If you're in the market for a three-row SUV to accommodate your family, the 2024 Chevrolet Traverse and Hyundai Palisade are two options well worth considering. The Traverse has a fresh look for 2024, which marks the beginning of this spacious vehicle's third generation. It's challenging the Palisade for one of the top spots in the mid-sized SUV class, which the Hyundai has competed strongly in the recent years. Our Chevy team at Huffines in Plano took a closer look at these two vehicles to help you make an informed decision.
Specs and Dimensions
Throughout its four-trim lineup, the Chevy Traverse is powered by a 2.5-liter engine capable of 315 horsepower. The turbocharged four-cylinder unit is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive in its standard setup. Two different all-wheel-drive options are offered: basic AWD, and an upgraded off-roading AWD in the Z71 trim. When properly equipped, the Traverse can tow up to 5,000 pounds. That's enough for a modest camper or trailer.
The Palisade is powered by a V-6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Its 291-horsepower output can't quite compete with what the Traverse has to offer, but it still provides plenty of power for accelerating up to highway speeds. Front-wheel drive comes standard with AWD offered as an optional add-on. As it's a V-6, the Palisade's 3.8-liter engine won't be quite as fuel efficient as the Traverse' turbocharged four-cylinder unit. We don't have final mpg figures for the Traverse yet, but we expect that it will outperform the Palisade by a few mpg.
The Traverse is slightly longer than the Palisade, which helps ensure extra interior space for you and your passengers. The Traverse measures about 17 feet in length, compared to the Palisade's 16.4 feet.
Trims and Features
The cabin in both vehicles features seating for up to eight people. The maximum capacity is secured in the base trim of the Palisade and Traverse with a second-row bench seat. As you move up the trim lineups of each SUV, you gain the option to replace the second-row bench with captain's chairs. This configuration reduces the overall capacity to seven people. The Traverse has some more legroom for adult passengers than the Palisade. The Hyundai's third row is only really suitable for adults on short trips, whereas the Traverse' can accommodate them for a longer time.
The Traverse also boasts more cargo-carrying capacity. With both rear rows folded flat, the Traverse has over 97 cubic feet of space, compared to the 86 cubic feet in the Palisade. The Palisade tries to make up for being smaller with some more upscale materials in the cabin.
The Traverse is offered in four trims, while the Palisade includes five. Trims in the Traverse are LS, LT, Z71, and RS. The Palisade offers SE, SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy. Both vehicles have an off-roading specialist trim: the Z71 in the Traverse and XRT in the Palisade. The Palisade has a slightly lower starting price of around $36,000, while the base MSRP for the Traverse comes in at just over $39,000. Prices in the top trim rise to $50,100 for the Calligraphy and around $55,595 for the Traverse RS, with its sport-inspired look.
Stepping up to the LT trim in the Traverse gets you access to the captain's chairs in the second row and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Z71 trim includes a twin-clutch AWD system to improve control and traction on rough surfaces, all-terrain tires, and a raised suspension. The RS trim boasts big 22-inch wheels and a sports suspension for enhanced ride quality.
The SEL trim in the Palisade gains synthetic leather seats and a power liftgate. The XRT competes with the Z71 by offering 20-inch wheels and some rugged styling upgrades. Limited trim adds a sunroof, while the range-topping Calligraphy boasts Nappa leather upholstery.
Tech and Safety
The Traverse' dash is dominated by a massive 17.7-inch touchscreen that gives access to the infotainment system. You also get a six-speaker stereo, wireless smartphone compatibility, and a Wi-Fi hotspot in the base trim. Drivers will enjoy the 11-inch digital gauge cluster, allowing you to stay on top of your vehicle's performance.
The Palisade's base infotainment setup includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen, smartphone compatibility, navigation, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The driver only has an analogue instrument display with a 4.2-inch screen. You can upgrade to a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a head-up display, and wireless device charging.
Both vehicles have an extensive array of standard safety features in the base trim. This fact is a key consideration for families, who want to ensure that everyone stays safe on the road. Features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking help reduce the likelihood of collisions, while lane keep assist helps you stay on the right track on the highway.
One standout safety feature in the Traverse is the optional Super Cruise. This is Chevy's hands-free driving mode. On certain stretches of road that are recognized by the system, Super Cruise can take over the steering, braking, and acceleration of your SUV. It's crucial for the driver to remain focused on the road, however, since the system can't brake for accidents.
An impressive aspect of the Palisade's safety and security offerings is the Digital Key. This allows you to perform certain tasks in your Palisade, like starting your car and locking it remotely via an app. Hyundai also equips the Palisade with an optional surround-view parking camera to make it easier for you to maneuver into position.
Test Drive Your 2024 Chevy Traverse in Plano Today
As you can see, both SUVs in our comparison have a lot to offer. Buyers looking for maximum space for passengers and cargo, a more potent engine, and a larger infotainment display are likely to prefer the Traverse. If you'd like to check out what it's like behind the wheel of one before you commit to a purchase, why not chat to one of our Huffines team members about arranging a test drive in Plano? We can advise you about auto financing and leasing options to help you seal the deal.
​Image via Chevrolet
