2020 Chevrolet Traverse

2020 is a carry-over year of the second-generation (2018–2023) Traverse, before the 2022 refresh; the 2.0T offered on early RS models is no longer listed, so every 2020 trim uses the 310-hp 3.6L V6.

Naturally aspirated V6 torque is modest for a ~4,400-lb three-row compared with turbocharged rivals.

The unchanged V6/9-speed tests at roughly 6.3–6.9 s in instrumented runs, with Consumer Reports slower at ~7.3 s — quick for a large family crossover.

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 Highlander and Pilot, short of Durango-class ratings.

FWD is standard but AWD is available across most of the lineup, and the High Country gets twin-clutch AWD with active torque vectoring; a traction-mode selector is offered but 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).

One engine and one transmission for every 2020 trim, with only FWD/AWD as a choice and no electrified option.

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

City economy is the weakest cycle: a heavy body and a naturally aspirated V6 with only stop-start as an efficiency aid.

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 — adequate but mid-pack for the segment.

EPA's annual cost estimate on regular gas is high, reflecting the V6's ~714 gallons per 15,000 miles.

Runs on 87-octane regular across every trim; no premium requirement or charging needs.

NHTSA rates both the front-drive and all-wheel-drive 2020 Traverse at 5 stars overall, with 4-star frontal and rollover results and a 5-star side rating.

Good in driver- and passenger-side small overlap (passenger rating applies to vehicles built after December 2018, with Acceptable structure), original moderate overlap, original side, roof strength and head restraints, but no 2020 Top Safety Pick: headlights are Poor on every trim below Premier and AEB is optional on the volume trims. A later updated side test came back Acceptable.

In 2020 the L, LS and LT Cloth trims get only a rear camera, Rear Seat Reminder and Teen Driver as standard; AEB, lane keep assist and forward collision alert require the $625 Driver Confidence II package, and adaptive cruise is High Country-only. Chevy Safety Assist did not become standard until the refresh years.

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

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

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning is optional on L/LS/LT and standard on RS and above; it is a reactive edge-nudge system with no lane centering on any trim.

Adaptive cruise is offered only on the top High Country trim, so the volume LT buyer gets conventional cruise, and there is no highway-assist pairing on any trim.

No hands-free driving system is offered on any 2020 Traverse; Super Cruise first came to the nameplate with the 2024 redesign.

IIHS rates the HID projectors on L, LS, LT and RS Poor (with or without high-beam assist) due to fair straightaway reach and excessive glare; only the Premier/High Country LED lamps reach Acceptable.

Commanding forward view from the tall, long body, but thick rear pillars and a small rear window create sizeable rear-quarter blind zones; only a basic rear camera is standard, with Surround Vision limited to upper trims.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable, but large rear doors, an adult-capable third row and available 8-passenger bench make fitting multiple car seats easier than in most three-row rivals.

The volume 2020 LT Cloth ships with second-row captain's chairs for seven seats; the eight-seat bench is standard on L/LS and optional on LT.

Generous front headroom without the optional dual-panel sunroof, which takes away about 1.7 in.

Front legroom is only adequate on paper for a vehicle this large, though the seat track suits most drivers.

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

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

One of the few mid-size three-rows whose third row genuinely fits adults, with Smart Slide second-row access and USB ports in the way back.

A large cargo hold, with a usable 23 cu ft even with all three rows up.

Near-minivan maximum cargo volume, the most in the non-luxury mid-size class.

A hidden under-floor cargo bin and a big console with a concealed shelf behind the touchscreen are genuinely useful; otherwise storage is at class norms.

Seats are comfortable in all three rows, though cushions are somewhat flat and the LT Cloth has cloth with limited power adjustment.

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

Generally hushed at highway speed with modest road noise; Active Noise Cancellation is fitted.

Tri-zone automatic climate with rear controls is standard, but heated seats start at LT Leather and ventilated seats and a heated wheel are Premier/High Country only.

2020 is the third year of the second generation (2018–2023) and the FWD-only L trim was still offered as a price leader, so the entry point sits close to $31k.

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.

Same 3.6L LFY V6 / 9-speed drivetrain as the 2022 scorecard; CarEdge's ~$3,060 maintenance-only projection plus typical out-of-warranty repair exposure in years 4–5 puts the combined figure in the mid-$5k range for mainstream three-rows.

The Traverse's heavy fleet/rental exposure keeps its residuals well behind Toyota and Honda three-rows; the 2020 reached year 5 after the used-price spike had largely unwound, so the nameplate average is the best estimate.

Chevrolet's New Vehicle Limited Warranty sits at the industry floor, behind Hyundai/Kia three-row rivals.

