Compare the2018 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2018 GMC Acadia

Both the Traverse and the Acadia 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, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a standard 170-amp alternator. The Acadia’s standard 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 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 62 more horsepower (255 vs. 193) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 188) than the Acadia’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl. The Traverse RS’ 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 271) than the Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse FWD V6 gets better highway fuel mileage than the Acadia FWD V6 (18 city/27 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

Regardless of its engine, the Traverse’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) GMC only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Acadia 4 cyl.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Chevrolet Traverse higher (5 out of 10) than the GMC Acadia (3 to 5). This means the Traverse produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Acadia every 15,000 miles.

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.

For better traction, the Traverse has larger tires than the Acadia (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Traverse’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Acadia (255/65R18 vs. 245/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 8.4 inches longer than on the Acadia (120.9 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Acadia.

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

The Traverse has 1 inch more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear hip room, 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row headroom, 2.4 inches more third row legroom, 5.6 inches more third row hip room and 3.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Acadia.

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

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 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $350 to $3010 less than the Acadia over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Traverse is less expensive to operate than the Acadia because typical repairs cost much less on the Traverse than the Acadia, including $2 less for a water pump and $486 less for a power steering pump.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the GMC Acadia by 32% during 2016.