2026 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2026 Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander wins clearly, 94.1 to 78.4, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Chevrolet Traverse is ahead on price 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 Toyota Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid …
2026 Toyota Highlander
Clear winThe Toyota Highlander wins clearly, 94.1 to 78.4, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Chevrolet Traverse is ahead on price and performance.
| Category · weight | 2026 Chevrolet Traverseoverall 78.4 | 2026 Toyota Highlanderoverall 94.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 89.5 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 62.5 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 85.1 | 94.6 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 87.2 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 85.6 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 13.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantyw 2 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Basic and powertrain coverage in years and miles. | |||||||||||||||||
| Overall | 78.4 | 94.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · all 7 categories compared
Chevrolet Traverse: base trim LT FWD · Toyota Highlander: base trim XLE AWD. 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 Toyota Highlander wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 29 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (30 points against 4 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It costs $1,150 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,900 against $3,050).
Where the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse answers
- It lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 12.
- It starts $4,770 lower ($40,800 against $45,570 base MSRP).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- A 3-year basic warranty.
- 36,000-mile basic coverage.
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
54 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $40,800 | $45,570 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 2,393 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 4-cylinder 2.5L VVT Turbo with stop/start, gas | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged DOHC |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | D-4S |
| Valve configuration | Dual-overhead camshafts, four-valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 328 hp | 265 hp |
| Torque | 326 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 20 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 23 mpg | 24 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 27 mpg | 28 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.49:1 | 3.329 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8 in |
| Overall height | 70.9 in | 68.1 in |
| Overall length | 205 in | 195 in |
| Overall width | 79.6 in | 76 in |
| Wheelbase | 121 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 84.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 48.4 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 98 cu-ft | 16 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 142 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 7 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 42.6 in | 41.2 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40 in | 39.4 in |
| Third-row headroom | 38.3 in | 36.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.3 in | 42 in |
| Second-row legroom | 41.5 in | 38.7 in |
| Third-row legroom | 32.1 in | 28 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 4,376 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,376 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 5,970 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson strut | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar; trailing-wishbone |
| Rear suspension type | 5-link Independent | Multi-link with stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric variable-effort power steering | Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 39 ft | 18.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 321 mm | 338 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 315 mm | 338 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | aluminum | alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 255/65R18 | P235/65R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 19.4 gal | 17.9 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Toyota Connected Services |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | — | 12 months |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 60 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 62.3 in | 59 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 62.2 in | 58.7 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 57.7 in | 55 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
87 features · differences first, then sharedSafety35 differ · 35 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control | std | — |
| Front Pedestrian Braking | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Alert | std | — |
| Panoramic View Monitor — includes 360-degree Overhead View in low-speed drive and reverse, and Curb View | std | — |
| Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning | std | — |
| Downhill Assist Control (DAC) | — | std |
| Driver Attention Assist | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control (TSC) | — | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | — | std |
| Backup camera with projected path | — | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | — | std |
| Blind Zone Steering Assist | std | — |
| Buckle to Drive | std | — |
| Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist | opt | — |
| Following Distance Indicator | std | — |
| HD Rear Vision Camera | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | — | std |
| IntelliBeam® High Beam Assist | std | — |
| Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking | std | — |
| Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Park Assist | std | — |
| Rear Pedestrian Alert | std | — |
| Rear Seat Reminder | std | — |
| Safety Alert Seat | std | — |
| Side Bicyclist Alert | std | — |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) | — | std |
| Super Cruise | opt | — |
| Teen Driver | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA) and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) | — | std |
| Traction Control (TRAC) | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer | — | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) (individual tires) | — | std |
Infotainment14 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Assistance Button (SOS) | — | std |
| Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Apple Music® and Amazon Music) compatibility | — | std |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch | — | std |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance button, enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, USB media port, four USB charge ports, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | — | opt |
| 6-speaker audio system | — | std |
| 8.0-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | — | std |
| Bose Audio | std | — |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist | — | std |
| Five USB ports (one USB-A media port and four USB-C charging ports) and two 12V outlets | — | std |
| Over-the-Air (OTA) updates | — | std |
| Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with charge indicator light | — | std |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports | — | std |
Convenience5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Height-adjustable hands-free power liftgate with jam protection | — | std |
| Smart Key System on front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic and liftgate functions; and remote illuminated entry | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down in all positions and jam protection | — | std |
| Remote Start | std | — |
| Two 12V outlets | — | std |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Three-zone automatic climate control with air filter, separate second-row control panel, individual temperature settings for driver, front passenger and rear-seat passengers, and second- and third-row vents | — | std |
Seating6 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support | — | std |
| 7-passenger seating with second-row fold-down captain's chairs and fold-down inboard armrests, adjustable headrests and two cup holders mounted on the floor; and 60/40 split, fold-flat third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | — | std |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-flat second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-flat third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | — | opt |
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| SofTex®-trimmed front- and second-row seats; heated front seats; 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| Heated front seats | std | std |
Interior7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated tilt/telescopic leather-trimmed steering wheel | std | — |
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal garage door opener | — | std |
| 7-in. color LCD Multi-Information Display (MID) with odometer, trip/average fuel economy, cruising range, average speed, AWD torque distribution (AWD models only), cruise control guide, audio details, hands-free incoming call notices, telephone information | — | std |
| Second-row sunshades | — | std |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and painted door trim | — | std |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
Exterior16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade and one-touch open/close | — | std |
| LED projector headlights | — | std |
| Heated power outside mirrors | — | std |
| High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass on front side windows | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED fog lights | — | std |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| Outside mirrors with turn signal indicators | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield washer and backup camera washer | — | std |
| Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light | — | std |
| Silver-painted roof rails | — | std |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | — | std |
| Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield defogger | — | std |
| Front and rear mudguards | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire/wheel | — | std |
Powertrain2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| All-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| FWD | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPChevrolet Traverse
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V696000 · 4 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V114000 · 5,861 vehicles
Toyota Highlander
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Chevrolet TraverseLT FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40,800 (base trim) | $45,570 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $40,800 – $55,400 7 trims | $45,570 – $54,975 7 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Traverse FWD | Highlander Hybrid AWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 22 | 35 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,050 | $1,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | 2 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander wins clearly, 94.1 to 78.4, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Chevrolet Traverse is ahead on price and performance. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Toyota Highlander scores 94.1 and the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse 78.4. 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 Toyota Highlander?
The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse starts lower — $40,800 against $45,570, a gap of $4,770 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 Toyota Highlander?
2026 Chevrolet Traverse: 5 NHTSA stars, grade B, 2 recalls. 2026 Toyota Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 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 Toyota Highlander?
Where the 2026 Toyota Highlander wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 29 filed with NHTSA), lists more comfort and tech equipment (30 points against 4 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and costs $1,150 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,900 against $3,050). Where the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse answers: it lists 21 standard driver-assist features against 12 and starts $4,770 lower ($40,800 against $45,570 base MSRP). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars, a 3-year basic warranty, and 36,000-mile basic coverage.