2026 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2026 Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 94.7 to 77, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, price. The Chevrolet Traverse is ahead on safety and performance.
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…
2026 Hyundai Palisade
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Palisade Hybrid FWD…
2026 Hyundai Palisade
Clear winThe Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 94.7 to 77, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, price. The Chevrolet Traverse is ahead on safety and performance.
| Category · weight | 2026 Chevrolet Traverseoverall 77 | 2026 Hyundai Palisadeoverall 94.7 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 96.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 64.2 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 93.7 | 83.6 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 84.9 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 10.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 77 | 94.7 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Chevrolet Traverse: base trim LT FWD · Hyundai Palisade: base trim SE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Hyundai Palisade wins
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (39 points against 4 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It lists 36 standard driver-assist features against 21.
- It costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $3,050).
Where the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (24 against 122 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 97 against 83).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 32.1 in of rear legroom.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $40,800 | $39,435 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,470 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 4-cylinder 2.5L VVT Turbo with stop/start, gas | 3.5L MPI + GDI DOHC 24-Valve V-Type 6-cylinder |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | Dual-overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 328 hp | 287 hp |
| Torque | 326 lb-ft | 260 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 20 mpg | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 23 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 27 mpg | 25 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.49:1 | 3.510 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 7.4 in |
| Overall height | 70.9 in | 69.5 in |
| Overall length | 205 in | 199 in |
| Overall width | 79.6 in | 78 in |
| Wheelbase | 121 in | 117 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 86.7 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 46.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 98 cu-ft | 19.1 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 181 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 42.6 in | 41.5 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40 in | 40.7 in |
| Third-row headroom | 38.3 in | 37.8 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.3 in | 44.2 in |
| Second-row legroom | 41.5 in | 43 in |
| Third-row legroom | 32.1 in | 32.1 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 4,575 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,420 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 6,327 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut | MacPherson strut with coil springs |
| Rear suspension type | 5-link Independent | Multi-link Independent, separated spring & shocks |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric variable-effort power steering | Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Rack and pinion, column-mounted |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 39 ft | 39.2 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 321 mm | 345 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 315 mm | 325 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | aluminum | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | — | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 255/65R18 | 235/65 R18 106H |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 19.4 gal | 19 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Bluelink |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 62.3 in | 61.4 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 62.2 in | 61 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 57.7 in | 55.6 in |
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
121 features · differences first, then sharedSafety49 differ · 54 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind-Spot Collision Warning | — | std |
| Forward Collision Alert | std | — |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | — | std |
| Lane Following Assist 2 | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist | — | std |
| Surround View Monitor | std | — |
| Driver and front passenger airbag (2) | — | std |
| Front (2) and 2nd row (2) side impact airbags | — | std |
| Front center airbag (1) | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist – HDA I | — | std |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control w/ Stop & Go & Curve Control | — | std |
| Rear view monitor with parking guidance | — | std |
| Side air curtains (front and rear passengers) with rollover sensors (2) | — | std |
| 2x LATCH anchors & 3 tethers (for bench seat) in 2nd row; 2x LATCH & 3 tethers for 3rd row | — | std |
| Front (2) and 2nd row (2) side impact airbags | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning – Forward and Reverse | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist w/ rear door indicator | — | std |
| Trailer Sway Control | — | std |
| ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Blind Zone Steering Assist | std | — |
| Buckle to Drive | std | — |
| Driver Knee Airbag (1) | — | std |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) with traction control (TCS) and brake assist | — | std |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) with traction control (TCS) and brake assist | — | std |
| Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist | opt | — |
| Following Distance Indicator | std | — |
| Forward Attention Warning | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection & JT/DO | — | std |
| Haptic Feedback steering wheel | — | std |
| HD Rear Vision Camera | std | — |
| Hillstart Assist Control (HAC) | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking | std | — |
| Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Occupant Alert (door-logic system) | — | std |
| Rear Park Assist | std | — |
| Rear Pedestrian Alert | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Safety Alert Seat | std | — |
| Side air curtains with rollover sensors | — | std |
