If you’ve flown on an airplane recently, you may have noticed that seats are smaller than ever, as airline executives’ bottom lines are more important than your bottom’s comfort, despite Americans growing larger than ever.

Carmakers understand, which is why vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse exist. There are three rows that fit Americans comfortably, something some airline executives understand when they fly private.

The 2025 Chevrolet Traverse's 153 cubic feet of passenger space is welcome. While its width matches that of a 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon, and can hold as many people and their stuff, it’s 16 inches shorter and far more fuel efficient, with an EPA-rated 23 mpg with front-wheel drive, 21 mpg with all-wheel drive.

This is a vehicle made for family duty, with a spacious first two rows and a third row best left to children, given its low seat cushion. There’s also a generous 23 cubic foot cargo hold when all seats are in use and 97 cubic feet with the rear two rows stowed. That space is wrapped in an all-new wardrobe that arrived last year. Looking a bit more truck-like than before, there’s little softness in the Traverse’s design.

An 11-inch gauge cluster and 17.7-inch infotainment system come standard as does a wireless smartphone charging pad, Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

For 2025, Chevrolet increased the Traverse’s price by eliminating the base LS trim, which started at less than $40,000. Now, the $42,195 LT is the base model, followed by off-road oriented Z71, High Country and RS AWD, which stickers at $57,595 including destination charge and before options. By comparison, the mechanically similar GMC Acadia Denali AWD has an MSRP of $57,595, the 2025 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD costs $60,695 and the Cadillac XT6 Sport starts at $60,190. But GM has raised the price on the Traverse in other ways. The LT and Z71 models no longer get the Driver Confidence Package as part of its standard equipment. And OnStar Remote Access, which was free for the first three years in 2024, is no longer free in 2025.

Like last year, the sole powertrain is a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic rated at 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive using regular unleaded gasoline. Towing is rated at 5,000 pounds. The engine is shared with the GMC and Buick, and this is where the Traverse traverses the line from compelling to adequate.

Chevrolet has been engineering their vehicles with remarkably small engines. In the case of the Traverse, its turbo four’s power seems to equal that of the Cadillac XT6’s normally-aspirated 3.6-liter V6. But the turbo four engine works hard to produce power, with a gruff engine note and vibratory nature that lacks the smoothness you’d expect. The thought of loading this vehicle up with people and stuff and towing a trailer would surely sentence you to life in the slow lane. There’s just not enough juice to deliver a smooth, seamless driving experience.

The ride skews toward comfort, which is fine for a family vehicle. But some may dislike the side-to-side motion that accompanies rough roads. Drivers may also dislike the amount of wheel cranking required when parking. But the ride is mostly quiet. The test vehicle, a Z71 all-wheel-drive model, has Super Cruise, GM’s semi-autonomous driving system. It works fairly well, but not consistently. Driving along I-95 in Florida saw it momentarily drop from time to time for no apparent reason. When it did work, it was remarkable, maintaining a steady speed by automatically changing lanes if the vehicle ahead was moving slower.

While the Chevrolet Traverse is a fine family cruiser, this segment of the market is filled with more compelling competitors, including the Mazda CX-90, Kia Telluride, Toyota Land Cruiser, Ford Bronco as well as the GMC Acadia, Buick Enclave and Cadillac XT6. So while the Traverse might be your ideal three-row SUV, it pays to try a few others before you set your sights on the Chevy.

2025 Chevrolet Traverse

Base price: $42,195 - $57,595

Engine: Turbocharger 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine

Horsepower/Torque: 328/326 pound-feet

EPA rating (combined city/highway): 23 mpg (FWD); 20 mpg (AWD)

Fuel required: Regular

Length/Width/Height: 205/80/72 inches

Ground clearance: 6.7 inches

Payload: 1,850 pounds

Cargo capacity: 23-98 cubic feet

Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds

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