2025 Chevrolet Traverse vs. the Competition: Three-Row Titans Face Off

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse has a bold, truck-like design, a gutsy 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 328 horsepower, and a sprawling interior built to handle family life. It’s not just about space for everyone and everything. Chevy loaded the Traverse with standard safety tech like automatic emergency braking and optional Super Cruise hands-free driving, aiming to dominate a fiercely competitive segment.

2024 Chevrolet Traverse Front Angle View

2025 Chevrolet Traverse

Base MSRP  $40,700

Model  Traverse

Base Trim Drivetrain  Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower  328 HP @5500 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)  20/27/23 MPG

Base Trim Engine  2.5L I4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission  8-speed automatic

Base Trim Torque  326 lb.-ft. @ 3500 RPM

The 2025 Traverse

2025 Chevrolet Traverse in two trims

If you're in the market for a three-row SUV, there are three key areas you'll likely be looking at: power, space, and safety. The Traverse's output figures are posted above, while the interior room is presented in a table below. We'll leave safety for last...

How does it stack up against that competition? We’re pitting it against the Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer, Mazda CX-90, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota Grand Highlander to see who comes out on top. Let’s dive into the specs and sort the winners from the also-rans.

Chevrolet Traverse Vs. Kia Telluride

2025 Kia Telluride Gray Front Angle Driving

The Traverse flexes serious muscle with its 328-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, leaving the Kia Telluride’s 291-hp V6 in the dust. Torque is another win for Chevy with its 326 lb-ft of torque crushing Kia’s 262 lb-ft, which makes for quicker getaways from stoplights. Both get an 8-speed automatic transmission, but Chevy’s power edge makes it the one to get for thrill-seeking parents.

Inside, the Traverse has superior front legroom at 44.3 inches, outpacing the Telluride’s 41.4 inches. The Telluride fights back with 42.4 inches of second-row legroom to Chevy’s 41.5, but the Traverse’s 98 cubic feet of cargo space trumps Telluride’s 87—perfect for hauling strollers and sports gear. Third-row comfort leans Chevy’s way too, with 32.1 inches of legroom beating the Kia’s 31.4. When it comes to room for people and cargo, the Traverse comes out ahead.

Chevrolet Traverse Vs. Ford Explorer

2025 Ford Explorer ST Blue Front Angle Off-Road

The Ford Explorer has a solid 300 hp in its base engine, which falls just short of the Traverse. Torque is a tighter race, with 310 lb-ft for the Explorer versus 326 lb-ft for the Chevy. This gives the Traverse a slight edge, but the Explorer has a second, more powerful engine option. The available 3.0-liter V6 has far more horsepower and torque than the only engine in the Traverse, making it the performance winner.

When it comes to cargo capacity, the Traverse is way ahead, making it a better choice if that's your priority. If it's all about people, then the choice is a bit more complicated. Front passengers get more headroom and legroom in the Traverse. However, the Traverse falls short on headroom for the second and third rows. The biggest difference comes in the third row, which has seating for only two in the Explorer where the Traverse seats three.

Chevrolet Traverse Vs. Mazda CX-90

2025 Mazda CX-90 front quarter

The base engine in the Mazda CX-90 has less power but slightly more torque than the Traverse, but the horsepower difference is large enough to make the Traverse a far more engaging option. That all changes if you go with the high output version of that engine, which beats the Traverse. The plug-in hybrid engine on the Mazda is almost a match for horsepower, but delivers far more torque, and it offers 25 miles of all-electric driving range to help you save money on gas.

The Traverse dominates inside, boasting 98 cubic feet of cargo space to the CX-90’s 75.2. That's a huge win for hauling gear. It also has more headroom and legroom in all three rows. While the CX-90 has a more upscale, refined interior, the Traverse has more room for large families.

Kia Sorento Hybrid front 3/4

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Chevrolet Traverse Vs. Nissan Pathfinder

2025 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek front quarter

Nissan’s Pathfinder has a 3.5-liter V6 that delivers up to 295 horsepower depending on the trim, which is far less than what's offered by the Traverse. The story is the same with torque where the Pathfinder tops out at 270 lb-ft versus 326 in the Traverse. It's really no contest here with the Traverse coming out the clear winner when it comes to performance.

Once again, the Pathfinder comes up short compared to the Traverse. It has less headroom in all three rows. It also has less legroom in all but the first row where it's the exact same figure as the Traverse. The cargo room is likewise less than what you'll find in the Traverse.

Chevrolet Traverse Vs. Toyota Grand Highlander

2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Nightshade front

Comparing the base gas engine and hybrid engine of the Grand Highlander to the Traverse gives Chevy the win, but Toyota's Hybrid Max engine is the champ on horsepower and torque. The Grand Highlander exploits the big weakness of the Traverse, which is a lack of powertrain choices. The Grand Highlander has a huge lineup and if you want a hybrid of any kind, you can't get one in the Traverse.

Cargo space is a nail-biter with 97.8 cubic feet for the Traverse edging out the Grand Highlander’s 97.5, but it's not really enough to matter. The difference in interior room are more noticeable when you look at the passenger space. The Traverse has more headroom for all but the second row and more legroom for all but the third row. It's a close call here, but the Traverse is overall a stronger offering on interior room.

Safety: This Is Where It Gets Interesting

All of these SUVs received decent safety ratings, but the verdict is still out on the 2025 Traverse. It received the full five stars from the NHTSA, but we prefer using the IIHS standards as they evolve and become stricter over time. Out of the cars listed here, the Traverse, Grand Highlander, and Explorer failed to receive a safety award. The Telluride, CX-90, and Pathfinder all received the esteemed Top Safety Pick + award from the IIHS. That's a pretty decent achievement these days.

Considering these are family haulers, safety should always be a consideration. We know the Traverse is the biggest, but we'll wait until the IIHS has had a look at it. If it's the biggest, safest, and most powerful, there's no reason not to buy it.