Latest News
1955 Ford Crown Victoria
Is it better to buy a new or used Chevrolet Traverse? We’re looking at features, comfort, ride quality, and prices in this new vs used comparison!
A New-ish Traverse or the Newest Traverse?
chevrolet.com | media.chevrolet.com | Shop Chevrolet Traverse on Carsforsale.com
Since debuting in 2009, the Chevrolet Traverse has found a place in the competitive mid-size crossover SUV market. Despite having competitors like the GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride, the Traverse landed a spot on our list of the Best 3-Row Mid-Size SUVs of 2022.
A brand-new 2023 Chevy Traverse costs at least $34,220 and progressively gets higher, at least to $51,700. There are some leasing options, as you’ll see in our latest New Car Incentives monthly feature. Let’s say you want something closer to $30,000, though. How far back do you have to go for that price? You’re looking at a 2018, 2019, 2020, or perhaps a 2021 Chevy Traverse. Most of the vehicles from those model years have at least 15,000 miles on them. On the high end, those models will have closer to 75,000 miles on them.
The second generation of the Traverse started with the fully redesigned 2018 model, but the changes didn’t stop there. 2019 models had an eight-inch touchscreen instead of a seven-inch touchscreen. 2020 models updated the navigation system, and made the V6 engine standard across the lineup. With some 2020 models available for $29,000 with around 50,000 miles, I figured the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse was a good choice for this comparison. It’s still relatively new, but what can you expect to get out of a 2020 model? Let’s find out!
New vs Used Chevrolet Traverse Specs
All trim levels of the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse have a 3.6-liter V6 engine that makes 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard for most trims, but all-wheel drive is typically an option as well. The 2020 Traverse gets an estimated 18 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 27 MPG on the highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those are numbers for a 2020 Traverse with FWD. Choosing AWD will drop the numbers to 17 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.
Though there are several trims to choose from, if you get a 2023 Chevrolet Traverse, you’ll be getting the same 310-horsepower V6 engine that owners of the 2020 Traverse have. With a nine-speed automatic transmission, that V6 makes 266 lb-ft of torque. FWD is standard and AWD is available. The EPA estimates that the 2023 Traverse will get 18 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway with FWD. AWD lowers those numbers to 17 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway. Drivers can expect to tow up to 5,000 lbs. on the new Chevrolet Traverse when it’s properly equipped. The 2023 Traverse rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, 20-inch wheels, or 20-inch aluminum wheels that are coated in a dark finish.
Driving & Performance
The 2020 Chevrolet Traverse has strong brakes and accurate steering. There is some body roll, but not enough to be a dealbreaker. The V6 engine, which became standard across the 2020 lineup, is strong enough to accelerate the Traverse without much hesitation. You can tow up to 5,000 lbs. with a used 2020 Chevrolet Traverse when equipped properly.
Parking and maneuvering aren’t the easiest in the 2023 Traverse, but it still handles nicely for a three-row mid-size SUV. I can’t say it’s any better or worse than the 2020 model in that regard. It’s easy enough to steer on the road, and there’s not much body roll around curves. When equipped properly, the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse can tow up to 5,000 lbs.
Comfort & Interior
There’s not much road noise that makes its way into the cabin of the 2020 Traverse. Comfortable seats and a soft suspension work together to make the ride enjoyable. Cloth seats are fine, but the trims with leather seats are particularly nice. Higher trims offer second-row captain’s chairs, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front and second-row seats.
Space for your legs, no matter what row you’re in, is even better than some of the other features, though. Up front there’s 40.02 inches of legroom. The second row has 38.4 inches to stretch out in. In the far back, there’s still 33.5 inches of legroom. Cargo space regularly equals 23.0 cu. ft., but if all the seats are folded down, that number expands to 98.2 cu. ft.
Thanks to a good suspension, the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse is also a comfortable ride. Leather upholstery is included at some trim levels, and so are heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard second-row seats, and power adjustable front seats. That all, of course, adds to the comfort of the 2023 Traverse.
