2019 Chevrolet Traverse Pros vs Cons

Fresh off of last year's entrance into the second generation, the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is more lightweight and longer than quite a few of its competitors, thereby giving it the edge in terms of third-row leg space. While the Traverse lacks some refinement in terms of its driving performance and availability of standard safety features, it has an abundance of infotainment features and plenty of space throughout the entire interior.

What's New for 2019?

Since the second generation of the Traverse was just released in 2018, not too many changes were made to the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The only significant change that should be mentioned is that a new 8-inch touchscreen monitor is available as an upgrade from the standard 7-inch touchscreen.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse – The Pros

1. Plenty of Cabin Space

One of the biggest advantages to owning the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is that it is incredibly spacious throughout the entire cabin. Even the third-row seats defy the odds and provide plenty of leg room for adults and children alike. When the Traverse was redesigned for 2018, several inches were added on, giving second-row passengers three additional inches of leg room, which in turn freed up more room in the third row. Regardless of where you sit, there will be enough head, shoulder, hip, and leg room.

2. Best-in-class Cargo Space

In addition to its abundant cabin space, the Chevy Traverse has a supple amount of room in the cargo area. Even with the third row in place, there is 23 cubic feet of cargo space available, which is outstanding for this class. Fold down both rows of passenger seats, and you will get a maximum of 98 cubic feet in which you can store your cargo. This bests the top competitors by about 10 cubic feet of cargo space.

3. Plenty of Small Item Storage Areas

Looking for somewhere to securely store your tablet or purse? The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse has got it covered. The center console is massive, as are the bins on the doors. Cup holders can easily hold larger-sized cups, and there are plenty of little spaces scattered throughout the cabin where you can stash your pens, books, and smaller electronic devices.

4. Standard Smartphone App Integration

While some competitors still do not offer smartphone app integration as a standard feature, the Chevy Traverse does. This means that you can get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on even the Traverse's base trim. Both of these systems seem to work well in the vehicle. Also, USB integration via other portable devices and Bluetooth work just fine and are easy for most people to use, even though you might have to wait a moment for large playlists to pop up on the touchscreen display.

5. Voice Control Responds Appropriately to Commands

Voice control is one of those features that is typically either hit-or-miss on new vehicles. On the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse, it's a hit. The voice control system has relatively few issues with recognizing the driver's commands and offers up a fairly quick response. Whether you are setting a navigational course or trying to change the radio station, the voice control system can do it without becoming confused.

6. Comfortable Seats

Seating throughout the Traverse is quite comfy. Even the semi-flat seat bottoms in the second and third rows provide enough padding to get passengers through long rides. Up front, the seats are incredibly well-bolstered and provide plentiful lumbar support. Adjusting the front seats to fit your comfort needs is straightforward and requires using just the most basic adjustments. The LT Cloth trim has a package that gives you heated front seats, which come standard on all the trim levels above the LT Cloth.

7. A Cozy Ride Quality

Continuing on with the comfort trend, there is no denying that the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse offers a cozy ride quality. Wind and road noise barely seep into the cabin while driving at highway speeds, and there is no noticeable rattling or shaking coming from anywhere within the vehicle. Both the 4-cylinder and V6 remain fairly hushed, especially the 4-cylinder. Taking the V6 up to full throttle yields some noise, but it is nothing distracting or obnoxious. The suspension smooths over large bumps in the road while the tires absorb the smaller ones with ease.

8. Secure Steering

Steering on the big and bulky Traverse feels fairly responsive. The steering wheel has a weighty enough feel in your hands to make up for the lack of feedback. Also, the vehicle does a great job of providing a response while it is tracking on center. Overall, for a vehicle its size, the Traverse feels secure in its steering capabilities.

9. WiFi Hot Spot is Standard

Another standard technological feature that you can get on the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse but not on some of its competitors is OnStar 4G LTE WiFi hot spot. The data usage you get is unlimited, and connecting through your wireless device is easy. This makes accessing the web while you are on the go less hectic.

10. A Quiet 4-cylinder Engine

While the standard V6 engine is powerful and fun to drive, the optional 4-cylinder is a quiet runner that provides a smooth and relaxing ride quality. This engine comes on the RS trim and is a turbocharged 2.0-L. It is able to generate 257 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which is certainly enough to power the Traverse. You can take this turbo 4-cylinder up to full throttle and have it not make a peep, unlike the V6, which gives off some occasional noise.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse – The Cons

1. Handling is Sub-par

Unfortunately, one of the downsides to driving the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is that its handling capabilities do not stack up too well against its competition. While the vehicle can change its course without too much hassle, you will feel a good amount of body roll from this big SUV. Since the suspension borders on the softer side, the feeling of body roll is rather enhanced. Overall, handling lacks the same spunk that you find on other large SUVs and makes the drive a bit dull.

2. Interior Materials Seem Mediocre

Interior materials look, at best, questionable and mediocre. They are nothing to marvel at even in the higher trim levels and pale in comparison to what can be found in this segment. A lot of the knobs and buttons look like they were taken from cheaper vehicles and placed onto the Traverse as a way to cut production costs. This takes away from the refined ride quality and comfort and might make some customers feel like they're paying more than they should for this vehicle.

3. Visibility is Limited

While forward visibility is good thanks to the modestly-sized roof pillars, rear visibility is particularly awful. The seats' head rests block a significant amount of the view, and drivers will have to rely on the rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring system to help them navigate. Plan on getting used to using these features since seeing to the sides and rear of this bulky SUV is practically impossible with just the naked eye.

4. Driver Aids Rack Up the Price

A lot of driver aids do not come as standard features on the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. The driver aids you get depend on how much you are willing to spend on higher trim levels and packages. For example, the front-wheel drive LT Cloth trim has the option for the Driver Confidence package, but this package comes standard if you spend more to get the all-wheel drive version of the LT Cloth. The LT Leather includes those features as standard. Also, adaptive cruise control only comes standard on the line-topping High Country trim. If these features are must-haves, be prepared to rack up quite the bill of sale.

How it stacks up to the competition:

2019 Chevrolet Traverse vs. 2019 GMC Acadia

A huge competitor for the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is the 2019 GMC Acadia. Although the Acadia prices a few thousand dollars above the Traverse's starting MSRP, it shares a lot of similarities with the Traverse. Both vehicles have a substantial amount of standard infotainment technology, are able to accelerate well enough on the V6 engines, and offer refined ride qualities. However, the Acadia lacks the Traverse's cargo space and leg room in the third row. It also has fewer and less thought-out small item storage areas than the Traverse. Additionally, neither vehicle has a particularly strong towing capability, unlike some of their competitors.

2019 Chevrolet Traverse vs. 2019 Honda Pilot

Pricing just below the Traverse is the efficiency-minded 2019 Honda Pilot. This SUV offers a spacious and well-designed, versatile interior that packs a lot of comfort into its seats. Also, the ride quality remains smooth and relaxing in almost any situation. The real drawback on the Pilot is that some of the tech features aren't as refined as they are on the Traverse, and the 9-speed automatic transmission can be troublesome.

Conclusion

In all, the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse offers something of a mixed bag. What this SUV lacks in design elements and handling, it makes up for in terms of comfort and infotainment features. Adding a few more standard driver aids to the mix and making the interior look more upscale could really boost the Traverse's appeal.