view camera, and the Teen Driver system gets a buckle-to-drive option. In addition, the turbo four-cylinder gets dropped this year, leaving the 3.6-liter V6 as the sole engine choice.
The Breakdown
Good infotainment system
Spacious interior
Above-average fuel economy
Powerful V6
The interior could be better
Many tech and safety features are optional
Gets expensive for the higher trims
More standard equipment would be nice
2020 Traverse Specs
- 310 horsepower from base engine
- 266 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 7 available trims
- 23 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 98.2 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- 5,000 lb max towing capacity
- Excellent cargo capacity
- Wi-fi comes standard
- 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
2020 Chevrolet Traverse Powertrain
While few will miss the small turbo-four, it leaves the 310 horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine as the only available engine. While the Traverse is not the most powerful mid-size SUV you can buy, it has plenty of get-up-and-go and plays nice with the nine-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox does an excellent job of keeping the V6 in its powerband when some extra power is needed. However, the automatic start/stop is another story, and despite its smooth operation, it cannot be turned off.
If you prefer sportiness and a firmer ride, the Traverse will unfortunately disappoint, as it errs on the side of comfort and a softer ride. However, you will appreciate it if your local roads resemble the surface of the moon. Obviously, that implies there is a fair amount of body roll, but again, handling and ride characteristics are more of a personal preference. Likewise, the steering is responsive, with little effort required to turn the wheel at low speeds.
The only other complaint about the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is the brakes. Simply put, they could be better and exhibit more pedal fade than we would like. If you plan on regularly carrying a full complement of passengers or doing some towing, you will need to pay extra attention to your surroundings and get on the brakes early.
Towing & Payload
All 2020 Chevrolet Traverse models can tow at least 1,500 pounds, which is less than stellar for a mid-size SUV. That is sufficient for hauling a pair of jet skis or a small pop-trailer, but not much else. If you plan on hauling more than that, we recommend adding the HD towing package, which includes an upgraded cooling system and increases the towing capacity to 5,000 pounds.
2020 Chevrolet Traverse Fuel Economy & MPG
For a mid-size SUV, the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse fares better than most, with the FWD model checking in at 18 mpg for city driving and 27 mpg on the highway. Likewise, adding AWD only incurs a minor penalty at the pump and drops those figures to 17 mpg and 25 mpg, respectively.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
If you need a people hauler with plenty of interior space, look no further than the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. In fact, it competes for the top spot in this category and is almost roomier for passengers than the more expensive Tahoe. For starters, even the lowly L trim has a cavernous interior, and full-size adults seated in the second row won’t be bumping elbows or digging their knees into the backs of the passengers seated in front of them.
Even the third row, albeit smaller, is better than the norm for a mid-size three-row SUV. Granted, it is better suited for children, but adults can manage just fine on shorter trips. The seating materials are comfortable and supportive on all levels, although the LT and above swap out the second-row bench seat for a pair of captain’s chairs. In our opinion, this is well worth it unless you need all eight seats.
When we we’re talking about a cavernous interior, that was not an exaggeration. The Traverse offers a class-leading 23 cu-ft of space behind the third row. If you fold down the third row, that figure increases to 57.8 cu-ft and up to a total of 98 cu-ft with all rear rows down. Suffice to say, those are excellent numbers and place the Traverse on par with some full-size SUVs.
The only gripe we have is the spartan interior of the L and LS trims. Granted, they are cheaper than many rival offerings, but if you want creature comforts like heated and leather power seats and more driver’s assistance features, you will have to step up to the LT. Even then, many are still optional, which pushes the cost of a well-equipped Traverse to over $40,000.
Entertainment & Technology
The good news is that Wi-Fi is standard fare as opposed to being an option on many of its rivals. Likewise, the refreshed infotainment center is responsive, easy to use, and has crisp graphics. Not to mention, the premium Bose audio sounds great.
Safety Features
While the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse can be equipped with a host of driver’s assistance and safety features, the catch is that many of them are optional. In addition, that means you will have to choose the LT Cloth or higher to get some safety features like rear parking sensors or rear cross-traffic alert. However, even after climbing the trim ladder, other safety features like forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning, and front pedestrian braking require you to add the $700 Driver’s Confidence II package.
Even though the standard driver’s assistance features are lacking, the Traverse gets an overall five-star NHTSA safety rating with four stars for frontal crashes. The Teen Driver system is a nice feature, and it prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver is not wearing their seatbelt. Likewise, it allows parents to keep tabs on what their offspring are doing behind the wheel.
2020 Chevrolet Traverse Trims & Pricing
L – $30,995
The spartanly equipped 2020 Chevrolet Traverse L comes with a 7″ infotainment system that offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and built-in Wi-Fi. Other standard features are tri-zone automatic climate control, Chevrolet’s Teen Driver system, and 18-inch alloy wheels. It should be noted there are few available options for the L, and this model is offered in FWD only.
LS – $34,095
Moving up to LS does not add much in the way of standard features over the L, although it unlocks a few options like AWD, a rear-seat entertainment system, and some styling packages.
LT Cloth – $36,595
The LT Cloth has fog lights, roof rails, 8-way power-adjustable seats, and second-row captain’s chairs. In addition, buyers can choose from a premium package that adds a larger infotainment system and upgraded Bose audio. Also available is the Driver’s Confidence II which includes additional driver’s assistance features like rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring.
LT Leather – $40,295
As the name implies, selecting this option adds leather seating materials and front heated and adjustable seats. Like the LT Cloth, it can be optioned with the Premium and Driver’s Confidence II packages.
RS – $44,795
Upgrading to the sportier RS keeps the leather upholstery and gets you larger 20″ wheels, wireless charging, and heated second-row seats. It also includes the features of the LT premium package while adding a rear-camera mirror, forward collision warning, and lane-keeping assist.
Premier – $46,995
The Premier builds upon the RS and includes painted exterior trim accents, heated and ventilated leather seats, LED headlights, a hands-free power liftgate, and a power-adjustable steering wheel.
High Country – $52,095
Perched at the top, the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse High Country gets a heavy-duty trailer package, a more advanced AWD system, a sunroof, power-folding third-row seats, adaptive cruise control, and just about every tech feature as standard fare.
Warranties
All 2020 Chevrolet Traverse models come with a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper to bumper warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage. This is an average warranty, although Chevrolet includes a single complimentary maintenance visit.
What we think
2020 Chevrolet Traverse – media.chevrolet.com | Shop 2020 Chevrolet Traverse on Carsforsale.com
If you have a large family and don’t want a full-size SUV, the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse is an excellent choice. While it comes up short on standard features and gets pricey for the higher trims, the base models are a good value for the money and the inside has enough space for everyone.
