2022 Chevrolet Traverse Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Sure, a 2022 Chevy Traverse is a glorified minivan that trades exceptionally useful sliding doors for less-convenient conventional rear doors. But, when your Id, Ego, and Superego demand that you drive an SUV and your financial advisor says it would be silly to buy a bigger, more expensive, and less fuel-efficient vehicle that you don’t need, the 2022 Traverse crossover SUV stands ready to serve.

Prices kick off at just $39,498 in Canada (plus a $1,900 destination charge) for the base Traverse LS. In Canada, all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard, while front-wheel drive (FWD) is not offered, but since ground clearance measures just 19 centimetres, it is mainly good for battling snow storms or churning through the mud on well-groomed trails. At the opposite end of the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse model lineup, the High Country costs $60,298 plus destination.

For the 2022 model year, the Chevrolet Traverse gets a light restyle involving new headlights and taillights, a fresh look for the front bumper, modified grille designs, redesigned aluminum wheels, and updated colour choices. Redline Edition, Midnight Edition, and Sport Edition appearance packages are also available, adding blacked-out trim.

Our test vehicle came in RS trim, which sits above the LS, LT, and True North models but below the upscale Premier and High Country trims. It, too, makes liberal use of blacked-out trim, and it has an attractive set of dark gray 20-inch wheels that glint just enough to remain visible. Regardless of how it’s decked out, we think the Traverse is one of the most appealing vehicles in its segment. Its crisply tailored lines, swollen fenders, and tasteful details demonstrate a level of styling restraint that is rapidly fading from the SUV landscape.

Our silver RS test vehicle, equipped with a standard Dual SkyScape Sunroof, wears a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) in Canada of $52,997, including the destination charge. For comparison, a 2022 Tahoe RST with four-wheel drive (4WD) and a panoramic sunroof would run you $76,817, including destination. Yikes.

On the inside, Chevrolet equips the Traverse RS with black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, black carpets, a black headliner, and gloss black trim. Aside from the stitching, only the smattering of polished metallic accents sprinkled about the interior keeps it from feeling like a cave.

Materials are a mixed bag. Like many of the Traverse’s direct competitors, hard plastic surfaces abound, but Chevy elects to also use it on the upper door panels where you might wish to crook your elbow on a long trip. That’s a no-no.

Design-wise, the Traverse’s interior is simply and logically laid out. Gratefully, Chevy decorates the switchgear in matte-finish black with white markings, which cuts down on glare and reflections and makes it easier to find and use them. In particular, we like Chevrolet’s approach to the stereo controls, which makes adjusting the volume and tuning to a new radio station super easy. Likewise, you adjust cabin temperature using knobs, and Chevrolet makes it easy to find the defog, defrost, and heated seat functions.

Unlike with a Tahoe, it’s easy to choose an engine for a Traverse because there’s only one, take it or leave it. Fortunately, it’s a pretty good 3.6-litre V6 making 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque and is married to a 9-speed automatic transmission.

When properly equipped, a 2022 Traverse’s tow rating is 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). You’ll want to switch into the Tow/Haul driving mode for that task. Chevy also supplies Snow and Off-Road modes to calibrate the drivetrain for those situations. Otherwise, it’s Normal mode, all of the time.

The V6 engine can whine a little under acceleration, but the sound isn’t unpleasant. Power output is well-matched to the Traverse’s bulk, though we assigned it a task no more strenuous than shuttling a family of four. The official Natural Resources Canada fuel economy rating for a Traverse is 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, and our test car returned 11.3 L/100 km on the evaluation loop with the AWD system in automatic mode. You can run the SUV in front-drive mode if you prefer, engaging AWD only when you need it.

In town, the Chevrolet Traverse offers a relatively firm feel for the road yet remains compliant enough to absorb smaller, sharper road zits. These traits produce a pleasant ride quality. However, when traveling over speed humps and crossing drainage dips, you need to be careful about your speed because the faster you drive a Traverse the softer it responds to larger road surface anomalies. That makes it easy to scrape the front air dam on the pavement if you don’t slow down for dips and humps.

On the highway, the Traverse comes into its own, though there is more road and wind noise than is preferable. Perhaps that’s to distinguish the Traverse from its QuietTuned platform-mate, the Buick Enclave. In any case, the Traverse eats up the klicks, suggesting good suitability for (loud) family road trips. Our test vehicle, however, had a driver’s side mirror with distortion that caused vehicles approaching from behind in the adjacent lane to look taller and narrower than reality.

Venture into the mountains, and the Traverse feels more athletic than some of its rivals. The V6 drivetrain, Active Return Assist steering, and extended-life Duralife brakes all performed well in this environment. Also, the suspension limits body roll and lateral weight toss, resulting in an unexpectedly flat cornering attitude.

However, the Chevrolet Traverse RS trim’s P255/55R20 all-season tires are not the life of the party. And as mentioned before, the faster you go in a Traverse the softer it feels. On the undulating pavement of two-lane mountain highways, it floated along, feeling disconnected from the road. To its credit, however, the Traverse’s handling behaviour is entirely predictable, so the SUV is easy to trust.

One downside to choosing the Traverse is that when you select RS, Premier, or High Country trim, you cannot get a second-row bench seat to carry up to eight people at a time. Those three trims have captain’s chairs, reducing capacity to seven-passenger seating.

Our Traverse RS had standard power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control to ensure a squad of happy campers. The second-row has a Smart Slide function, and it combines with the Traverse’s long rear doors to make entering and exiting the third-row seat easier.

