Compare the2023 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2023 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 seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the GMC Acadia:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the GMC Acadia:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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’ 2022 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 third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 7th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, GMC is rated lower.

The Traverse’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 82 more horsepower (310 vs. 228) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 258) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Acadia with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Acadia:

For better traction, the Traverse has larger tires than the Acadia (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4.

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.

For greater off-road capability the Traverse has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (7.5 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Traverse to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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

The Traverse has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, 2.5 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, 3.8 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.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Traverse easier. The Traverse’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.6 inches, while the Acadia’s liftover is 32 inches.

The Traverse’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Acadia is only 4000 pounds. The Traverse offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Traverse can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Traverse can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Acadia can’t be towed flat on the ground.

On a hot day the Traverse’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Acadia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Traverse’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $555 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 $94 less for a muffler, $4 less for front brake pads, $26 less for front struts and $582 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the GMC Acadia by 76% during the 2021 model year.