2025 Chevrolet Traverse

In the grand scheme of things, Chevrolet's smaller three-row vehicle has always been a solid vehicle. Seat comfort was a bone of contention, design was fine, and some of the infotainment systems were questionable. But all around - not a bad vehicle. It was all-new for 2024, so you don't see many changes for this model year. However, since this is our first time behind the wheel of the next-gen model, what we want to say is: The 2025 Chevy Traverse is all around much better than the previous generation. Mostly. 

There are a few things that still need to be tweaked, but all around, this new Traverse is much improved. 

2025 CHEVY TRAVERSE GOOD STUFF 

Let's start with seat comfort. I don't know what was in the water at General Motors, but seats in most of their vehicles in all seating positions were not great. They felt stiff as a board, and after more than an hour, your butt and back hurt. I drove back and forth to Detroit during the test period, which is more than eight hours behind the wheel, and I can say this for certain: My butt didn't hurt. 

I'm also a huge fan of the overall attention to detail. I was driving the Z71 trim, so not everything on this vehicle will be on the base LT, but little things like material choices and stitching accents were well done and will be carried throughout the lineup. 

Exterior design is also nicely executed. It has a more aggressive SUV stance, and it looks more like a mini-Tahoe rather than a swoopy crossover. The Z71 ups the ante with beefy all-terrain tires and red front recovery hooks. The overall effect is handsome. 

The 2025 Chevy Traverse adopts the Google built-in operating system GM is rolling out across all its brands, and it's well done here. I like the static menu options across the top of the infotainment screen that easily allow you to navigate between the native Google system and Apple CarPlay features. I'm also a huge fan that Apple Maps can appear in the behind-the-wheel gauges, which frees up the infotainment screen for music or podcasts. The 2025 Traverse does come with wireless Apple CarPlay, and it worked well and didn't feel laggy. 

If you follow me at all, you know I complain about wireless charging a lot. A lot. But GM is one of the only automakers that gets this feature right. It has some mechanism that keeps the charging pad cool, which in turn, keeps your phone from overheating. The charger itself works well, and while it's slower than a wired connection, it still chargers with more speed than most wireless charging currently available in vehicles. 

The biggest thing I loved about the new Traverse: Super Cruise is available on every trim. It's a $3,935 option on the base LT ($4,410 on Z71), but the fact its available is awesome because this system itself is awesome. To be frank, it's probably the only hands-free system I'd consider paying a subscription for right now. It operates on two- and four-lane highways, executes automatic lane changes flawlessly, holds curves and keeps you centered in the lane without too many obvious corrections. You'll get three years free after you add the hardware package at the point of purchase, and it will cost $25 per month after the trial expires. 

A FEW WORDS ABOUT POWERTRAIN 

While the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse is smaller than the Tahoe, it's still a big vehicle. For 2025, the Traverse ditches the 3.6-liter V-6 and 9-speed automatic transmission in favor of a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and 8-speed automatic. While I typically like turbo-4s, this new combo is less than ideal. It's supposed to have more power than the outgoing V-6 (328 horsepower versus 310), but I didn't feel it. 

Under hard acceleration, the engine was whiny, and it just didn't feel good - especially when merging on the highway. Once you were at speed, it was fine, and passing was OK. But still. I felt the power wasn't there when I really needed it. Maybe that's a Jill problem, and less-aggressive drivers might find this perfectly powered. This is certainly a must-test thing, and potential buyers need to hit the highway to see how they personally feel about the powertrain. 

A FEW THINGS I DIDN'T LOVE 

Outside of the powertrain, there were a few other things I didn't love, but they aren't necessarily dealbreakers. First up, the third-row seats are just OK. There is an acceptable amount of legroom for children and small adults, but the seats are a bit firm, and the windows are tiny, which feels claustrophobic. I'm also not a fan of the hard plastic and the fact that there are three seatbelts back there. I'm small, and three of me would be crammed in like sardines. So, I say three kids will fit back there for short periods, but you wouldn't want to take a road trip like that. 

Another thing I didn't like were the headlight adjustments. You turn them on and off via a touch screen next to the infotainment system, and the adjustment icon is visibly blocked from view for me by the steering wheel. So, if you need to turn your lights on or off while driving, it'll require a bit of a lean to see the icon and hit the menu item. 

Finally, while I like most of the material choices on the Traverse, I was disappointed to see a swath of black lacquer on the console area. 

OUR TAKE ON THE 2025 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE 

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse is a handsome, well-done vehicle. It feels solid and is really comfortable for the long haul. The third row will comfortably fit two passengers, and a third one can squeeze in for short trips. I like the tech, and I loved Super Cruise. 

However, as it seems with all vehicles in 2025, it doesn't come cheap. The test vehicle added the Enhanced Driving Package including Super Cruise ($4,410), Iridescent Pear Tricoat paint ($995) and the Driver Confidence Package ($500), so the as-tested price was $54,900. And that's for one level up off the base.