GM's powertrain coverage matches the industry minimum, half the Palisade's and Telluride's 10-year coverage.

Chevrolet Complete Care in 2020 offered one complimentary maintenance visit in the first year, 5-yr/60,000-mi roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, and OnStar/Connected Services trials, which trails ToyotaCare's 2 yr / 25,000 mi on the Highlander.

$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.

2020 is the third model year of the second-generation (2018–2023) Traverse and a carry-over year before the 2022 refresh. The sources disagree. J.D. Power rates its owner-reported quality 81/100 ('Great'), but Consumer Reports rates the 2020 less reliable than other vehicles of its model year, and aggregated complaint data marks 2020 as the generation's weakest year. With mixed signals leaning negative, it lands just 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.

MY2020 has 8 NHTSA campaigns, far more than later years of the generation. Two are safety-system defects in the roof-rail airbags, there is a cracked engine-compartment frame rail and a fuel-pump nozzle that can starve the engine, and the rest are shared GM supplier campaigns (overcured Continental tires, the start/stop accumulator endcap). Most were fleet-wide GM campaigns rather than Traverse-specific design faults, which keeps it out of the bottom 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. Two things hold it below the top band: the 9T65 nine-speed automatic draws harsh- and delayed-shift TSBs, and the 2020 owner complaints are concentrated in the engine.

The cabin is roomy and logically laid out, but hard plastics cover the dash and door panels on volume LT trims, behind the Palisade, Telluride and Pilot. 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 occasional rattles and trim squeaks, and a frame-rail recall shows build-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/XT6, 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 small 7-in Chevrolet Infotainment 3 screen; the 8-in screen arrives at LT Leather.

Chevrolet Infotainment 3 is simple and responsive and keeps physical climate and volume controls, but the small screen and dated graphics trail rivals.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2020 trim but wired only; wireless projection arrived with the 2022 refresh.

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

Volume trims get an adequate six-speaker system; a 10-speaker Bose system is standard from RS up.

Analog gauges flank a small driver information center (3.5 in on LT Cloth, 4.2 in from LT Leather); no full-digital cluster was offered.

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

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

USB ports are spread across all three rows, but wireless charging is limited to Premier and High Country and a 120-V outlet only to upper trims.

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

A rear camera is standard and rear park assist arrives at LT, but HD Surround Vision and the Rear Camera Mirror are upper-trim only and there is no automated parking.

No head-up display was offered on any 2020 Traverse trim.

Big rear doors, a sliding second row that tips forward and huge cargo space make family logistics easy, though LATCH ease of use is only Acceptable.

A 5-star NHTSA rating helps, but AEB, lane keeping and blind-spot alerts are optional packages on the trims families buy, headlights rate Poor below Premier and there is no IIHS award.

A roomy cabin in all three rows, tri-zone climate, USB ports in every row and 23 cu ft behind the third row suit long trips; rear amenities like wireless charging and heated seats are upper-trim only.

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

Around 21 MPG combined makes it 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 top-trim only.

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

The proven 3.6L V6 helps, but it 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, but 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 it feels its size and leans in quick corners; less agile than the Mazda CX-9.

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 on the 2020 model.

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, but rear-quarter visibility is limited and memory settings are top-trim only.

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

The 2020 Traverse got the new Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system with a 7-inch screen and wired CarPlay/Android Auto, 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, while Telluride and Palisade launched for 2020 with most driver aids standard.

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. The new-for-2020 Telluride and Palisade offered more standard equipment and a 10-year warranty for similar money, and the Traverse's weak ~46% retention adds to the cost.

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 and 7- or 8-passenger seating. For 2020 the RS lost its 2.0T, so a single 3.6L V6 powers every trim.

Sales held at a strong ~125k units, and the Traverse placed third in its segment in Q4 2020. Volume still fell about 15% in the pandemic year as the new Telluride and Palisade took share.

Chevrolet is a neutral mainstream badge. It can be serviced anywhere but lacks Toyota's or Honda's loyalty halo, and its heavy fleet exposure shows up in weak residuals.

The 2020 model year sold before the chip shortage, and GM ran heavy incentives. Cash-back offers and 0% financing deals (including 0%/84-month pandemic offers in spring 2020) were common on the Traverse, so buyers had real room to negotiate.

2020 is the third year of the second generation (launched for 2018), so the platform was current but the cabin already trailed the brand-new Telluride and Palisade. A refresh came for 2022 and the next generation for 2024.

Reviewers praised the huge cabin, adult-usable third row, class-leading cargo space and smooth V6. They faulted the plain interior and middling driver-aid content, and the Traverse finished behind the Telluride, Palisade and Pilot in 2020 comparisons with no major awards.