2019 Chevrolet Traverse

2019 is a carry-over year of the second-generation (2018–2023) Traverse, before the 2022 refresh. The volume LT trims use the 310-hp 3.6L V6; the RS still offered the 257-hp 2.0L turbo four, which was dropped after this year.

Naturally aspirated V6 torque is modest for a ~4,400-lb three-row next to turbocharged rivals; the 2.0T RS actually makes more torque but less horsepower.

In instrumented runs the V6/9-speed tests at roughly 6.3–6.9 s, with Consumer Reports slower at ~7.3 s, which is quick for a large family crossover. The 2.0T RS is slower at around 7.5 s.

The V6 is smooth and linear with no turbo lag and pulls well at higher revs, though it needs revs to feel strong and the standard auto stop-start can be noticeable.

The GM 9-speed automatic shifts smoothly in most driving but can be slow to kick down and feel busy; the electronic shifter offers little meaningful manual control.

5,000 lbs when properly equipped is the norm for mainstream three-row crossovers, on par with the Highlander and Pilot and short of Durango-class ratings.

FWD is standard but AWD is available on most V6 trims, and the High Country gets twin-clutch AWD with active torque vectoring. The 2.0T RS is FWD-only and there is no low range.

A pavement-oriented family crossover with roughly 7.5 in of ground clearance, no skid plates, no low range and no off-road trim (the Z71 arrived only with the 2024 redesign).

There are two engines (the 3.6L V6 and the 2.0L turbo four on the RS), both with the 9-speed and FWD or AWD. There is no electrified option, and the turbo is a niche, FWD-only trim rather than a real alternative.

The 3.6L V6 with the 9-speed automatic returns 21 MPG combined in FWD form. That is below average for gas SUVs and typical of a large non-hybrid three-row.

City is the weakest of the three EPA figures: the body is heavy and the naturally aspirated V6 has only stop-start to help its economy.

The 9-speed's tall top gear lets the V6 cruise efficiently, making highway the Traverse's best figure.

A 19.4-gallon tank and 21 MPG combined give about 400 miles per fill, which is adequate but mid-pack for the segment.

EPA's annual cost estimate for the V6 on regular gas is high. The 2.0T RS costs even more because EPA prices it on premium.

The volume V6 trims run on 87-octane regular. The niche 2.0T RS is listed by EPA on premium, a small mark against the 2019 lineup that later years dropped.

NHTSA rates both the front-drive and all-wheel-drive 2019 Traverse at 5 stars overall, with 4-star frontal and rollover results and a 5-star side rating.

Good in driver-side small overlap, moderate overlap, original side, roof strength and head restraints, but no 2019 Top Safety Pick. The Good passenger-side small overlap rating covers only vehicles built after December 2018, so early-build 2019s are unrated there, and a later updated side test came back Acceptable.

On the 2019 L, LS and LT Cloth trims, standard safety tech is limited to a rear camera, Rear Seat Reminder and Teen Driver. AEB, lane keep assist and forward collision alert need the Driver Confidence II package or an upper trim, and adaptive cruise is High Country-only.

When fitted, AEB earns Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian prevention (the Enhanced radar system rates Advanced on pedestrians). It is optional equipment on the volume trims and was never tested at night.

Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard only on upper trims and come in packages on the lower ones. Both are alert-only, with no rear cross-traffic braking or safe-exit alert.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning is optional on lower trims and standard on upper ones. It nudges the car back from the lane edge but never centres it, on any trim.

Adaptive cruise is offered only on the top High Country trim, so the volume LT buyer gets conventional cruise. No trim pairs it with a highway-assist system.

No 2019 Traverse offers hands-free driving. Super Cruise first came to the nameplate with the 2024 redesign.

IIHS published no headlight rating for the 2019 Traverse. Its 2020 rating, which uses the same generation's HID projectors on L through RS, is Poor for those trims and Acceptable only for the Premier/High Country LEDs, so the volume trims likely perform similarly.

The tall, long body gives a commanding forward view, but thick rear pillars and a small rear window leave sizeable rear-quarter blind zones. Lower trims get only a basic rear camera; Surround Vision is limited to upper trims.

IIHS's Acceptable LATCH rating for this generation officially starts with 2020, but the hardware is unchanged. Large rear doors, a usable third row and the available 8-passenger bench make it easier to fit multiple car seats than in most three-row rivals.

The volume 2019 LT Cloth comes with second-row captain's chairs and seats seven. The eight-seat bench is standard on the L and LS.

Generous front headroom without the optional dual-panel sunroof.

On paper the front legroom is only adequate for a vehicle this large, though in practice the seat track suits most drivers.

Second-row headroom is at the top of the SUV band.

A roomy second row that slides to share legroom with the third row.

One of the few mid-size three-rows where adults genuinely fit in the third row (38.2 in headroom, 33.5 in legroom). SmartSlide second-row seats make getting back there easy.

