2025 Chevy Traverse vs 2025 Ford Explorer

• 2025 Chevy Traverse

  

  Starting at

  $40,700^[a]

  2025 Ford Explorer

  

  Starting at

  $39,755

  328	Horsepower	300
  97.6 cu.ft.	Cargo Space	85.8 cu.ft.
  20/27	MPG city/hwy	20/27

  When looking for a great SUV that you will enjoy driving each day, you have a lot of options available to you; just looking at the Chevy lineup, you will find more than six different SUV models, providing you with a ton of options. It can be difficult to narrow all of these down to find everything you want, but we find it helps to consider one or two models at a time. We also think it is ideal to focus on the size that works best for you and go from there, like a compact or subcompact model. If you are interested in a terrific SUV with three rows of seating inside, then that narrows things down a bit, though you still have plenty of options to consider and compare, such as the 2025 Chevy Traverse vs 2025 Ford Explorer.

  These are both three-row midsize SUVs with a lot to offer drivers, but some important differences between them should be noted when trying to decide which one is right for you. For starters, looking at the standard engines on these two SUVs, the Chevy Traverse gives you quite a bit more power to enjoy each day, with 328 hp compared to the 300-hp engine that comes standard with the Ford Explorer. Since these are large, three-row SUVs, you want that extra performance to help improve your time on the road. Chevy lets you choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) with the Traverse, whereas the Explorer comes with AWD; we prefer the feel of FWD for a large SUV like this.

  Although you will find three rows of seating inside these two SUVs, there are some notable differences in how things are laid out. For starters, you can get a Traverse with seating for eight passengers, while the Explorer tops out at seven-passenger seating, with one trim having only seats for six. You also get a lot more cargo space inside the Traverse, too: nearly 23 cu.ft. of rear cargo volume and almost 98 cu.ft. total, compared to just over 16 cu.ft. of rear cargo space in the Explorer and about 85 cu.ft. total. The Traverse also gives you nicer interior features to enjoy, like its standard 17.7-inch infotainment display, compared to the 13.2-inch screen Ford provides. The Explorer has a lot to offer, but Chevy simply gives you more.

• Performance

  

  Power and Handling Options

  We will admit that an engine is not the first thing a lot of people look at when considering an SUV, but maybe it should be. The engine is not only important in a sports car or full-size truck; every vehicle should have a powerful engine that makes it fun to drive. This is something Chevy clearly understands—and even though the 2025 Traverse only has one engine on offer, it is good enough that there is no need for anything else. Not only that, but you get some options for the drivetrain you prefer, making it easier to put together the perfect SUV.

  The 2025 Chevy Traverse comes with a 2.5L turbocharged I-4 engine that delivers 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, which is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for a smooth driving experience. Although the Traverse is far from the largest SUV in the Chevy lineup, it is still a big vehicle, so you need all of that power, making the Traverse feel great on the road. By comparison, the standard powertrain for the Ford Explorer is a 2.3L I-4 engine that offers 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. You can see that there is less power and torque; it is not a huge difference, but it is notable and something you can feel while driving each day.

  One of our favorite things about performance with the Traverse is that you can choose between standard FWD and available AWD to get the kind of driving experience you prefer. FWD feels great in general and provides excellent handling in most conditions, even with the large size of this SUV. Going with AWD gives you improved traction and excellent handling in a wide range of conditions, including poor weather and dirt or gravel roads. The Explorer comes with AWD as its standard setup, which is rather limiting, though it still works with a large SUV like this.

• Interior

  

  Passenger and Cargo Space

  One of the biggest reasons to choose an SUV like the Chevy Traverse is for the beautifully designed and spacious cabin it provides. Both the Traverse and the Ford Explorer are three-row SUVs, so at a glance, you might assume they are generally the same inside. In reality, however, there are big differences regarding the interiors of these two SUVs, and Chevy's designers have gone above and beyond to create something truly special. What you get with the Traverse is a spacious interior that is incredibly functional and comfortable, creating an SUV that is perfect for families of all sizes; it is particularly ideal for big families.

  If you want a three-row SUV, then you probably need seating for more than five people since two-row models can handle that many passengers quite easily. As such, it is important to look at the specific seating options for any vehicle you are interested in because they are far from the same. The Ford Explorer, for example, has seating for up to seven passengers at most, though the performance-focused ST trim only has seating for six people. By comparison, seven-passenger seating is standard in the Traverse, but the starting LT trim has eight-passenger seating available if you go with a second-row bench seat. That lets you have more people inside the Traverse, making it perfect for growing families.

  You also get a lot more room inside the Traverse for the stuff you need to bring along with you compared to what Ford offers with the Explorer. The Explorer has just 16.3 cu.ft. of rear cargo volume available, with 46 cu.ft. of space behind the second row and 85.8 cu.ft. of total cargo room behind the first row. By comparison, you get 22.9 cu.ft. of cargo volume behind the rear seats of the Chevy Traverse, with 56.6 cu.ft. behind the second row, and 97.6 cu.ft. of total cargo room behind the front seats. That is a significant difference that actually matters; whether you need to get supplies to school for your kids or load up with bags for a road trip, the Traverse is better suited for the job.

• Technology

  

  Innovative Convenience Features

  Since most of your time with your vehicle is spent with you inside driving it, you always want to look at the kinds of features you get in the cabin. The 2025 Ford Explorer, for example, features a 12.3-inch driver productivity screen along with a 13.2-inch infotainment display with a standard six-speaker sound system. Cloth seating is standard with heated front seats, along with tri-zone automatic temperature control, intelligent access on all four doors, and steering wheel-mounted controls. All of these features come together well, but some features are lacking or fall behind what you can get with the Chevy Traverse, once again demonstrating why so many people choose Chevy's model.

  For starters, in the Traverse, you get a massive 17.7-inch color LCD display with Google Built-In for the infotainment system that looks absolutely stunning. This is so much bigger than the screen in the Explorer that it truly makes a difference and is much easier to read at a glance and use while on the road. This is paired with an 11-inch Driver Information Center display that you can easily personalize to meet your needs, along with tri-zone automatic climate control. A wireless charging pad is standard in the Traverse, which makes it easy to keep your devices charged while driving; plus, you get adaptive cruise control, keyless open and start with remote start functionality, and premium cloth seating with heated front seats and a heated, wrapped steering wheel.

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