Remember the Chevrolet Traverse? We didn’t, either. The midsize, three-row Traverse has long been a middle-of-the-pack offering in one of North America’s hottest segments, but GM recently decided to fix that by giving it a bold redesign. Enter the new, third-generation, off-road-capable 2025 Chevrolet Traverse Z71. We think it finally deserves your attention.
First off, the looks. The new Traverse is commanding, with striking styling cues such as the oversized front grille, laser-focused lighting units, a distinctive ‘floating roof’ design, and proportions that are less minivan-like than the outgoing model. Our tester is the Z71 model, a new trim for 2025 that tailors to families who like to adventure outdoors—or at least, put out an image that they do.
The Z71 receives a number of form-and-function upgrades to make it more capable, including a one-inch increase to ground clearance, unique 18-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear all-terrain tires, a tweaked front bumper to improve approach angles, aluminum skid plates, and signature red tow hooks. The rugged dress-up really toughens up the Traverse’s image, and goes a long way in establishing it as a legitimate contender in a segment that seems to crave the overlanding lifestyle.
All Traverses are powered by a new 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It puts out 328 horsepower—18 more than the V6 it replaces—and 326 pound-feet of torque. The Traverse packs a good punch off the line, especially in the city due to the significant low-end torque, and the eight-speed automatic is quick to shift. We miss the creamy smoothness of the old V6, but the trade-off is justified, especially with peak towing capacity unchaged at 5,000 pounds.
Fuel economy is officially rated at 12.4 L/100 km in the city and 9.9 on the highway. Chevrolet hasn’t released a combined figure yet, but we averaged 11.5 L/100 km in our week of mixed commuting. It’s within our expectations given the rated numbers, and we are glad to see regular-grade gas is all that is required to keep the Traverse happy.
In terms of driving dynamics, there really is not much to write home about. The Traverse is effortless to manoeuvre and quite suitable for those who are not looking for much thrill during their drives. The Z71’s dedicated off-road capable dampening system and all-terrain tires did not negatively impact the ride quality too much, and there is an added Specific Terrain drive mode as well as Hill Descent Control function for those who are actually looking to take the Traverse Z71 off the pavement.
The 2025 Traverse sees a complete transformation inside, too. Gone is the low-grade plasticky dashboard; the new layout looks far more premium with better materials throughout. The standard 17.7-inch touchscreen is more than twice the size of the outgoing Traverse, and sets the tone for the digital experience that Chevrolet is trying to deliver to its buyers. We like the intuitiveness of the infotainment system, where every function seems to be well within a couple of touches, and smartphone integration is supported by more ways than one. You can connect using the new Google built-in functionality, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Wi-Fi hotspot functions.
The Traverse has always been a strong performer for passenger space. The new model is not any different: there is good room in the first two rows—which offers heat on all four outbound positions—and the third row is sufficient for adults over short trips. Cargo space is rather generous as well; it’s rated at 648 litres behind the third row, and opens up to 1,603 and 2,764 L with the third and second row folded, respectively.
The 2025 Traverse starts at $47,999, which is a very reasonable price point for a three-row SUV. All models come standard with Chevrolet Safety Assist, the brand’s suite of driver and active safety assist, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and more. The Traverse Z71 starts at $53,999, but our tester was loaded up with options such as Evotex seating surfaces, a panoramic sunroof, and the Enhanced Driving package, bringing the as-tested total to $61,169.
While its direct competitors may only look like the Honda Pilot Trailsport and the Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition for now, we expect the Traverse as a whole to be cross-shopped against almost everything that fits the size and price range of one of the hottest segments. Rather than looking at the improvements it has made compared to the past generation, we prefer to think of the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse Z71 as an all-new option more than capable of making a name for itself.
