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 View2025 Chevrolet TraverseBase MSRP $40,700Model TraverseBase Trim Drivetrain Front-Wheel DriveBase Trim Horsepower 328 HP @5500 RPMBase Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined) 20/27/23 MPGBase Trim Engine 2.5L I4 ICEBase Trim Transmission 8-speed automaticBase Trim Torque 326 lb.-ft. @ 3500 RPM The 2025 Traverse 2025 Chevrolet Traverse in two trimsIf 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...2025 Chevrolet Traverse Interior DimensionsSeating Capacity81st Row2nd Row3rd RowHeadroom42.6 inches40.0 inches38.3 inchesLegroom44.3 inches41.5 inches32.1 inchesBehind 1st RowBehind 2nd RowBehind 3rd RowCargo Volume97.8 ft³56.6 ft³22.9 ft³How 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 Driving2025 Kia Telluride Engine SpecsEngine3.8-liter V6Transmission8-speed automaticDrivetrainFWD/AWDPower291 hpTorque262 lb-ftThe 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.2025 Kia Telluride Interior DimensionsSeating Capacity81st Row2nd Row3rd RowHeadroom40.9 inches40.2 inches38.1 inchesLegroom41.4 inches42.4 inches31.4 inchesBehind 1st RowBehind 2nd RowBehind 3rd RowCargo Volume87.0 ft³46.0 ft³21.0 ft³Inside, 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-Road2025 Ford Explorer Engine SpecsEngine2.3-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder3.0-liter turbocharged V6Transmission10-speed automatic10-speed automaticDrivetrainRWD/AWDRWD/AWDPower300 hp400 hpTorque310 lb-ft415 lb-ftThe 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.2025 Ford Explorer Interior DimensionsSeating Capacity71st Row2nd Row3rd RowHeadroom40.7 inches40.5 inches38.9 inchesLegroom43.0 inches39.0 inches32.2 inchesBehind 1st RowBehind 2nd RowBehind 3rd RowCargo Volume84.1 ft³49.8 ft³20.8 ft³When 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 quarter2025 Mazda CX-90 Engine SpecsEngine3.3-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder2.5-liter 4-cylinder PHEVTransmission8-speed automatic8-speed automaticDrivetrainAWDAWDPower280hp (340 hp high output)323 hpTorque332 lb-ft (369 high output)369 lb-ftThe 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.2025 Mazda CX-90 Interior DimensionsSeating Capacity81st Row2nd Row3rd RowHeadroom39.7 inches39.3inches36.9 inchesLegroom41.74 inches39.5 inches30.4 inchesBehind 1st RowBehind 2nd RowBehind 3rd RowCargo Volume75.2 ft³40.1 ft³15.9 ft³The 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 3/4Related Chevrolet Traverse Vs. Nissan Pathfinder 2025 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek front quarter2025 Nissan Pathfinder Engine SpecsEngine3.5-liter V6Transmission9-speed automaticDrivetrainFWD/AWDPower284hp (295 Rock Creek)Torque259 lb-ft (270 Rock Creek)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.2025 Nissan Pathfinder Interior DimensionsSeating Capacity81st Row2nd Row3rd RowHeadroom42.3 inches39.6 inches37.8 inchesLegroom44.3 inches35.5 inches28.0 inchesBehind 1st RowBehind 2nd RowBehind 3rd RowCargo Volume80.5 ft³45.0 ft³16.6 ft³Once 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 front2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Engine SpecsEngine2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid2.4-liter 4-cylinder Hybrid MaxTransmission8-speed automaticContinuously variable automatic (CVT)6-speed automaticDrivetrainFWD/AWDFWD/AWDFWD/AWDPower265 hp245 hp362 hpTorque310 lb-ft175 lb-ft400 lb-ftComparing 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.2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Interior DimensionsSeating Capacity81st Row2nd Row3rd RowHeadroom41.5 inches40.2 inches37.2 inchesLegroom41.7inches39.5 inches33.5 inchesBehind 1st RowBehind 2nd RowBehind 3rd RowCargo Volume97.5 ft³57.9 ft³20.6 ft³Cargo 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.