Legroom in the 2023 Traverse is almost the same as it is in the 2020 model. The front row is the only one that’s different. In the 2020 model, there’s 41.0 inches of space. In the 2023 model, it’s downgraded just a bit to 40.02 inches up front. The second row remains 38.4 inches and the third row has the same 33.5 inches of legroom. Owners of the 2023 Traverse get the same 23.0 cu. ft. (with all seats in place) and maximum 98.2 cu. ft. as owners of the 2020 Traverse. The cargo measurements haven’t changed.
Trims & Features
There are seven trims to choose from when it comes to the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse. In order from the base trim to the top, they are: the L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and the High Country. A 7-inch touchscreen, a WiFi hotspot, Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six USB ports, and a six-speaker stereo are all standard on the 2020 Chevy Traverse L. Unfortunately, there aren’t many, or really any, driver assistance features that come with the L. Tri-zone automatic climate control, heated side mirrors, and cruise control are all standard. The LS trim adds dark-tinted rear privacy glass.
The LT Cloth gets some decent add-ons, including fog lights, roof rails, second-row captain’s chairs, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an eight-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support. The LT Leather, of course, adds leather upholstery. It also adds heated front seats, a six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, a powered liftgate, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors.
Then there’s the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse RS. It’s got automatic high-beam headlights, a surround-view camera system, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection and low-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. A navigation system and a Bose sound system were also added to the RS trim. It rides on 20-inch aluminum wheels that are complete with a dark finish.
The Premier trim gets 20-inch machine-finished aluminum wheels, LED headlights, and a hands-free power liftgate. Inside is wireless phone charging, a power-adjustable steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and memory settings for the driver’s seat. A sunroof is optional at this level, too. The highest trim level is the 2020 Chevrolet Traverse High Country. It has 20-inch polished aluminum wheels, a trailering package with heavy-duty engine cooling, hitch guidance, adaptive cruise control, and power-folding third-row seats.
The L trim was removed from the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse lineup. Trim levels for the 2023 Traverse are the same as the 2022 models: the LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, and the High Country. The 2023 LS has a few more driver assistance features than the 2020 LS had. Blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking are all standard on the LS trim. The cabin has cloth upholstery, tri-zone climate control, WiFi, a seven-inch touchscreen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
The LT Cloth trim adds a few elements like fog lights, roof rails, wireless smartphone charging, satellite radio, second-row captain’s chairs, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Most of those features are the same as those that were in the 2020 LT Cloth. Upgrades in the LT Leather include leather seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an eight-inch touchscreen, remote engine start, and a power liftgate.
A premium package that can be added to the LT Leather trim has navigation, a 10-speaker audio system, a 120-volt outlet in the second row, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, enhanced automatic emergency braking for higher speeds, and heated, power-folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals. The RS has the same features as the LT Leather along with the LT Premium package, but it also adds 20-inch aluminum wheels with a dark finish and blacked-out accents and styling.
Nearing the top of the 2023 trims is the Premier with chrome roof rails and chrome door handles, a hands-free liftgate, a power-adjustable steering wheel, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and memory settings for the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and outside mirrors. Finally, there’s the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse High Country. It’s the one you’ll want for towing purposes because it has a trailer hitch and guidance that is displayed on the touchscreen. A panoramic sunroof and power-folding third-row seat round out the features of the 2023 High Country.
The Verdict
2020 Chevrolet Traverse – media.chevrolet.com | Shop Chevrolet Traverse on Carsforsale.com
If you haven’t purchased a used vehicle before and you’ve got your mind set on a Chevrolet Traverse, this may be the time to buy used. The few changes that have been made to the 2023 model versus the 2020 model don’t entice me to automatically buy new. Most of the trim levels match up evenly, so outside of a few minor differences, the 2020 Traverse has just as many features as the 2023 Traverse. The best part is that a fully loaded 2020 Traverse will be cheaper than a new 2023 Chevrolet Traverse that maxes out near $50,000.
True, the 2023 Chevrolet Traverse does have a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, but there’s a lot of money that could be saved by going used. Search around for a used model that has the price point and mileage you want, and then use the free vehicle history reports feature to make sure there are no known issues with that vehicle. It may not have a warranty, but a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse with 50,000 miles shouldn’t be too worn out. For first-time used car buyers, be sure to look at What to Look for When Buying a Used Car, a guide with specific tips that should help you when searching for the used 2020 Traverse that’s right for you.
