Compare the2018 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2017 GMC Acadia Limited

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 Acadia Limited doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Traverse (except L/LS/LT/RS) offers optional Front Automatic Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Acadia Limited has a collision warning system without the crash-mitigating brake feature that could reduce stopping distances.

The Traverse LT Leather/RS/Premier/High Country has a standard Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Acadia Limited only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Traverse and the Acadia Limited have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front-wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

There are over 73 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 9 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Traverse RS’ standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 266) than the Acadia Limited’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Traverse’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 29 more horsepower (310 vs. 281) than the Acadia Limited’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse gets better fuel mileage than the Acadia Limited:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Traverse’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Acadia Limited doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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

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 Acadia Limited doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Traverse has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Traverse flat and controlled during cornering. The Acadia Limited’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Acadia Limited (120.9 inches vs. 118.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Traverse’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Acadia Limited’s (39 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 500 pounds less than the GMC Acadia Limited.

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 Acadia Limited doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse has 1 inch more front headroom, .1 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .3 inches more third row legroom and .2 inches more third row hip room than the Acadia Limited.

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

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 Acadia Limited doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its cargo door, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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 Acadia Limited doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Keyless Access standard on the Traverse allows you to unlock the doors, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The GMC Acadia Limited doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Traverse has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Acadia Limited only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Traverse (except L/LS/LT/RS) detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Acadia Limited doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Both the Traverse and the Acadia Limited offer available heated front seats. The Traverse Premier/High Country also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Acadia Limited.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Traverse Premier/High Country keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Acadia Limited doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Traverse High Country has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Acadia Limited doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Traverse is less expensive to operate than the Acadia Limited because typical repairs cost much less on the Traverse than the Acadia Limited, including $6 less for a water pump, $2 less for an alternator, $2 less for front brake pads and $1021 less for a power steering pump.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the GMC Acadia by 42% during the 2016 model year.