| Side Bicyclist Alert | std | — |
| Super Cruise | opt | — |
| Teen Driver | std | — |
| Traffic Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Vehicle stability management | — | std |
| Immobilizer | — | std |
| Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) with individual tire indicator | — | std |
| Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Car/Ped/Cyclist Detection | std | std |
| Smart Cruise Control 2 (w/ Emergency Stop) | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist | std | std |
| Driver Attention Warning | std | std |
| High Beam Assist | std | std |
Infotainment14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wifi Hotspot | — | std |
| Bluetooth® hands-free w/ wireless audio streaming | — | std |
| 12.3" color touchscreen with onboard Navigation; Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay; HD Radio; SIRIUS XM | — | std |
| Audio controls (Volume up/down, Seek up/down, Mode) | — | std |
| Bluelink® Connected Car System | — | std |
| Bose Audio | std | — |
| Dynamic Voice Recognition | — | std |
| High Power USB-Cs: Two 1st row (2x USB-C Power) + Two 2nd row + Two 3rd row | — | std |
| Multiple Device Connection (up to two devices) | — | std |
| Over-the-Air (OTA) software updates | — | std |
| Paddle Shifters | — | std |
| Panoramic curved dual 12.3-in displays (instrument cluster + infotainment as single curved unit) | — | std |
| Passenger Talk In-car intercom | — | std |
| Rear Seat Quiet Mode | — | std |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Proximity key entry with push button start | — | std |
| Remote engine start (on key fob) | — | std |
| Remote release Hood | — | std |
| Remote Start | std | — |
| 12-volt outlet – 2 total: 1 Fr, 1 cargo | — | std |
| Power windows with safety front auto-down/up | — | std |
Climate2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 3-Zone automatic climate control w/ auto defog | — | std |
| PTC Heater | — | std |
Seating8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row Bench Seating – 60/40 split fold-flat seats with recline & adjustable head restraints | — | std |
| Heated front seats (high/medium/low) | std | — |
| 6-way adjustable driver's seat | — | std |
| 3rd row 60/40 split-fold seats with ingress/egress handles | — | std |
| 6-way adjustable passenger seat | — | std |
| One-touch 2nd row seat slide for 3rd row access | — | std |
| Seating – Cloth | — | std |
| Tilting Walk-In Feature (manual) | — | std |
Interior13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated steering wheel | std | — |
| 4.2" Color multi-information display | — | std |
| Dashboard – Slush-molding | — | std |
| Dashboard – Wrapped, artificial leather | — | std |
| Interior door handles – Metal Paint | — | std |
| Leather-wrapped steering wheel | — | std |
| Upper door panels / console armrest – Premium Soft Touch | — | std |
| Sunvisor – w/ illumination | — | std |
| Front seat seatback pockets | — | std |
| Headliner/Pillar – Cloth | — | std |
| Hydrographic interior trim | — | std |
| Sunvisor – Dual vanity mirror with cover, w/ sliding function, w/ illumination | — | std |
| Door storage pockets – Front and rear | — | std |
Exterior15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED headlights (Projector) | — | std |
| Acoustic side glass – Front | — | std |
| Acoustic windshield | — | std |
| Door handle welcome lights | — | std |
| Heated outside mirrors | — | std |
| LED center positioning light | — | std |
| LED daytime running lights | — | std |
| LED rear combination lamps/taillights | — | std |
| Automatic headlights | — | std |
| Privacy glass – Rear/quarter/back glass | — | std |
| Rear window defroster with timer | — | std |
| Solar front glass – Front door, windshield | — | std |
| Compact Spare Tire / T155/90R18 | — | std |
| LED Roof-mounted center high-mount wide stop lamp | — | std |
| Rear spoiler – Wide Integrated with CHMSL, bodycolor | — | std |
Powertrain3 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Drive Mode Select (Eco, Sport, & My Drive) – Dash-mounted button + toggle switch | — | std |
| Idle Stop & Go | — | std |
| Shift-by-Wire w/ paddle shifters | — | std |
| Drive Configuration – FWD | std | std |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear – Self-Leveling suspension | — | std |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tow Hitch | — | opt |
| TOW mode – Dash-mounted button | — | std |
| Trailering Package (trailer prewire, HD engine/trans coolers, sway control) | — | std |
| Underfloor storage compartment | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPChevrolet Traverse
Top recalls
- minor Equipment 26V114000 · 5,861 vehicles
Hyundai Palisade
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V160000 · 61,307 vehicles
- moderate Seat Belts 26V169000 · 46,787 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 26V047000 · 41,651 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Hyundai PalisadeSE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40,800 (base trim) | $39,435 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $40,800 – $55,400 7 trims | $39,435 – $58,780 21 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Traverse FWD | Palisade Hybrid FWD Blue |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 22 | 34 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,050 | $1,950 |
| 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 Hyundai Palisade?
The Hyundai Palisade wins clearly, 94.7 to 77, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, price. The Chevrolet Traverse is ahead on safety and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Hyundai Palisade scores 94.7 and the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse 77. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
The 2026 Hyundai Palisade starts lower — $39,435 against $40,800, a gap of $1,365 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse or the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
2026 Chevrolet Traverse: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Hyundai Palisade: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 3 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 biggest differences between the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and the 2026 Hyundai Palisade?
Where the 2026 Hyundai Palisade wins: it lists more comfort and tech equipment (39 points against 4 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), lists 36 standard driver-assist features against 21, and costs $1,100 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,950 against $3,050). Where the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (24 against 122 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 97 against 83). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 32.1 in of rear legroom.