Toyota Highlander vs Chevrolet Traverse
This is the battle between two of the most popular three-row SUVs on the market today. The Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Traverse go head-to-head.
Toyota Highlander vs Chevrolet Traverse
Three-row SUVs are all over the roads and two of the most popular are the focus of our article today. The Toyota Highlander has long been a leader in this segment. The Chevrolet Traverse is coming off of a big update in 2024. Which is the better value for your money today? We test everything from specs to driving performance and more to find out.
Specs
The Toyota Highlander starts at $40,665 but can cost north of $53,000 depending on options. For that kind of cash, buyers get the choice of front or all-wheel drive. They can also pick from 11 different trim levels. All benefit from two years of complimentary maintenance and an otherwise very standard warranty.
The base engine in the Highlander is a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It transmits power to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic and gets up to 21 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway.
In addition, Toyota offers a hybrid powertrain that uses the same basic engine but with electrification and actually makes far less power. In total, it develops just 243 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Thankfully, the trade-off is that it provides up to 36 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway.
The Chevrolet Traverse starts a bit cheaper at $38,995 and can also cost more with top prices hovering near $58,000. There are only four trim levels to choose from and one engine and transmission to rule them all. Front-wheel drive is standard but all-wheel drive is available.
Interestingly, Chevy also ditched what was a V6 from the previous generation to go with a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder for this generation. Unlike Toyota, Chevy makes more power with this engine. It develops 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque. Of course, it won’t get the same fuel economy as the Highlander but it’s expected to improve on the 2023 Traverse figures of 18 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway.
Driving and Performance
Driving the Highlander is an exercise in patience. The base engine is actually weaker than the previous generation’s V6. That recipe gets worse when you consider that the new Highlander is heavier than the old version too. On top of that, the Highlander Hybrid mixes those two ingredients in the wrong way even more. With just 243 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque, this three-row SUV is rolling around with less torque than in a base Honda Accord.
On the plus side, the Highlander has decent visibility and is comfortable to drive for long stretches. As we pointed out in our main review of this vehicle, some will appreciate the somewhat disengaged feeling of driving one. It feels like a tool built to move people from A to B more than anything and it accomplishes that goal.
As of this writing, Chevrolet hasn’t released the Traverse for driving impressions so there’s only so much we can say about how it’ll feel from behind the wheel. We expect that like many other newer Chevrolet products, it’ll be impressive. The Chevrolet Colorado which also has a turbocharged four-cylinder is one of the best-driving trucks in the segment. The Traverse, with its more car-oriented chassis, should feel even better.
We also love the inclusion of a real eight-speed automatic gearbox and a new system for the Traverse Z71 that features a twin-clutch AWD system built specifically to go off-road with more confidence.
Comfort and Interior
Toyota’s cabin treatment for the Highlander is a largely positive experience. The front two rows are spacious and well-appointed. The third row is too cramped for adults, but kids will love it. The dash and door cards feel very nice and Toyota hides clever little storage spaces, like a shelf in the dash, all over the place. The optional 12.3-inch infotainment system is the one to go for it. It fits the best and provides a bit more functionality than the standard screen.
The addition of a third row minimizes cargo space behind it. That means you’ll get just 16 cubic feet in the back for gear. Again, that’s less than a Honda Accord offers in the trunk. Still, owners can drop the second and third rows and get just over 84 cubic feet of cargo space when needed.
Chevrolet has long been the brand of cheap parts-bin interiors, but that’s slowly but surely ending. The Traverse still has a lot of cheap plastic in it, but a few big changes make it feel far more high quality than the outgoing generation does. The center control stack is slightly angled toward the driver for easier use. The stitching and soft-touch materials don’t feel as cheap as they have in the past, and the design is clean and mostly harmonized.
The big news though is that every Traverse comes with an 11-inch digital gauge cluster and a 17-inch infotainment system. Those dwarf what you’ll find in the Toyota and they offer excellent adjustability too. Chevy also kept physical buttons and knobs for important functions like volume and climate controls. A panoramic sunroof is available too. The second row is available as a bench or a pair of captain’s chairs and the third row appears to be more spacious than the one in the Highlander. Chevy hasn’t released cargo space figures.
Trims and Features
Toyota kicks off the Highlander lineup with the LE which comes with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, an 8-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The Hybrid LE adds the hybrid powertrain to the LE features. Another trim, the Hybrid LE Nightshade then adds dark accents to the SUV along with grey seats. The XLE is the first slightly luxurious Highlander as it comes with faux leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a sunroof.
The XSE includes a sport-tuned suspension, 20-inch wheels, and interior ambient lighting. The Hybrid XLE just adds the hybrid engine to the XLE trim features. That’s the same story for the Hybrid XLE Nightshade with its darker accents. The Limited adds more luxury features including a 12.3-inch infotainment system, real leather upholstery, and a 12.3-inch gauge cluster. A Hybrid Limited trim adds the hybrid engine. The Platinum is the range-topper with adaptive headlights, a panoramic sunroof, a heads-up display, and second-row heated seats. It’s also available as a hybrid.
The base Traverse starts with 18-inch wheels, an 11-inch driver information center, a 17.7-inch infotainment system, heated seats, remote start, and cloth upholstery. The LT trim gets roof rails, a 120-volt power outlet, driver’s seat lumbar support, driver’s seat power adjustability, and seven-passenger seating. The Z71 comes standard with all-wheel drive, a heavy-duty cooling system, hill descent control, hitch guidance, and all-terrain tires. Finally, the RS comes standard with 22-inch wheels, black body cladding, heated power-folding mirrors, LED headlights, LED taillights, and passenger lumbar support.
The Verdict
Never in my wildest dreams did I believe a few years ago that a Chevrolet Traverse could ever be a better product than the Toyota Highlander. Today though, that’s absolutely the case. In our scoring system, the Traverse only barely edges out the Highlander (8.25 vs 8) but that says a lot. The Toyota comes with far better warranty coverage, better interior materials, and a far more fuel-efficient pair of engines. Despite that, the Traverse wins because it offers a better blend of qualities. The engines are far more engaging which matters because you want to remain engaged when hauling family and friends around. The Interior isn’t as high quality as in the Highlander, but the tech is far better. The Chevy comes with a wider range of trim capabilities too.
