Before You Buy

Chevrolet Traverse: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Midsize 3-Row SUV · SUV

MSRP Range$42,695–$57,295
A dark blue 2026 Chevrolet Traverse 3-row SUV parked in a suburban driveway in soft evening light, shot candidly at a three-quarter angle.
Engine2.5L turbo 4-cylinder, 328 hp / 326 lb-ft
Transmission8-speed automatic
Fuel Economy23 mpg combined (FWD); 21 mpg combined (AWD)
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive available (+$2,000)

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Consider
62/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • Earned a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick award (standard tier)
  • Up to 98 cu ft of cargo space and seating for up to 8
  • 328-hp turbo engine is stronger than most rivals' base powertrain
  • 17.7-inch touchscreen is among the largest in the class

Cons

  • RepairPal ranks it 22nd of 26 midsize SUVs, with an 18% severe-repair rate versus a 13% class average — one of the weaker reliability profiles reviewed on this site
  • Missed the 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ tier that several rivals (Highlander, Telluride, Santa Fe, Sorento) earned
  • iSeeCars shows steep 5-year depreciation (48.3%)
  • AWD versions drop to 19-21 mpg combined, thirstier than most 3-row rivals

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Unlikely

RepairPal's model-specific score (3.0/5.0) ranks the Traverse 22nd of 26 midsize SUVs — one of the weaker reliability profiles reviewed on this site, with an 18% severe-repair probability versus a 13% class average. We don't have a specific high-mileage longevity claim for the Traverse.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

50/100

Livable, but the complexity or running costs here reward buyers who already have some ownership experience.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Oil changes, tire rotations

60,000 miles

Brake pads
Higher-than-average odds of a repair being severe by this point, per RepairPal's data

100,000 miles

Spark plugs and turbo engine components

150,000 miles

Suspension bushings and shocks, more so under 3-row-hauling loads

200,000+ miles

No strong track record at this mileage; RepairPal's near-bottom-of-class ranking suggests budgeting well above a Highlander/Telluride/Santa Fe rival for unscheduled repairs

What It Actually Costs to Own

This is one of the more expensive 3-row crossovers on this site to actually own — above-average repair costs stack on top of steep depreciation, even though the starting sticker price looks competitive.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$1,910
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,550
Estimated Annual Maintenance$520
Estimated Annual Repairs$656
Estimated Annual Registration$210
5-Year Depreciation~48% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine2.5L turbo 4-cylinder, 328 hp / 326 lb-ft
Transmission8-speed automatic
Fuel Economy23 mpg combined (FWD); 21 mpg combined (AWD)
DrivetrainFront-wheel drive standard, all-wheel drive available (+$2,000)
Seating7 or 8, depending on trim
Warranty3 yr/36,000 mi basic, 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Chevrolet Traverse, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific Traverse, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

Similar Vehicles

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A dark blue 2026 Kia Telluride parked outside a school pickup line in daylight, shot candidly with a family loading kids into the back.
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Sources: RepairPal model reliability score (3.0/5.0), annual repair cost ($656), 22nd-of-26 midsize SUV ranking, and 18% severe-repair rate: repairpal.com/reliability/chevrolet/traverse (live lookup, 2026). 2026 MSRP ($42,695-$57,295), trims, and engine/mpg/cargo specs: spitzernorthfield.com and chevrolet.com 2026 Traverse pricing pages (live lookup, 2026). 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick award (standard tier, missing Plus): gmauthority.com and iihs.org Traverse ratings coverage (live lookup, 2026). iSeeCars 5-year depreciation (48.3%): iseecars.com Traverse resale-value and Equinox-vs-Traverse comparison pages (live lookup, 2026).