Key points:
- The Chevrolet Traverse carries over mostly unchanged for 2026 except for a price hike of $500 to $1,700, trim depending.
- New exterior colors include Polar White and Sandstone Gray.
- The 2026 Traverse starts at $42,695 for the LT trim and ranges up to $57,295 for the RS (prices include destination).
The Chevrolet Traverse three-row SUV carries over unchanged for the 2026 model year, except for a price hike of $500 to $2,000, depending on the trim level. Chevy’s largest vehicle that isn’t based on a truck continues to offer shoppers a roomy proposition with eight seats, yet it rides with greater comfort and costs about $20,000 less than the larger Tahoe full-size SUV. The 2026 Traverse starts at $42,695 (all prices include $1,895 destination fee).
Related: Which 3-Row SUVs Offer Captain’s Chairs?
What’s New?
Not much is new for the 2026 model, except for new Polar White and Sandstone Gray exterior colors. Redesigned for 2024 to look more like its truck-based siblings, the handsome third-generation Traverse saw some trim shuffling for the 2025 model year, with the discontinuation of the base LS trim level and the introduction of a luxurious High Country that sits at the top of the trim ladder of Chevy’s full-size SUVs and trucks.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse is on sale now; full pricing is below with model-year 2025 prices in parentheses.
- LT: $42,695 ($42,195)
- Z71: $50,795 ($49,295)
- High Country: $56,995 ($55,295)
- RS: $57,295 ($55,595)
Safety Features and Trim Levels
Chevy equips the 2026 Traverse with a comprehensive suite of driver-assist and safety systems. These include forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane departure steering assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, forward cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. Also standard are a rear-seat reminder, a “Buckle to Drive” function that disables the vehicle from shifting out of Park into gear if the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled, and Teen Driver, which allows owners to set limits on functions such as speed and audio volume for certain inexperienced drivers. It also has GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrates the driver’s seat bottom to warn of side hazards.
The base LT comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a hands-free power liftgate, keyless entry and start, and remote start. Chevy fits it with cloth upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, six speakers and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster. The 17.7-inch touchscreen uses Google Built-In and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The Z71 comes standard with a twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system that vectors torque to the rear wheel with the most grip. It has hill descent control and rides about an inch higher than other Traverses on its 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The Z71 sports the off-road look with black exterior trim, red tow hooks and rain-sensing windshield wipers. For shoppers interested in towing, the Z71 arrives with a factory-installed hitch, heavy-duty cooling system and alternator, and 5,000-pound towing capacity.
The premium High Country builds off the LT with heated second-row captain’s chairs to seat seven occupants total. It rolls on 22-inch wheels and has a 360-degree camera system and road-sign recognition. Chevy adds GM’s hands-free Super Cruise semi-autonomous highway driving system as standard; it’s available on other Traverse trims. The High Country elevates the interior with perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front-passenger seat, ambient lighting and a 10-speaker Bose audio system.
The range-topping RS trim level bundles the High Country’s goodies but blacks out the exterior accents and 22-inch wheels to give it a sportier look.
Powertrain Specs and MPG
The Traverse uses a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 328 horsepower and 326 pounds-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission routes power to the front wheels, while AWD is available for $2,000 across most of the lineup (AWD is standard on the off-road-adjacent Z71 grade).
Chevrolet says the 2026 Traverse gets the same EPA-rated 20/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined as the 2025 model; AWD versions drop to 19/24/21 mpg (official EPA estimates for the 2026 model are not yet available).
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