Head-to-head
2026 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2026 Ford Explorer
The Chevrolet Traverse wins clearly, 94.4 to 81.4, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range.
A
2026 Chevrolet Traverse
The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Traverse FWD, is EPA-rated a…
vs
F2026 Ford Explorer
The 2026 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Explorer RWD, is EPA-rated at 24 …
Verdict · default weights
2026 Chevrolet Traverse
Clear winThe Chevrolet Traverse wins clearly, 94.4 to 81.4, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range.
Safety2026 Chevrolet Traverse leads by 29.2
Fuel & range2026 Ford Explorer leads by 8.6
| Category · weight | 2026 Chevrolet Traverseoverall 94.4 | 2026 Ford Exploreroverall 81.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | no data | no data |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 91.4 | 100 |
| Safetyw 4 | 96.6 | 67.4 |
| Space & cargow 2 | no data | no data |
| Performancew 2 | no data | no data |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | no data | no data |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 94.4 | 81.4 |
Chevrolet Traverse: model-level data · Ford Explorer: base trim Active Base RWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
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Specifications side by side
17 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | — | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | — | 4 |
| Engine type (full description) | — | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.58 |
| Transmission speeds | — | 10 |
| Transmission type | — | automatic hybrid |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | — | Independent |
| Rear suspension type | — | Independent |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | — | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) |
| Brakes | ||
| Parking brake type | — | Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | — | 18 in |
| Wheel material | — | Aluminum |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | P255/65R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | — | 17.9 gal |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Ford Connectivity Package |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | — | 84 months |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 12 months |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
82 features · differences first, then sharedSafety33 differ · 33 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering | — | std |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Pedestrian Detection | — | std |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Forward Collision Warning | — | std |
| Rear Cross Traffic Braking | — | std |
| Airbags – All Rows: Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | — | std |
| Airbags – First Row: Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front | — | std |
| Airbags – First Row: Front-seat Side | — | std |
| Evasive Steering Assist | — | std |
| Lane-Keeping System – Lane-Keeping Alert / Driver Alert | — | std |
| Lane-Keeping System – Lane-Keeping Assist | — | std |
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | std |
| Trailer Sway Control | — | std |
| AdvanceTrac™ with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) | — | std |
| Airbags – First Row: Driver Knee | — | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | — | std |
| BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Exit Warning and Trailer Coverage | — | std |
| Curve Control | — | std |
| Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | — | std |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (base ADAS suite) | — | std |
| Four-Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electric Brake Boost and ESC | — | std |
| Hill Start Assist | — | std |
| Intersection Assist | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) on Second and Third Row Outboard Seating Positions | — | std |
| Perimeter Alarm | — | std |
| Personal Safety System™ (driver and front passenger – dual-stage front airbags, belt pretensioners, energy-management retractors, belt usage sensors, driver seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module, Front-Passenger Sensing System) | — | std |
| Post-Collision Braking | — | std |
| Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines | — | std |
| Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | — | std |
| Side-Wind Stabilization | — | std |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | — | std |
| Speed Sign Recognition | — | std |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (ITPMS) | — | std |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) | — | std |
Infotainment13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Ford App – Remotely lock and unlock vehicle | — | std |
| Unlimited Wi-Fi Hotspot (via Ford Connectivity Package) | — | std |
| Ford App – Locate parked vehicle | — | std |
| 5G Modem | — | std |
| 911 Assist® | — | std |
| Audio – AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Capable, Six (6) Speakers, Speed-Compensated Volume, SiriusXM® with 360L | — | std |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-year Included) | — | std |
| Ford Connectivity Package (One-time purchase – 7 years) (91D) | — | opt |
| Ford Digital Experience – 13.2" Color LCD Touchscreen in IP Center-Stack with Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Wireless Compatibility | — | std |
| Ford Power-Up Software Update Capability | — | std |
| SiriusXM with 360L (3-year plan) (94B) | — | opt |
| Steering Wheel with Mounted Features – Audio Controls | — | std |
| USB Ports, First Row and Second Row (Ford Digital Experience standard); Third Row USB included on 200A+ | — | std |
Convenience3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Door Intelligent Access (Lock/Unlock) with Push-Button Start | — | std |
| Manual Liftgate | — | std |
| Powerpoints (12V) – three (3) | — | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-Zone Electronic Temperature Control | — | std |
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | — | std |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Seats – Second Row 35/30/35 Bench with E-Z Entry and Armrests (17U) | — | opt |
| Second Row Captain's Chairs with E-Z Entry and Armrests | — | std |
| Unique Cloth Seating | — | std |
Interior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Compass | — | std |
| Instrument Panel Cluster – 12.3" Color LCD Productivity Screen | — | std |
| Rotary Gear Shift Dial | — | std |
| Day/Night Rearview Mirror – Manually Adjustable | — | std |
| Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Front Passenger) | — | std |
| Steering Column – Manual Tilt/Telescoping | — | std |
| Floor Mats – Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows | — | std |
| Overhead Console with Sunglasses Storage | — | std |
| Trip Computer | — | std |
Exterior11 differ · 11 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18" Spare Wheel and Jack Kit (76U) | — | opt |
| Active Grille Shutters | — | std |
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) | — | std |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| LED Low and High Beam Headlamps with Courtesy Delay / Wiper-Activated | — | std |
| LED Taillamps | — | std |
| Mirrors, Sideview – Heated Glass | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | — | std |
| Privacy Glass – Second Row, Third Row and Liftgate | — | std |
| Rear-Window Defroster and Washer | — | std |
| Rear Spoiler – Body-Color | — | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Saver | — | std |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | — | std |
| Engine – 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | — | std |
| Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor® | — | std |
| Selectable Drive Modes | — | std |
| Transmission – 10-Speed Automatic | — | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Front and Rear Suspension | — | std |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD |
|---|---|---|
| Class III Trailer Tow Package | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPChevrolet Traverse
Safety Signal92 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls1
Owner complaints22 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutForward Collision Avoidance (7), Electrical System (6), Engine (4)
Top recalls
- highEquipment26V114000 · 5,861 vehicles
Ford Explorer
Safety Signal35 F
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls14 · 2 critical
Owner complaints33 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutElectrical System (9), Unspecified (9), Engine (6)
Top recalls
- criticalEngine And Engine Cooling26V532000 · 6 vehicles
- criticalEngine25V828000 · 6 vehicles
- highEngine And Engine Cooling26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles
- highSeats26V451000 · 387,911 vehicles
- highEngine And Engine Cooling26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- highVisibility26V202000 · 55 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Chevrolet Traverse | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — | — (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — | — 12 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Traverse FWD | Explorer RWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 22 | 24 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,850 | $2,600 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | — |
| Powertrain warranty | — | — |
| Roadside assistance | — | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse or the 2026 Ford Explorer?
The Chevrolet Traverse wins clearly, 94.4 to 81.4, on safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse scores 94.4 and the 2026 Ford Explorer 81.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse or the 2026 Ford Explorer?
2026 Chevrolet Traverse: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Ford Explorer: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 14 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the differences between the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and the 2026 Ford Explorer?
This page puts 17 specifications and 82 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.