Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Chevrolet Traverse

The Toyota Grand Highlander has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Traverse doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Grand Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Traverse doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Grand Highlander and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Grand Highlander’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Traverse’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Traverse.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked fourth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 20th.

The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (362 vs. 328) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 326) than the Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Highlander gets better mileage than the Traverse:

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Traverse doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Grand Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Traverse. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Grand Highlander offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Traverse doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Grand Highlander’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Traverse:

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Traverse’s (38.1 feet vs. 39 feet). The Grand Highlander’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Traverse with 22-inch wheels’ (38.1 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Traverse (8 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Highlander’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the Traverse Z71 (8 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Toyota Grand Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Chevrolet Traverse.

The Grand Highlander is 3.1 inches shorter than the Traverse, making the Grand Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Grand Highlander has .2 inches more rear headroom and 1.4 inches more third row legroom than the Traverse.

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Grand Highlander. The Traverse doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Grand Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Traverse’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Grand Highlander Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Traverse doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Grand Highlander’s front and rear power windows all open or close 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 Traverse’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Grand Highlander the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Traverse can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Grand Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Traverse doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Grand Highlander to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Traverse doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Traverse doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Grand Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Traverse has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.