Chevrolet Traverse vs. Ford Explorer

To keep pace with your active lifestyle, the Chevy Traverse and the Ford Explorer offer confident performance with powerful engines and smooth-shifting automatic transmissions, ready to respond when you are. That said, the Chevy Traverse delivers more right from the start.

The Chevy Traverse’s addition of a turbocharger to its 2.5L engine outperforms the Explorer’s engine, offering a compelling blend of everyday drivability and weekend-ready strength. Whether you’re commuting or chasing adventure, it’s built to keep up.

Both models use fuel efficiently, with EPA-estimated ratings of at least 20 city/27 highway MPG. To help maximize every tank, they each feature automatic stop/start technology that shuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a full stop. It restarts as soon as you lift your foot off the brake.

As a weekend adventurer, you need a vehicle that’s just as comfortable cruising the highway as it is tackling hilly terrain or hauling a boat or trailer. The Chevy Traverse and the Ford Explorer are willing, able, and built to follow your lead—they’re ready to go to work when you decide it’s time to play.

When properly equipped, the Chevy Traverse and the Ford Explorer offer a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. That means you can easily tow any of the following:

• 6x12 utility trailer
• 20- to 30-foot camper
• 20-foot toy hauler
• 4-horse trailer
• Full-size bass boat/bowrider/pontoon boat
• 20-foot wake boat

To make towing easier, the Chevy Traverse comes standard with a Trailering Package that includes a factory-installed hitch with cover, a heavy-duty cooling system, and Hitch Guidance with Hitch View. The Explorer offers a similar trailer tow package.

In their 3-row configurations, the Ford Explorer seats up to seven, while the Chevy Traverse comfortably accommodates up to eight. Third-row passengers will find similar legroom in both models, but riders in the first and second rows will enjoy more room to stretch out in the Chevy Traverse:

In addition to space for your crew, you’ll need room for all their gear—backpacks, sports equipment, and your weekly grocery haul. The Chevy Traverse makes accessing the cargo hold easy with its standard AutoSense Hands-Free power liftgate. While the Ford Explorer offers a similar feature, there’s a key difference in cargo capacity: the Explorer maxes out at 85.8 cubic feet, while the Traverse has a maximum cargo capacity of 98 cubic feet.

You work hard at your job—and just as hard at home, balancing all the roles that come with caring for your family. So, when you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, you deserve a little pampering. Both the Chevy Traverse and the Ford Explorer provide similar standard and available interior comforts like:

• Tri-zone climate control
• Multi-position driver’s seat
• Heated front seats
• Leather seating surfaces
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats

No matter how far you roam, you’ll be wrapped in comfort, warmth, and a touch of luxury. That said, only the Chevy Traverse includes the convenience of Remote Start , so the cabin will be warmed up or cooled down and ready to go whenever you are.

The Chevy Traverse and the Ford Explorer come packed with infotainment features designed to keep everyone on board informed, engaged, and enjoying the ride. With central touchscreens, smartphone integration, and built-in Wi-Fi hotspots, you and your crew can:

• Connect your phone to stay in the loop
• Play music for an impromptu car-aoke session
• Let the kids stream their favorite shows and movies

And when you finally get a quiet moment behind the wheel, flying solo? That’s the perfect time to catch up on your favorite podcast or dive into the next chapter of your audiobook.

That said, accessing your apps, maps, music, and more may be easier in the Chevy Traverse, thanks to its expansive 17.7-inch touchscreen. In comparison, the Ford Explorer offers a noticeably smaller 13.2-inch display.

Of course, no technology matters more than the kind that protects your most precious cargo. Your family’s safety is always your top priority—and Chevy and Ford take it just as seriously. That’s why both the Traverse and the Explorer come equipped with brand-specific versions of:

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Forward Collision Alert
• Blind Zone Steering Assist with Rear Cross Traffic Braking
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning

Where the Traverse pulls ahead is in its extra standard safety systems. Features like Buckle to Drive, Side Bicyclist Alert, and Safety Alert Seat aren’t even available options in the Explorer. Plus, Chevy goes the extra mile to help protect inexperienced motorists with its standard Teen Driver feature, offering an added layer of confidence and peace of mind.

Adding to the Traverse’s reputation for safety is recognition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This independent organization crash-tests vehicles and evaluates both their crash protection and crash prevention technologies. For the latest model year, the IIHS named the Chevy Traverse a 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK—an honor the Ford Explorer did not receive.