Compare the2018 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2018 Acura MDX

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 MDX 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 MDX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Traverse and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the MDX’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Chevrolet pays for scheduled maintenance on the Traverse for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Chevrolet will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 2 oil changes). Acura doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the MDX.

There are over 11 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

The camshafts in the Traverse’s engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The MDX’s camshafts are driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the MDX’s cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a standard 170-amp alternator (155-amp - Traverse RS). The MDX’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in reliability, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 8th.

The Traverse RS’ standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6. The Traverse RS’ 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 289) than the MDX Sport Hybrid’s standard 3.0 SOHC V6 hybrid.

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 MDX requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 19.5 gallons).

For better traction, the Traverse has larger tires than the MDX (255/65R18 vs. 245/60R18).

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 9.9 inches longer than on the MDX (120.9 inches vs. 111 inches).

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 MDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse has standard seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The Traverse has 3.2 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row headroom, 5.4 inches more third row legroom, 7.9 inches more third row hip room and 2.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Traverse High Country’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The MDX 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 MDX doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its cargo door, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The power windows standard on both the Traverse and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Traverse is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 MDX doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system, and its extra cost AcuraLink can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $450 less than the MDX over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Traverse is less expensive to operate than the MDX because typical repairs cost much less on the Traverse than the MDX, including $10 less for a water pump, $35 less for an alternator, $166 less for a starter, $35 less for front struts and $774 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 $7637 to $10640 less than for the Acura MDX.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Acura MDX by over two to one during 2016.