Compare the2023 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2024 Mazda CX-90

For enhanced safety, the Chevrolet Traverse’s middle seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Mazda CX-90 doesn’t offer comfort guides on its middle seat belts.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Traverse and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Traverse the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 233 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CX-90 has not been tested, yet.

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CX-90’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 5 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Mazda 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 Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 15th.

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 Mazda 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, Mazda is rated lower.

The Traverse’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (310 vs. 280) than the CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-90 PHEV requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse FWD’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the CX-90’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Traverse AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 19.6 gallons).

The Traverse has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Traverse, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the CX-90.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mazda CX-90 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 CX-90 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Mazda CX-90.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Traverse has 3.1 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.3 inches more third row headroom, 3.1 inches more third row legroom and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-90.

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-90.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Traverse High Country’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

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 CX-90 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Traverse Premier/High Country’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Traverse and the CX-90 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 CX-90 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’s available exterior PIN entry system. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Traverse’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Traverse is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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