Compare the2024 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2023 GMC Acadia

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Traverse have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The GMC Acadia doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 Acadia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Traverse and Acadia have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Traverse has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Acadia’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Traverse (except LS)’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Traverse and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

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’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated lower.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Chevrolet 4 places higher in reliability than GMC.

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 100 more horsepower (328 vs. 228) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 258) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (328 vs. 310) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 271) than the Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

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 on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

For better traction, the Traverse has larger standard tires than the Acadia (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Traverse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Acadia (275/45R22 vs. 255/65R17).

The Traverse’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4. The Traverse’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Acadia.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 8.5 inches longer than on the Acadia (121 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 3 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Acadia.

For greater off-road capability the Traverse Z71 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (7.8 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Traverse to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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

The Traverse has 2.6 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, 3 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, 5.3 inches more rear hip room, 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, 2.4 inches more third row legroom, 5.7 inches more third row hip room and 3.4 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 30.7 inches, while the Acadia’s liftover is 32 inches.

Both the Traverse and the Acadia offer second row automatic folding seats. The Traverse RS’ third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a switch. The Acadia doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

The Traverse’s standard front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Acadia’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

The Traverse RS’ standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Traverse has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Acadia.

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 Acadia doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the GMC Acadia by 86% during 2023.