Moderate temperatures and the Traverse’s outstanding air conditioning system meant the RS trim’s all-black cabin and lack of ventilated front seats were not issues. The eight-way power driver’s seat is comfortable, and second-row passengers are happy thanks to generous legroom, headroom, and foot room. However, adults felt as though the captain’s chairs lacked leg support and were a little too reclined in the default position.

One benefit of the second-row captain’s chairs is a wide pass-through that makes it easier for adults to access the third-row seat. However, the Traverse also offers handy Smart Slide second-row seats that tilt and slide forward even if you have a child safety seat installed in that location. In combination with the Traverse’s gaping door openings, passengers can enter and exit that way, too.

Adults fit in the Traverse’s third row as long as the people sitting in the second row slide forward to the middle of the seat track travel. However, even if they cooperate, the Traverse’s rear seat is not as comfortable as what you’ll find in a Chevy Tahoe—or a Volkswagen Atlas for that matter. But, the accommodations are better than many rivals and the third-row seat is located far enough away from the power liftgate to give you greater peace of mind in a rear-impact collision.

Storage space is abundant enough that you won’t wish for more, and the Traverse has a sizable hidden storage compartment located behind the infotainment screen. Push a button, and the screen powers up to reveal the space. The second-row door panels have cupholders, bins, and shelves carved into them, evidence that someone with kids designed them for you. You’ll also find another hidden compartment underneath the cargo floor behind the third-row seats. It’s got a remarkable amount of space and, with the floor panel propped open, is a good spot to stash groceries.

Cargo space behind the third-row seats measures 651 litres, generous for the three-row family SUV segment. Fold them flat, and the Traverse offers 1,637 litres of cargo space. However, keep in mind that if the second-row captain’s chairs are in their rearmost position, the third-row seats won’t fold down unless you first slide them forward, which is a hassle.

The maximum cargo volume is 2,781 litres. All three numbers fall short of the Tahoe, by as much as 20 percent. Yet, the Traverse is one of the roomiest SUVs in its segment for carrying people and cargo.

Chevrolet equips the Traverse LS model with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while other versions get an 8-inch high-definition touch-sensing display. Upgrade to Traverse Premier or High Country trim, and a new 8-inch digital instrumentation panel nestles between the traditional analog gauges.

Both infotainment systems offer Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones at the same time, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and access to connected services including a Wi-Fi hotspot. Teen Driver technology is also standard, allowing parents to program a key fob for a child and to receive a report card detailing how they drove the Traverse.

The 8-inch touchscreen system is available with an integrated navigation system, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and expanded connected services with more in-vehicle apps. A Bose premium sound system with seven speakers is standard starting with RS trim, but it won’t impress many people.

Though an 8-inch touchscreen is increasingly small in a modern vehicle, the Traverse’s underlying Chevrolet Infotainment System 3 technology is excellent. The voice recognition system responded quickly and accurately to all of our usual test commands, including “I want to listen to reggae music,” to which it directed us to SiriusXM 360L’s “The Joint.” This system demonstrates how good voice recognition technology can reduce confusion and frustration when using infotainment systems.

Visibility to the front and sides is good (except for the aforementioned driver’s side mirror distortion). However, in its normal view, the rear liftgate blocks visibility through the rearview mirror. That’s why the Traverse’s available digital rearview mirror comes in so handy. We also appreciated the RS trim’s surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert system when maneuvering in shopping centre parking lots.

For 2022 (and not a moment too soon), Chevy Safety Assist is standard equipment on all Traverse trim levels. This collection of safety features includes forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator that tells you when you’re tailgating traffic ahead.

Better yet, a new Safety Package is optional for the Traverse LS. It installs rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, a lane-change assist feature, and rear cross-traffic alert. These technologies are standard equipment on all other Traverse trim levels.

Upgrade to the Traverse RS, Premier, or High Country, and this SUV has adaptive cruise control, an automatic emergency braking system that works at higher vehicle speeds, and a new rear pedestrian alert system. You can pay extra to get these upgrades on the Traverse LT. Chevy’s vibrating Safety Alert Seat feature is exclusive to Traverse Premier and Traverse High Country trim levels.

For the most part, the Traverse’s driving aids operate with enough accuracy and refinement that you’re encouraged to use them. However, if you prefer to turn some of them off, you can do so through the appropriate menu in the infotainment system. Separately, a button on the centre console deactivates the lane-keeping features. If you’re looking for a more advanced driving system that combines adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist, you’re out of luck. The Traverse doesn’t offer anything like that.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Traverse Good ratings in most categories but Acceptable in the new side impact test and Poor for its new LED headlights and seatbelt reminders.

As this review was written, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published any 2022 Traverse crash-test ratings.

When compared to the larger Chevrolet Tahoe, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse is exceptionally cost-effective unless you need what the Tahoe offers. If you don’t, the larger SUV is a waste of money. And unless you get the Tahoe’s turbodiesel engine, it’s also significantly less efficient.

In the three-row, family-sized, midsize SUV/crossover segment, the Chevy Traverse competes reasonably well on value. It is, however, a one-trick pony, namely with regard to its cavernous cabin. Other models in the segment offer better value, such as the Hyundai Palisade. Or more cool factor, like the Kia Telluride. Or superior off-roading capability, like the Subaru Ascent. Or greater performance and towing capacity, like the Ford Explorer. Or a hybrid powertrain, like the Toyota Highlander. Or a more sophisticated drivetrain, like the Honda Pilot.

Nevertheless, if the price is nice, there is plenty to like about the roomy and stylish 2022 Chevy Traverse.

Note: Images show a US model.