2022 Chevrolet Traverse

2022 is the mid-cycle refresh year of the second-generation (2018–2023) Traverse — new face, lights and infotainment, but the powertrain carried over: every trim uses the 310-hp 3.6L V6. Healthy output for a mainstream three-row.

Naturally aspirated V6 torque is modest for a ~4,400-lb vehicle compared with turbo-four rivals.

Instrumented tests of the unchanged V6/9-speed cluster around 6.3–6.9 s, with Consumer Reports' own track slower at 7.3 s — quick for a large three-row family SUV.

The V6 is smooth and linear with no turbo lag and pulls eagerly 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 is sometimes slow to kick down and can feel busy; the electronic gear selector offers no meaningful manual mode.

5,000 lbs when properly equipped is the class 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 the lineup, and the High Country gets a twin-clutch AWD with active torque vectoring; a driver-selectable traction mode is offered, but no low range.

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

One engine and one transmission for every 2022 trim — the earlier 2.0T RS was gone — 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 modest 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.

The 2022 Traverse carries split NHTSA results: AWD earns 5 stars overall, but the front-drive configuration of the volume LT trim is held to 4 stars overall by its rollover-weighted result. Frontal and side ratings are 5 stars for both.

Good on both small-overlap tests, the original moderate overlap and side tests, roof strength and head restraints, but only Acceptable on the updated side test and Marginal on the updated moderate-overlap test (rear-passenger protection, tested on a 2022 RS), with Poor headlights on every trim — no 2022 Top Safety Pick. A Marginal result in a current key test keeps this just below the mid band.

The 2022 refresh made Chevy Safety Assist (AEB, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, IntelliBeam) standard on every trim. Side Blind Zone Alert/Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert start at LT Cloth (missing on base LS), and adaptive cruise is limited to upper trims — core features standard, BSM/ACC gated.

IIHS rates the standard system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian prevention, but only Basic for nighttime pedestrian detection — strong daytime performance with a clear night weakness.

Side Blind Zone Alert with Lane Change Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are standard from LT Cloth up, so most buyers get them, but they are alert-only (no rear cross-traffic braking or active blind-spot steering) and absent on the base LS; no trailer-aware coverage or safe-exit alert.

Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning became standard on every trim for 2022, but it is a reactive edge-nudge system rather than lane centering, and no centering function is offered on any trim — functional but basic.

Adaptive cruise is available only on upper trims, so the volume LT buyer gets conventional cruise control, and even where fitted it is not paired with any lane-centering highway assist.

No hands-free driving system is offered on any 2022 Traverse; Super Cruise arrived only with the 2024 third-generation redesign.

IIHS rates the headlights Poor on every trim, citing excessive low-beam glare; IntelliBeam auto high beams are standard from 2022 but do not rescue the rating.

The long, tall body gives a commanding forward view, but thick rear pillars and a small rear window create sizeable rear-quarter blind zones; a rear camera is standard and Surround Vision plus a rear camera mirror are available on upper trims.

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

The volume LT Cloth seats eight with the second-row bench; captain's chairs drop it to seven.

Generous front headroom at the top of the mid-size SUV band; dimensions carry over unchanged through the 2022 refresh.

Front legroom is merely adequate on paper for a vehicle this large.

Second-row headroom tops the SUV band.

Roomy second row that slides to trade space with the third row.

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

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

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

Hidden under-floor cargo bin and a large console with a concealed storage shelf behind the screen are useful; nothing beyond class norms otherwise.

Seats are comfortable in all three rows though cushions are somewhat flat; LT Cloth gets an 8-way power driver seat.

Reviewers single out the supple, absorbent ride as the Traverse's hallmark, though it can feel floaty with body roll.

Generally hushed at highway speed with modest road noise; Active Noise Cancellation is listed as standard.

Tri-zone automatic climate with rear controls is standard, but heated seats and remote start are reserved for LT Leather and up; ventilated seats only on top trims.

