2023 Chevy Traverse vs 2023 Ford Explorer

If you’ve been shopping for midsize SUVs, you’ve probably come across the Chevrolet Traverse and Ford Explorer. These two SUVs have been battling each other for segment dominance for years and offer appealing features for many buyers. To help you make an intelligent buying decision, we asked our SUV experts here at Cochran Chevrolet in Youngstown, OH, to compare the two vehicles. Here’s what they found.

Trim Levels and Pricing

Chevrolet makes the Traverse in six trim levels and offers three special edition packages to enhance your ride further. Ford offers the Explorer in eight trim levels. We review the pricing below:

As you can see, the Traverse comes with a lower MSRP than the Ford. And the three special edition packages allow buyers to tailor their Traverse to suit their style. For example, you can add the Midnight or Sport Edition to the LS, LT Cloth, and LT Leather trims for only $995. The Redline Edition is available for the Premier trim for $2,345.

Winner: Chevrolet Traverse

Better prices and unique edition options put Traverse ahead of the Explorer in this category.

Exterior

Both vehicles have similar exterior profiles. Sleek lines and bold stances have a modern appeal. The lower Traverse trims roll on 18-inch alloy wheels, while the RS has a trim-exclusive 20-inch design. Premier and High Country trims come with 20-inch alloy wheels in various patterns.

Roof rails come standard in chrome or black, depending on your model. A programmable power liftgate with logo projection comes standard on the top tiers and is available on all trims, as are the heated power-operated side mirrors.

Ford offers many of the same features on the Explorer exterior. The real difference comes with the unique edition options on the Traverse. The Midnight Edition adds blacked-out features, including Gloss Black wheels, Black roof rails, a Black Ice grille, and Black bow ties and emblems.

The Redline Edition adds Red accents to the Gloss Black wheels and Black trim to the windows, door handles, grille, and tail lamps. Plus, you get a dual-panel sunroof and trailering equipment. Unfortunately, Ford doesn’t offer these signature exterior packages.

Winner: Chevrolet Traverse

Signature design packages offer a unique style for the Traverse that the Explorer doesn’t have.

Interior

Both the Traverse and the Explorer offer three rows that seat seven people, a rarity in the midsize SUV segment, and a 2-2-3 seating pattern with captain’s chairs for the second row. However, the second row in the Traverse has Smart Slide technology for easy access to the third row.

Heated seats come standard on every Traverse, and the LT Leather and above have ventilated seats as well. The LS and LT Cloth have cloth seats. All other trims have premium leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

All the technology in the Chevrolet Traverse runs on the Infotainment 3 Plus platform, operated by an 8-inch touch screen. In addition, you get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth systems, enabling hands-free smartphone operations. Wireless charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot come standard, and you have USB charging and data ports in all three rows.

Ford’s Explorer lineup follows a similar pattern with cloth on the lower trims and premium leather on the top tiers. However, they offer synthetic faux leather to upgrade the lower trims. You also find heated and ventilated seats in Explorer top trims.

You get Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment operating system on a touch screen that includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Ford gives you a wireless charging pad in the top trims but only incorporates USB ports in the first two rows.

Winner: Traverse

Perhaps the closest category yet, but we have to give a slight edge to the Traverse for its technology package.

Driver-Assist Technology

Now considered must-have tech, Chevrolet and Ford include a base suite of systems in these SUVs. Both manufacturers employ radar, cameras, and optical sensors to scan around the vehicle for potential hazards. Once a system detects a problem, it alerts you with visual and audio cues so you can take immediate corrective action.

However, if you react slowly, some systems engage emergency braking or additional brake support to help mitigate damage from a possible accident. Other systems can provide gentle steering correction to help keep your vehicle from drifting out of your lane or leaving the road.

The Chevrolet Safety Assist suite includes forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, lane departure warning, IntelliBeam automatic headlights, and a following distance indicator.

Chevrolet includes adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change alert with side blind-zone alert, a rear camera mirror, HD surround vision, and a Safety Alert Seat on their top Traverse trims and available as options on every trim.

Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver-assist suite includes lane-keeping assist, lane-keeping alert, driver alert, auto high beams, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, and the blind-spot information system. Available systems include a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, and reverse brake assist.

Winner: Traverse

Both vehicles have the same standard and optional safety systems. The lone exception is Chevrolet’s Safety Alert Seat, which provides directional haptic feedback through vibrations in the seat in addition to the visual and audio cues.

Chevrolet Traverse for the Win

It’s clear after a thorough examination that the Chevrolet Traverse edges out the Ford Explorer in every way. You can enjoy premium comfort, expressive style, and the latest tech for less money when you choose Traverse. We invite you to browse our online inventory to find a model that suits your tastes. Then, you can stop by our #1 Cochran Chevrolet dealership in Youngstown, OH, for a test drive. For all of your questions about model comparisons, turn to your #1 Cochran team!

Image by Jessie Collins is licensed with Unsplash License