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Chevy’s three-row family hauler has seen some big upgrades for 2024. The new Traverse has a more substantial, truck-like exterior, a powerful turbocharged engine, a huge touchscreen, and many more reasons to love it. We spent a couple of days getting to know the rugged new Traverse Z71 and its more sporty and urban sibling, the Traverse RS.
We started with some light off-roading in the Traverse Z71. This represents the first application of Chevy’s off-road badge to a Traverse, and it’s well-deserved. The Z71 isn’t just an appearance package, though it does fantastic. This grade rolls on 18-inch wheels, wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires, a lifted off-road suspension, and a wider overall track width for increased stability. The upgraded suspension’s hydraulic rebound control does a great job absorbing shocks, both off-road and on. Bump stops help eliminate harshness at the end of suspension travel, so it was barely noticeable even when we hit a particularly nasty pothole.
Up front, you’ll see the Z71 has functional tow hooks. It also has wider lower body cladding in a matte black finish that should hold up well to scrapes by branches. The shiny black grille with diamond-shaped openings adds to its substance. The front has also been modified to improve its approach angle to 20.71 degrees, and there are metal skid plates in place to help protect sensitive components under the SUV. We didn’t go over any rocks that tested its ground clearance, which is 1.2 inches higher than other Traverse trims. You’ll also enjoy unique off-road and terrain modes to help negotiate various terrain. The off-road mode is good for improving traction on loose or rocky surfaces, while the Terrain mode helps hold the brakes when you approach the crest of a hill and while descending, so you can focus more on steering and throttle input. It’s limited to low speeds, so the regular Hill Descent Control comes in handy to reduce brake wear when descending longer grades, such as coming downhill in the mountains.
New for 2024 is a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. While that’s two cylinders less than the old V6, it’s more powerful and fuel-efficient. The new engine offers 18 more horses and 60 more lb-ft. of torque, and the upgrade is noticeable. The turbo-powered Traverse never bogs down, and its 8-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. However, we did notice a bit of engine noise at higher RPMs. Both vehicles we tested came with all-wheel drive, though front-wheel drive is available on the RS and lower trims like the LS and LT if you don’t expect to drive in bad weather or challenging terrain. Fuel economy improves slightly to 20/27/23 MPG for FWD models and 19/24/21 MPG for AWD models.
The Traverse RS is the Z71’s more slick and shiny cousin. Its ride has been tuned for more sporty everyday handling, and it’s got flashy 22-inch alloy wheels in gloss black. Like the Z71, it’s got that great blackout grille, but its thinner body cladding is also glossy. As the top-of-the-line Traverse, the RS has a number of extra features like like heated and ventilated front seats, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a D-shaped sport steering wheel, power-folding second-row seats, a trailering package, GM’s Super Cruise tech, which we’ll talk about a little later on.
The RS offers a slightly smoother ride at highway speeds than the Z71, though most people wouldn’t notice the difference. Both the off-road and urban versions are incredibly quiet inside – even wind noise is barely noticeable in the front seats. Active noise cancellation systems for the driveline and cabin help accomplish this.
Inside the Traverse, you’ll first notice a brand-new 17.7-inch touchscreen for controlling the multimedia system and other vehicle settings. We thought a display of this size might be distracting, but it’s perfectly sized for the Traverse. The system has Google built-in, which means access to the Google Play store, Google Assistant, and up-to-the-minute Google Maps navigation. There’s also an 11-inch digital instrument panel, which is as crisp and easy to read as the larger screen. Thanks to the column-mounted electronic gear shifter, the center console is more spacious than others. Forward visibility is excellent, and rear visibility is enhanced with a digital rearview mirror.
There are physical buttons and knobs for the climate system, as well as a cool virtual knob controller that sits on the display for adjusting volume and shows the current volume level inside of its circle. A touch-based power/mute control is conveniently placed above the volume dial. The system also offers wireless support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a ton of standard safety tech included too: Chevy Safety Assist, Rear Park Assist and HD Rear Vision Camera, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Braking and Reverse Automatic Braking, Blind Zone Steering Assist, HD Surround Vision, Speed Limit Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking, Side Bicyclist Alert, Rear Pedestrian Alert, Safety Alert Seat, Buckle to Drive, and Teen Driver mode.
Both the Z71 and RS have comfy and supportive front seats that are ideal for long road trips. The Z71 is available with premium cloth seats that can be upgraded to a durable faux leather called EcoTex. It’s nearly indistinguishable from genuine leather, and is easier to maintain and clean. Leather seats come standard on the pricier RS grade. In both vehicles, the seats are black with red stitching. The Z71’s seats have an embroidered logo, while the RS has embossed logos and red stripes that run down the middle of the seatbacks and cushions. Heated front seats come standard on the Z71, and the RS gets heat and cooling.
Both the Z71 and RS have flashy red interior trim reminiscent of woven carbon fiber. From what we could tell, it’s plastic, but it looks better than that and helps separate the interior from the pack. Many of the surfaces are soft to the touch, though there is a little bit of shiny piano black plastic trim on the center console that we could do without. That stuff is a fingerprint magnet and scratches too easily.
GM’s Super Cruise capability is one of the best features available on the Traverse. Arguably the best-performing hands-free highway driving system, it’s better than ever at keeping vehicles centered and at a safe distance as long as your eyes are up and on the road. For the first time, we got to test the tech on two-lane rural highways, and it worked flawlessly. GM continues to add mapping data to Super Cruise and expects to have about 750,000 miles of roads eligible for Super Cruise by 2025.
While the base Traverse LS is available in an 8-seat configuration with a second-row bench, the Z71 and RS are exclusively 7-seaters. That means the middle row gets individual captain’s chairs for added comfort and space. There are USB-C ports and independent climate controls in the second row as well as ceiling vents. The RS gets heated second-row seats too. The captain’s chairs slide and tilt forward for easy access to the third-row seats. On the Z71 and below, that’s a manual operation. On the RS, it’s done with the push of a button.
Like many three-row SUVs, getting into the back seats is easiest if you are small since the space between the sliding second row and the C-pillars is a bit tight. On the other hand, if you’re a kid, you’ll have no problem taking that route or walking between the captain’s chairs. The third-row seats are less plush than the others, but there is enough room for three kiddos back here. Headroom is very good, but the kneeroom is tight unless the second-row passengers are willing to sacrifice some legroom by sliding their seats forward. There are cup- and gadget-holders on each side and USB-C charging ports. The back seats fold in a 60/40 split arrangement for cargo-carrying versatility. Like the second row, that feature is powered in the RS.
The Traverse is an exceptional cargo hauler, with plenty of space for luggage and other gear – even behind the third row. Cargo capacity is rated at 22.9 cubic feet with all seats in use, 56.6 cubic feet with the second row occupied, and a whopping 97.6 cubic feet with both rows folded. A deep sub-floor storage area is also great for muddy shoes, first-aid gear, or keeping valuables out of sight. The hands-free powered liftgate can now automatically open when you approach the back of the SUV with the key fob in your pocket.
The 2024 Traverse represents a significant evolutionary step in the progress of Chevy’s SUV lineup. While immensely practical and great for big families, its new styling is more distinctive and appealing. By adding the rugged Z71 to complement the stylish RS, the Traverse is sure to grow in appeal. Its new engine is better, faster, and more efficient, and Super Cruise is the best in the business. Add to that a vast array of standard safety tech, and you’ve got a great-looking family vehicle that’s hard to beat. The new Traverse is hitting dealerships now. Prices for the Traverse Z71 start at $47,795, $55,595 for the RS FWD, and $57,595 for the RS AWD.