2022 is the mid-cycle refresh year of the second generation (2018–2023); Chevrolet dropped the FWD-only L, so the LS FWD became the entry point.

The LT Cloth is the Traverse's volume trim and AWD the majority mix; its $38,225 MSRP plus $1,195 destination lands just under $40k, though optioned examples run higher.

CarEdge's maintenance-only projection is ~$3,060, and adding typical out-of-warranty repair exposure for the 3.6L V6 / 9-speed drivetrain (years 4–5, past the 3/36 bumper-to-bumper) brings the combined figure to the mid-$5k range typical of mainstream three-row SUVs.

The 2022 held value slightly better than the nameplate average thanks to the 2022–23 used-car price spike, but fleet exposure and the 2024 redesign still leave it well behind Toyota and Korean three-rows.

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

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

Chevrolet Complete Care for 2022 is thin: one complimentary maintenance visit in the first year, 5-yr/60,000-mi roadside assistance and courtesy transportation, and short OnStar/Connected Services trials — behind ToyotaCare's 2 yr / 25,000 mi on the Highlander.

$39,420 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $18,527) leaves about $20,893 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $26,393 in total.

2022 is the fifth year of the second-generation (2018–2023) Traverse and its mid-cycle refresh year (new fascia, standard Chevy Safety Assist), but the mechanicals carried over. Consumer Reports rates the 2022 above other vehicles of its model year, while J.D. Power's owner-reported quality score is only average at 77/100. The signals are mixed but lean positive, so it lands mid-band, slightly above the segment median.

Chevrolet sits in the lower-middle of Consumer Reports' brand-reliability rankings and near or slightly below the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study. It trails Buick but does not finish in the bottom third year after year.

MY2022 has a single NHTSA recall, for incompatible terminals in the roof-rail curtain airbag harness connector. It is a safety-system item, but one campaign shared across 2020–2022 is light activity. The generation's launch-year recall cluster (2018) and its 9-speed shift-quality TSBs stop it short of the top band.

Every 2022 Traverse uses the 310-hp LFY 3.6L V6, part of GM's long-running High Feature V6 family with a large high-mileage population. The 9T65 nine-speed automatic is the weaker link, with owner complaints and TSBs about harsh or delayed shifts, so the powertrain stays below the top band.

The cabin is roomy and logically laid out, but hard plastics cover the dash and doors on volume LT trims, which puts it behind the Palisade, Telluride and Pilot. Owners rate the interior materials below average, and only the High Country trim feels upscale.

The Traverse is built at Lansing Delta Township on a mature line, and assembly is generally consistent. Owners report occasional interior rattles and trim squeaks, and J.D. Power's quality score is only average, which holds it mid-band.

Chevrolet has about 3,000 US dealers, GM's densest network, with good rural coverage where import rivals thin out. J.D. Power's Customer Service Index puts the brand around the mass-market average for service satisfaction.

The C1XX platform, 3.6L V6 and 9T65 transmission are shared with the Acadia, Enclave, Blazer and other GM products, 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-inch screen; 8-inch HD display on upper trims.

Chevy Infotainment 3 is simple and quick with plenty of physical controls, but the standard screen is small for the class.

New for 2022, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim.

Native navigation only on the top trims; most owners rely on phone projection and basic voice commands.

Six-speaker base audio is adequate; Bose 10-speaker system is reserved for RS, Premier and High Country.

Analog gauges with a monochrome info display on LS/LT Cloth; an 8-inch color driver display between analog gauges only on Premier/High Country.

The 2018–2023 Traverse runs GM's older Global A architecture with limited OTA scope; broad OTA came with the 2024 redesign on VIP.

myChevrolet app offers remote start/lock/locate via subscription-gated Connected Access/OnStar; no digital key.

Two USB ports in each of the three rows; wireless charging available but constrained by the 2022 chip shortage.

Keyless Open and Start on all trims and remote start on upper trims; hands-free liftgate only at the top, no phone-as-key.