A large cargo hold that still leaves a usable 23 cu ft with all three rows up.

Maximum cargo volume approaches minivan levels and is the largest among non-luxury mid-size SUVs.

A hidden under-floor cargo bin and a concealed storage shelf behind the touchscreen are genuinely useful. The rest of the storage is at class norms.

The seats are comfortable in all three rows, though the cushions are somewhat flat. The LT Cloth has cloth upholstery and only an 8-way power driver seat.

The soft, absorbent ride is the Traverse's hallmark, though the body can float and lean over undulations.

Generally hushed at highway speeds with modest road noise. Active Noise Cancellation is fitted on V6 models.

Tri-zone automatic climate is standard. Heated front seats start at LT Leather, while ventilated seats, heated rear seats and the heated wheel (made automatic for 2019) are Premier/High Country only.

2019 is the second model year of the second generation (2018–2023), and the FWD-only L trim was the price leader at just under $30k before destination.

The LT Cloth is the volume trim and AWD the majority mix; $35,400 MSRP plus ~$2,000 for AWD and $1,195 destination lands near $38.6k.

The volume trims share the 3.6L LFY V6 and 9-speed drivetrain with the 2020–2022 scorecards; CarEdge's ~$3,060 maintenance projection plus typical out-of-warranty repair exposure in years 4–5 puts the combined figure in the mid-$5k range.

Heavy fleet/rental exposure keeps Traverse residuals well behind Toyota and Honda three-rows; the nameplate average is the best estimate for a 2019 that reached year 5 in 2024 as used prices normalized.

Chevrolet's New Vehicle Limited Warranty sits at the industry floor.

GM's powertrain coverage matches the industry minimum, well short of Hyundai/Kia's 10-year coverage.

Chevrolet Complete Care in 2019 included one complimentary maintenance visit in the first year, 5-yr/60,000-mi roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, and OnStar/Connected Services trials — behind ToyotaCare's 2 yr / 25,000 mi.

$38,595 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (46% retained, or about $17,754) leaves about $20,841 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $26,341 in total.

2019 is the second model year of the second-generation (2018–2023) Traverse and a carry-over year. J.D. Power rates its owner-reported quality 81/100 ('Great'), but Consumer Reports rates the 2019 less reliable than other vehicles of its model year and singles out 2019 (with 2024) as the Traverse's worst-scoring years. The signals are mixed and lean negative, so it lands below the segment median.

Chevrolet sits in the lower-middle of Consumer Reports' brand-reliability rankings and near the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. It is neither a top-five brand nor a consistent bottom-third one.

MY2019 has only 3 NHTSA campaigns. The serious one, airbag control modules left in manufacturing mode, covered a small batch and was fixed with a reprogram. The other two are a side-curtain airbag weld-nut inspection and the GM-wide start/stop accumulator endcap. That is typical recall activity, but two of the three involve airbags, which keeps it mid-band.

Volume LT trims use the 310-hp LFY 3.6L V6 from GM's long-running High Feature V6 family, which has a large high-mileage population. The 9T65 nine-speed automatic in its early years draws harsh- and delayed-shift TSBs, and owners of early second-generation cars report shift complaints, which holds it below the top band.

The cabin is roomy and logically laid out, but hard plastics cover the dash and door panels on volume LT trims, behind rivals such as the Honda Pilot and VW Atlas. Only the High Country trim feels upscale.

The Traverse comes off a mature line at Lansing Delta Township, and J.D. Power's owner-reported quality is good. Owners still report rattles and trim squeaks, and the airbag-module and weld-nut recalls point to assembly-process escapes, so it stays mid-band.

Chevrolet has about 3,000 US dealers, GM's densest network, with strong rural coverage. J.D. Power's Customer Service Index puts its service satisfaction around the mass-market average.

The C1XX platform, 3.6L V6 and 9T65 transmission are shared with the Acadia, Enclave, Blazer and XT5, so OEM and aftermarket parts are cheap, plentiful and familiar to independent shops. Average annual repair costs run near the midsize-SUV norm.

The volume LT Cloth uses the 7-inch Chevrolet MyLink screen. The 8-inch screen with navigation comes on upper trims.

Chevrolet MyLink is simple and keeps physical knobs and buttons, but the small screen and dated graphics trail rivals. The 2019 car predates the Infotainment 3 update that arrived for 2020.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim, but only wired. Wireless projection arrived with the 2022 refresh.

Built-in navigation comes only on the RS, Premier and High Country, so most owners rely on phone projection and basic voice commands.

The volume trims get an adequate six-speaker system; a 10-speaker Bose system comes on the RS and above.

Analog gauges flank a small driver information display: a 3.5-inch monochrome screen on lower trims and a 4.2-inch colour screen from LT Leather. No full-digital cluster is offered.

