Compare the2024 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2024 Land Rover Defender

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Traverse are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Land Rover Defender doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 Defender doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Traverse has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Defender doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the Traverse and the Defender have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

Chevrolet’s powertrain warranty covers the Traverse 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Land Rover covers the Defender. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Defender ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 14 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Land Rover dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Land Rover vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in initial quality. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Land Rover is rated below average.

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 Land Rover 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, Land Rover is rated below average.

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (328 vs. 296) and 31 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 295) than the Defender P300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (328 vs. 296) than the Defender 130 P300’s standard 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Defender requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Traverse LS/LT’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Defender’s standard 70 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Defender 110 (121 inches vs. 119 inches).

The Traverse is 9.8 inches shorter in height than the Defender, making the Traverse much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

For excellent aerodynamics, the Traverse has standard flush composite headlights. The Defender has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

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

The Traverse offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Defender 90 can only carry up to 6.

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

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the Defender 110.

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the Defender 130.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Traverse RS’ second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Defender doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Traverse’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Defender’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Traverse’s power cargo door can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Defender doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

The Traverse (except LS)’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Defender doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Land Rover Defender by almost six to one during 2023.