Compare the2018 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2017 BMW X5

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Traverse are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Traverse has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The X5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

To help make backing safer, the Traverse (except L/LS)’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X5 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Traverse and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available all-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Traverse 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2016 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 14th.

The Traverse’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 10 more horsepower (310 vs. 300) than the X5 s/xDrive35i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6 cyl.

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse FWD V6 gets better fuel mileage than the X5 s/xDrive35i RWD (18 city/27 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Traverse RS for maximum performance). The X5 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Traverse, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a 8-speed automatic is available for the X5.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X5 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Traverse has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 5.4 inches longer than on the X5 (120.9 inches vs. 115.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 2.7 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the X5.

For better maneuverability, the Traverse’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the X5’s (39 feet vs. 41.7 feet).

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 750 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The front grille of the Traverse uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X5 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse has standard seating for 8 passengers; the X5 can only carry up to 7.

The Traverse has .8 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5.

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Traverse High Country’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The X5 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Traverse’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Traverse Premier/High Country’s cargo door can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The X5 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its cargo door, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Traverse offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X5 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Traverse LS/LT/RS/Premier/High Country’s available exterior keypad. The X5 doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system, and its BMW Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Traverse LT Leather/RS/Premier/High Country has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $2820 to $4765 less than the X5 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Traverse is less expensive to operate than the X5 because typical repairs cost much less on the Traverse than the X5, including $340 less for a water pump, $857 less for an alternator, $14 less for front brake pads, $241 less for a starter, $245 less for fuel injection, $340 less for front struts and $568 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Traverse will be $20910 to $26529 less than for the BMW X5.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the BMW X5 by over two to one during the 2016 model year.