The 2018–2023 C1XX Traverse predates GM's Vehicle Intelligence Platform, so it gets limited OnStar/infotainment updates and no whole-vehicle OTA.

The myChevrolet app handles remote start, lock/unlock and vehicle location, but most functions need a paid OnStar plan after the trial, and there is no phone-as-key.

USB ports are spread across all three rows, but wireless charging is Premier/High Country only and the 120-V outlet comes on upper trims.

Remote start is available on most trims, but keyless open, push-button start and the power liftgate start at LT Leather. The hands-free liftgate is Premier/High Country only, and there is no phone-as-key.

A rear camera is standard and rear park assist arrives at LT Leather. Surround Vision and the Rear Camera Mirror come on the RS/Premier and above, and there is no automated parking.

No 2019 Traverse trim offers a head-up display.

Big rear doors, SmartSlide second-row seats that tip forward, an adult-usable third row and huge cargo space make family logistics easy.

A 5-star NHTSA rating helps, but AEB, lane keeping and blind-spot alerts are optional on the trims families buy. There is no IIHS award, and early-build 2019s lack the passenger-side small-overlap fix.

Roomy seating in all three rows, tri-zone climate, USB ports in every row and 23 cu ft behind the third row suit long trips. Heated rear seats and wireless charging are upper-trim only.

The smooth V6 and compliant ride make it easy in traffic. Its size, occasional 9-speed hesitation and non-defeatable auto stop/start detract.

At around 21 MPG combined it is thirsty even among three-row crossovers.

At 204 in long with a 39-ft turning circle and limited rear-quarter visibility, it is a handful in tight lots. Surround Vision is upper-trim only.

A 5,000-lb tow rating with the trailering package plus a cavernous cargo hold handle light-to-moderate work.

The proven 3.6L V6 helps, but this is a family crossover with a 9-speed of mixed reputation, not a vehicle built for hard use.

Cargo tie-downs, a flat load floor and roof rails are present, but there are few work-oriented provisions or upfit options.

A quiet, comfortable highway cruiser with roughly 400 miles of range. Adaptive cruise is High Country-only and there is no lane centering to reduce fatigue.

Available AWD (twin-clutch on High Country), about 7.5 in of ground clearance and a 5,000-lb tow rating handle gravel roads and campers. No off-road trim was offered.

Class-leading volume, flat-folding second and third rows, an under-floor bin, roof rails and an available hitch.

Handling is secure and predictable, but the Traverse feels its size and leans in quick corners. It is less agile than the Mazda CX-9.

The steering is light and accurate enough, but numb.

Stopping power is adequate for a 4,400-lb crossover, with a progressive pedal. Instrumented stops are mid-pack for the class.

The 310-hp V6 is smooth and strong, but the 9-speed can be slow to kick down and the auto stop/start cannot be switched off.

The V6 sounds refined and inoffensive under load, with little vibration through the controls.

A 39-ft turning circle is typical of a large three-row.

A commanding seating position and logical physical controls make it easy to drive. Rear-quarter visibility is limited, and the power column and memory settings are Premier/High Country only.

Quick enough thanks to the V6, but appliance-like overall: a comfortable family hauler rather than a driver's car.

Base trims had cloth seats, a 7-inch MyLink touchscreen with CarPlay/Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hotspot, but automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring were optional or reserved for upper trims; Chevy Safety Assist only became standard with the 2022 refresh.

About $31k for an L and about $38.6k for the volume LT Cloth AWD buys one of the roomiest three-row cabins and a 310-hp V6; before the 2020 Telluride and Palisade arrived this was competitive, though thin standard driver aids, a short warranty and weak ~46% retention hold it back.

Seven trims (L, LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, High Country) span ~$31k to ~$54k, with FWD or AWD on all but the L, 7- or 8-passenger seating, and for 2019 a choice of engines — the RS still carried the 2.0L turbo four alongside the 3.6L V6 elsewhere.

Calendar 2019 was the Traverse's best US sales year ever at roughly 147k units, with a second-quarter record and Q3 up 25% — a segment leader-tier seller in the second year of its generation.

Chevrolet is a neutral mainstream badge — serviced anywhere but without Toyota's or Honda's loyalty halo, and heavy fleet exposure shows in weak residuals.

The 2019 model year sold in a well-stocked pre-chip-shortage market where GM routinely ran cash allowances, employee-pricing events and low-APR financing on the Traverse, giving buyers real room to negotiate.

2019 is the second year of the second generation launched for 2018, so the C1XX platform was fresh, though the cabin tech was soon outclassed by the 2020 Telluride and Palisade; a refresh followed for 2022.

Reviewers praised the huge cabin, adult-usable third row, class-leading cargo space and smooth V6, but faulted the plain interior and middling driver-aid content; it rarely won comparisons against the Pilot and Highlander and took no major awards.