Rear camera standard, rear park assist from LT; HD Surround Vision and Rear Camera Mirror on RS and above.

No head-up display offered on any 2022 Traverse trim.

Huge cabin, sliding second row with easy third-row access, and big cargo hold make family logistics easy; LATCH only Acceptable.

Chevy Safety Assist (AEB, pedestrian braking, lane keep) became standard for 2022, but FWD gets 4 stars and IIHS headlights are Poor; blind-spot monitoring misses the base LS.

Adult-usable third row, USB ports in every row, tri-zone climate and 23 cu ft behind the third row make it a strong road-tripper for big families.

Smooth V6 and supple ride make it relaxing, though its size and occasionally hesitant 9-speed downshifts add mild friction; stop/start can now be switched off.

V6-only thirst at ~21 MPG combined makes it a costly commuter versus hybrid-offering rivals.

Nearly 205 inches long with a 39-ft turning circle; surround camera only on RS and up.

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

Proven LFY V6 but an average reliability record and transmission/drivetrain recalls; a family crossover, not a fleet tool.

Cargo tie-downs, roof rails and a 120V outlet on some trims, but no work-oriented features or upfit ecosystem.

Supple ride, quiet cabin and ~400-mile range make it a good tourer, held back by adaptive cruise only on top trims and no lane centering.

AWD available on every trim and 5,000-lb towing handle gravel and campers, but modest ground clearance and no off-road trim.

Class-leading cargo at every row plus under-floor storage and available hitch.

Secure and reasonably controlled for its size, but soft tuning brings noticeable body roll and a large-feeling chassis.

Light, precise steering that makes the big SUV easy to aim, with little feedback.

Good stopping power but a pedal lacking feel; instrumented 70–0 stops for the generation sit around the mid-170-ft range.

Strong, smooth V6 let down slightly by occasionally hesitant 9-speed downshifts; the new 2022 stop/start disable switch helps.

The V6 is smooth and well isolated, audible but inoffensive under load.

A wide turning circle typical of a long-wheelbase three-row SUV.

Commanding forward view and logical physical controls, though rear visibility is limited and memory seating is top-trim only.

Quick for its size (~6.6 s to 60) but tuned as a comfortable family hauler rather than a driver's car.

The 2022 refresh made Chevy Safety Assist (automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, following-distance indicator, auto high beams) standard and added wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, but the LS still has cloth seats, a 7-inch screen and no standard adaptive cruise or blind-spot monitoring — plain next to a Palisade or Telluride at similar money.

At ~$35k for an LS and ~$39k for the volume LT Cloth AWD the Traverse buys one of the roomiest three-row cabins and a 310-hp V6 for the money, but its industry-floor warranty, ~47% five-year retention and dated interior erode the value story against Telluride/Palisade.

Six trims — LS, LT Cloth, LT Leather, RS, Premier, High Country — span ~$35k to ~$55k with FWD or AWD on every trim and 7- or 8-passenger seating; the only gap is a single 3.6L V6 powertrain.

Still a high-volume three-row at ~97k units, but calendar-2022 sales fell ~17% from 2021 under GM's chip-shortage constraints, and Explorer, Highlander and Telluride outpaced it at retail.

Chevrolet is a neutral mainstream badge — universally serviced but without the loyalty halo of Toyota or Honda, and its fleet exposure shows up in weak residuals.

The 2022 model year sold into the chip-shortage inventory crunch: dealer stock was thin, incentives were largely withdrawn industry-wide and many units transacted at or above MSRP, so buyers had little room to negotiate.

2022 is the fifth year of the second generation, freshened with a mid-cycle refresh (new front styling, standard Chevy Safety Assist), but the platform and cabin were aging and the all-new third generation arrived two years later for 2024.

Reviewers consistently praised the cavernous cabin, adult-usable third row, cargo space and smooth V6, but flagged a dated interior and ranked it behind Telluride, Palisade and Pilot in comparisons, with no major awards.