The Basics of The SUV: The 2026 Chevy Traverse
Fresh off a 2024 redesign, the Chevy Traverse will likely enter the 2026 model year mostly unchanged from the last. But that doesn’t mean this midsize SUV lacks any of the goodies you’d want from your family-hauling vehicle. Chevrolet has built the Traverse around the key elements of the SUV genre: Space, comfort, and safety.
Key Takeaways:
- Spacious, comfortable interior. Plenty of seats for families and plenty of space for cargo.
- Confident handling.
- Starts at $42,695.
- Five star safety rating and exceptional driver assistance tech
What is the difference between 2025 and 2026 Traverse?
The 2026 features optional tech upgrades, but remains largely the same. The most interesting of these upgrades is the introduction of access keycards for your car, similar to Tesla’s cards. This allows up to eight cards to be programmed which will allow holders to lock, unlock, and start the engine — perfect for a vehicle that sees wide family use. This upgrade is available through Chevy’s Driver Confidence Package.
Is the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse a good car?
Overall, yes. It hones in on the true basics of the SUV — getting your family and their things where they need to go. It seats seven with standard second-row captains chairs, and has options to upgrade to 8 with a second-row bench seat. With seats down, the Traverse offers a best-in-class 97 cubic feet of cargo room.
Despite this efficient setup, the Traverse remains impressively comfortable. The third row seats. In particular, avoid the knees-to-chest cramping problems of many other midsize SUVs through their lower floors. Add standard captains seats for the second row and you get an extremely comfortable and capable ride, all contained in a form factor smaller than larger SUVs.
Performance wise, the Traverse has the same punchy 315-horsepower drivetrain of the GMC Acadia. It comfortably negotiates highways with its speed and confident suspension. The brakes are reassuringly tight and body roll is minimal. In all, the Traverse is a steady ride — perfect for its family-hauling profile.
How many miles per gallon does a 2026 Traverse get?
According to the EPA, the equivalent 2025 model has a fuel economy typical for the class at 20 mpg city / 27 mpg highway with FWD, and 19 mpg city / 24 mpg highway with AWD. The FWD trim has a 446 mile range, while the AWD has 456. The fuel economy remains somewhat better than a typical SUV. So the 2026 model should follow suit.
Is it safe?
The 2025 Chevy Traverse earned a five star safety from the NHTSA, as well as an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Good crash test ratings aren't the only thing the Traverse sports here; The Traverse has a strong assortment of driver-assistance tech, which should help avoid accidents in the first place.
Standard features include: Automatic braking with detection for pedestrians and cyclists, cruise control, automatic reverse braking, blind spot monitoring, etc. There’s also a variety of optional driver assist features, like hands-free driving and automatic lane-keeping.
Is the Chevy Traverse a reliable car?
Despite a spotty reputation in the past, recent Traverse models, especially after 2017 have proven exceptionally reliable. JP power gave the 2025 Traverse an exceptional 88 out of 100 reliability rating. Additionally, Chevrolet offers an above-average warranty including a complimentary first maintenance visit. Getting the 2026 Traverse will be a smart move for those who want reliability.
What is the best Traverse model?
We like all of them for different reasons, but we like the LT model for its practicality. While lacking some of the gadgets of higher trims, this variant has all the practical essentials at a price that won't break the bank. It emphasizes the essentials in a vehicle that already has what SUV users want in spades: space, comfort, safety.
Our thoughts:
The Traverse excels at the practical essentials that SUV lovers seek. Between a respectable pricepoint, compact size, interior essentials, and confident handling, there’s nothing where the Traverse makes itself anything but pure practicality. For the family driver, weekend getaways, and trips with the family, the Traverse has all you need and more.
If you’re interested in seeing what the Traverse can offer you and your family, come down to Burlington Chevrolet today for a test drive.
