Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2025 Toyota Highlander

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Traverse achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Toyota Highlander has not been tested.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Traverse has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Highlander Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Traverse and the Highlander 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, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

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 Toyota Highlander:

	Traverse	Highlander
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	165	292
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	38.2%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	328
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	90 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/266 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Traverse is safer than the Highlander:

	Traverse	Highlander
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	135/90 pounds	270/315 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	135/90 pounds	270/315 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

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 Toyota Highlander:

	Traverse	Highlander
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	79 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	113	114
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	346	366

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

The Chevrolet Traverse achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Highlander is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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

There are over 2 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Highlander isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

Engine

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 63 more horsepower (328 vs. 265) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 310) than the Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Chevrolet Traverse is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	Traverse	Highlander
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Traverse FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (19.4 vs. 17.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Traverse AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (21.7 vs. 17.9 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 Highlander doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Traverse’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Highlander are solid, not vented.

The Traverse stops shorter than the Highlander:

	Traverse	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	131 feet	133 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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

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 Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Highlander’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Toyota Highlander only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 8.8 inches longer than on the Highlander (121 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander.

Chassis

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 Highlander 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 Highlander doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Traverse has 15.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (157 vs. 141.8).

The Traverse has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, 3.3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room, 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.2 inches more third row headroom, 4.1 inches more third row legroom, 3 inches more third row hip room and 2.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Highlander.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Traverse	Highlander
Behind Third Seat	22.9 cubic feet	16 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	56.6 cubic feet	48.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.6 cubic feet	84.3 cubic feet

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

Servicing Ease

The Traverse uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Traverse RS/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 Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Traverse’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Highlander does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Traverse’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key System standard on the Highlander doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Traverse RS/High Country’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 is only available on the Highlander Limited/Platinum.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chevrolet Traverse has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Highlander XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

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

Recommendations

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

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Toyota Highlander by 7% during 2024.

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