The Chevrolet Traverse has always been the proverbial jack of all trades for Chevrolet ever since it first appeared in dealer lots, with the massive three-row SUv providing buyers an alternative to fuel-swilling Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe models. The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse is still a massive three-row CUV, but it now gets new styling, interior tech, and off-road credentials with the all-new Z71 trim.
Z71 Traverse Embraces The Wild Side, New Interior Gains Polish
Arguably one of the most noticeable changes for 2024 is the addition of the all-new Z71 trim. Like other members of the Z71 family, the Traverse’s version of this trim is meant to go off the beaten path, albeit on terrain that’s not quite as extreme as the stuff its bigger siblings get to contend with. GM engineers gave the model a number of exclusive features, including a twin-clutch all-wheel drive system, all-terrain tires with 18-inch wheels, an extra inch of ground clearance, and specially tuned dampers.
In addition to some minor mechanical upgrades on hand, The Z71 also gets some design tweaks, including a tweaked front end that helps slightly improve the approach angle. The Z71 also serves as a rough guide to some of the other changes that will bleed their way into the rest of the lineup. The front fascia loses its odd beak-like shape and instead embraces a more slab-sided look, with the bigger front grille being accented by new headlights. The RS model goes in a sportier direction with splashes of black accents as well as black accented 22-inch wheels. The rear styling also gets new LED taillights and a new rear bumper that now comes with dual squared-off exhaust tips.
The interior gets an all-new 17.7-inch infotainment system which will now be standard on all Traverse trims moving forward, with a slightly smaller 11-inch digital instrument cluster also coming along for the ride. Thankfully, Chevrolet resisted the urge to make all the controls haptic feedback units and instead retained old-school buttons and knobs for crucial functions like the climate and audio controls. The center console now has more space thanks to the brand embracing an old GM habit by moving it to a stalk-mounted shifter near the steering wheel that’s similar to what we have seen from other rivals though it’s a far cry from the old column shifters that GM used to employ in the 1980s and ’90s. The 2024 Traverse will offer eight and seven-passenger seating, but the former is only standard on the LS, while the 7-seat configuration is standard across the rest of the lineup.
Traverse Pitches V6, Embraces Full Four-Cylinder Lineup
A persistent constant about the Chevrolet Traverse for virtually all of its life was that the 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 was a long-running and increasingly dated presence when it came to performance. This engine’s time on the throne comes to an end in 2024, with all Traverse models dropping it for a new 315-horsepower, 2.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder that shares some of its corporate DNA with the bigger 2.7-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that sees varied use in other GM models.
The nine-speed automatic is swapped out for an eight-speed automatic, with front-wheel drive continuing to be standard (all-wheel drive is optional.) The platform is similar to the previous generation model, and it can still tow 5,000 lbs, but Chevy reps claim that the platform was tweaked slightly to help it cope with the four-cylinder.
When Can I Buy One?
Chevrolet didn’t reveal final pricing for the 2024 Traverse lineup in today’s announcement but the brand did confirm that the model will continue to be produced at GM’s Lansing assembly plant, with the first wave of production units making their way to showrooms in early 2024.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.