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2025 Subaru Impreza Review2023 Chevrolet Traverse Review
What do our experts think of the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse? We look at powertrain, interior options, trim levels, and more. Find out our thoughts here.
2023 Chevrolet Traverse – chevrolet.com | Shop 2023 Chevrolet Traverse on Carsforsale.com
What’s new for the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse?
The Chevrolet Traverse is in its second generation and it serves as a dutiful three-row SUV in Chevrolet’s lineup. Equipped with a 310-horsepower V6 it’s available with either front or all-wheel drive No major changes are scheduled for the 2023 Traverse after a mild refresh in 2022 aside from two new paint colors.
The Breakdown
Spacious iterior
Excellent infotainment system
Robust engine
Lackluster safety equipment
Short warranty coverage
Low quality interior
We’d love a hybrid
2023 Traverse Specs
- 310 horsepower from base engine
- 266 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 5 available trims
- 23 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 98.2 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Bright and featureful infotainment system
- Standard automatic emergency braking
- 3-year limited warranty
2023 Chevrolet Traverse Powertrain
Every Traverse comes with the same 3.6-liter 310-horsepower V6. It sends power through a nine-speed automatic transmission and then to the front wheels or all four depending on the configuration. Overall, we think it’s a solid package for a vehicle in this segment. The engine itself provides quick acceleration and smooth operation regardless of the situation. As it is in many other GM products, the nine-speed automatic gearbox is also very pleasant in practice and we never found it out of the correct cog.
While we’d love to see Chevrolet embrace its sporting roots a little more aggressively, the Traverse is a family vehicle, and offering it in a FWD format provides the best fuel economy in this scenario. Those who need AWD can get that too. Feedback from the steering and pedals is fine, without any major blemishes. We actually think that the Traverse feels a little smaller than its three-row size would have you believe.
2023 Chevrolet Traverse Fuel Economy & MPG
The Traverse gets up to 18 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway according to the EPA. Add power to all four wheels and those figures drop to 17 and 25 respectively. That’s not too bad for a vehicle of this size and weight, but we’d love to see a hybrid option push the limits of what’s possible.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
One area where the Traverse really shines is in the space department. Not only does it offer supportive and comfortable seating but the cabin itself is wide open, providing more than enough knee and head room for all occupants. When cargo space is what counts, the Traverse is on top too with almost 100 cu-ft of cargo area. Where the SUV disappoints with regard to quality.
Nothing is broken in our tester but that might’ve been better than almost every surface feeling cheap. From the look of the seats to the shiny plastic and foam staring back from the dashboard, center console, and door cards, nothing about the materials inside the Traverse elicits positive feelings or reactions. The fact that they’re about as drab as possible is the real issue at hand.
It’s clear that Chevrolet has once again raided the GM parts bin and come back with the same grayish-black switchgear found in everything from a $13,600 Spark to this SUV’s $51,400 High Country trim level. That’s a major problem for a lot of GM products and we wish the brand would fix it.
Entertainment & Technology
On the other end of the scale, while the infotainment system inside of the Traverse might look somewhat bland, in terms of functionality, it’s exceptional. Not only does it offer big, bright, easy-to-read-and-understand graphics, but it’s fast to react to commands. It uses a menu system that anyone can grasp quickly. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard on the 2023 Chevy Traverse. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard, too, so there’s no need to be physically corded to the vehicle. Additionally, a Wi-Fi hotspot is standard on every trim level of the Traverse. Passengers will be happy to find a bevy of USB power points throughout the interior as well.
Safety Features
Automated emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning are all standard features on the Traverse. Despite that, we’re somewhat disappointed that more advanced technology, like adaptive cruise control, isn’t. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has given the Traverse any safety awards as of this writing.
2023 Chevrolet Traverse Trims & Pricing
LS – $33,920
The base Traverse comes with 18-inch wheels, tri-zone climate control, automatic LED headlights, a 7-inch infotainment screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, cloth upholstery, and a second-row bench seat.
LT – $36,445
Step up to the LT and you’ll get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a wireless charging space, satellite radio, fog lights, roof rails, and second-row captain’s chairs.
RS – $44,445
The RS adds heated front seats, 20-inch wheels, a heated steering wheel, remote start, an 8-inch infotainment system, a driver information display, a power liftgate, integrated navigation, 10 speakers, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera system.
Premier – $46,000
This luxury trim adds ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel, chrome exterior accents, and memory settings for the driver.
High Country – $51,400
This trim rounds out the lineup with an added power-folding third row and a panoramic sunroof.
Warranties
Traverse buyers will be treated to a single complimentary maintenance visit along with three years or 36,000 miles worth of limited warranty coverage, and five years or 60,000 miles worth of powertrain coverage. That’s below average in the segment. Kia and Hyundai each offer more coverage.
What we think
2023 Chevrolet Traverse – chevrolet.com | Shop 2023 Chevrolet Traverse on Carsforsale.com
If comfort is the main focus in your quest for a sub-$50,000 three-row SUV, the Traverse is worth a really long look. It’s quick, it’s spacious, and it looks quite good after its 2022 refresh. We love its infotainment system and some of the features available on the upper trim levels too. Despite that, we think that vehicles like the Kia Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee deserve consideration, too.
