Two of the most popular midsize SUVs – the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and the 2021 GMC Acadia – are actually corporate cousins under the General Motors parent company. As such, these two competing SUVs have many similarities that draw drivers in, but their differences make for quite the fierce competition. Let’s compare their key attributes to see which comes out on top.
The 2021 Chevy Traverse comes standard with a 3.6-liter V6 that ponies up 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque on every drive. This hearty engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In comparison, the 2021 GMC Acadia only has a 2.4-liter I4 with 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque as its standard engine. Though other engines are available in the Acadia, including the 310-horsepower V6 it is not available in most trim levels. Additionally, the Traverse pulls 1,000 pounds more than even the most powerful Acadia.
Though both the Traverse and the Acadia fall under the midsize SUV segment, and the Acadia isn’t that much shorter than the Traverse, it’s clear that “midsize” means two very different amounts of space between the Traverse and the Acadia. The 2021 Traverse again outpaces its cousin by offering more overall passenger space, more spacious seating in every row, more seats, and significantly more cargo space than the Acadia. While the Traverse offers better headroom in all rows, better legroom in the first and third rows, and roomier seats in all rows, the Acadia only beats the Traverse for more second row legroom by 1.3-inches. The advantages of the Traverse are even more evident when you look at the cargo volume of these two midsize SUVs. While the Traverse offers up to 98.2 cubic-feet of cargo space, the Acadia falls short with just 79 cubic-feet of cargo space.
If you’re looking for a three-row SUV, you’re probably looking to maximize your seating with seven or eight seats inside the car. The 2021 Chevy Traverse happily delivers with seats for up to eight in its standard configuration with a 2-3-3 seating chart, or seven in a 2-2-3 setup. On the other hand, many Acadia models have an odd 2-2-2 configuration while some are treated to a 2-2-3 with just seven seats. Plus, the third row in any configuration is significantly smaller than the Traverse’s third row.
The 2021 Traverse comes standard with a rear-seat reminder, a buckle up reminder, and the General Motors Teen Driver system while the 2021 Acadia trades the buckle up reminder for rear parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Both SUVs have many more available safety features. Though the Acadia may come with more standard features, the Traverse has far more interior space than the Acadia, and at the end of the day you can always add features while you can’t add more space.
The 2021 Chevy Traverse is a spacious, powerful, well-rounded midsize SUV that wins our tossup between these two corporate cousins. If you’re ready to get behind the wheel of your very own 2021 Traverse, go ahead and check out our available Traverse inventory at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet Naples. Then, stop by for a test drive and our famous great savings!