2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse exhibited a restrained yet dignified styling that set it apart. Chevy relied heavily on sophisticated detailing across different trim levels to give each its own identity, akin to how it previously differentiated between the Impala and Caprice. The overall exterior was quintessentially SUV, with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a prominent grille—all of which combined for a clean and attractive design that many buyers sought. However, competitors like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride offered a bit more flair, while the Mazda CX-9 showcased a streamlined appearance that further stood out.

Different trims of the Traverse featured unique cosmetic elements: the RS model sported blacked-out trim, the High Country model flashed extra chrome, and packages like Redline, Sport, and Midnight added specific styling accents. The base L trim came with 18-inch wheels, whereas higher trims were equipped with 20-inch wheels. Underneath its familiar exterior, the Traverse shared a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6, but these siblings aimed for a more upscale feel compared to the Traverse's blue-collar approach. The Traverse notably slotted below the Chevy Tahoe, featuring a unibody construction unlike the Tahoe’s truck-based body-on-frame architecture.

The interior maintained the exterior's understated elegance. Highlighting the cabin was the optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof, which illuminated the first and second rows with natural light. Materials in the RS trim were reasonably high-quality, especially given General Motors’ history of cost-cutting. However, the approximately $50,000 price tag didn’t always feel justified, a sentiment shared with many other three-row midsize crossovers that get pricey when loaded with options.

The 2021 Honda Pilot attempted to balance reliability, safety, comfort, and performance with stylish aesthetics. A 2019 refresh aimed to give the SUV a rugged appearance, culminating in the 2020 Black Edition, which featured a popular blacked-out look. Yet, its design remained an acquired taste. Seven trim levels were available: LX, EX, EX-L, Special Edition, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition, with prices ranging from $32,250 to $49,920. Front-wheel drive was standard, while all-wheel drive was optional except in the Elite and Black Edition, where it was included.

The new Special Edition trim added black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, wireless charging, and a hands-free power tailgate. The Black Edition, tested here, came fully loaded with exclusive black leather upholstery with red inserts and ambient lighting. A notable improvement for 2021 was the introduction of a Platinum White Pearl paint option. Unlike the Berber-style mats in the 2021 Honda Odyssey, the Pilot’s black mats proved impractical for pet owners, holding onto hair stubbornly. Despite some drawbacks, the quality of materials in the Pilot was evident even in harder plastic panels, and the interior layout, with its functional design and flat dashboard, gave off a minivan vibe—something that wasn’t necessarily to its advantage.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered solely by a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. While Chevy once offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option, it was no longer available. The powertrain was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission that, while generally smooth, occasionally delivered rough shifts. Despite the promising specs, the Traverse felt less powerful off the line, although it had enough muscle for highway merging and passing with the throttle pressed down.

On highways, the Traverse impressed with its quiet, comfortable ride, attributed to active noise cancellation and a supple suspension. Its handling was precise and confident, albeit less agile on twisty roads compared to rivals like the Subaru Ascent. The AWD system was somewhat unconventional; it required manual activation and could distribute torque variably across individual wheels. However, its effects were not distinctly felt, suggesting untapped potential. The Traverse included off-road and tow/haul modes, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds—average for its class, though lower than the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer.

Similarly, the 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Power delivery was smooth and rapid, aided by a nine-speed automatic transmission that drove the front wheels, unless equipped with the optional torque-vectoring AWD system capable of channeling up to 70 percent of torque to a single rear wheel. The Pilot also came with Hill Start Assist and Intelligent Traction Management, offering modes for various conditions like Snow, Mud, and Sand.

Fuel efficiency was boosted by features like variable-cylinder management and an automatic engine stop/start system, with the EPA rating the AWD model at 22 mpg combined. During testing, it averaged 21.5 mpg. The suspension, comprising MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, delivered a comfortable and surprisingly athletic ride, further enhanced by the AWD system and the Black Edition’s 20-inch wheels. Steering was responsive and well-weighted, although the brakes showed signs of strain during extended use, common with Hondas. Off-road capability was limited by a modest 7.3 inches of ground clearance and less-than-ideal approach and departure angles.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating configurations for either seven or eight passengers, with a choice between second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom were above average across all three rows. The RS trim included heated front seats, with options for ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims.

Where the Traverse truly excelled was in cargo space. It boasted 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and an expansive 98.2 cubic feet with both rear rows folded—substantially more than most competitors. A power liftgate was available from the LT Cloth trim upwards, with gesture activation offered on the Premier and High Country trims. The RS model and above also featured a power 60/40 split-folding third row. Despite its roomy nature, interior storage options within the cabin were limited, a concession to rugged styling typical in three-row crossovers.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Pilot comfortably accommodated up to eight passengers with a second-row bench seat. The tested model had leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, with the driver’s seat adjustable in ten ways but the front passenger’s seat offering only four-way adjustment. Fortunately, the passenger seat sat high enough for adequate leg support.

Second-row captain’s chairs, which were nearly as comfortable as the front seats and came with inboard armrests, were optional on the Touring trim and standard on the Elite and Black Edition trims, where they also had heating. Other amenities included side window shades, tri-zone automatic climate control, and a rear-seat entertainment system. The third-row seats were less comfortable, especially for adults on longer rides, due to a low and flat bottom cushion.

The Pilot excelled in providing ample storage solutions, with spaces carved into door panels, a large center console with a rolltop tray, and smartphone holders in front seatback pockets. The power tailgate, available from the EX-L trim and above, revealed 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, with additional trays and a sizable hidden compartment for organizing smaller items. With the third row folded, cargo space expanded to 46.8 cubic feet, and maximum cargo capacity measured a competitive 83.9 cubic feet.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen that supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. Compared to rivals like Ford and Toyota, which offered larger screens, the Traverse’s 8-inch display was user-friendly with smartphone-like icons and retained analog controls for audio and climate functions. The simplicity extended to the analog instruments and a small LCD screen, which, although basic, were effective.

Chevy’s rearview camera mirror was a standout feature, allowing drivers to switch between a traditional mirror view and a camera feed, eliminating blind spots created by rear pillars and passengers. Additionally, an HD surround-view camera system was available to simplify parking maneuvers. While all trim levels included two USB ports per row, wireless phone charging was limited to the Premier and High Country models.

In comparison, most 2021 Honda Pilot models came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, and satellite radio. The Special Edition trim added wireless phone charging, and the Touring trim offered navigation, HondaLink subscription services with a WiFi hotspot, and a premium 10-speaker audio system. However, the Pilot’s infotainment system was adequate but somewhat lacking; its screen was small, the audio system had no tuning knob, and the voice-recognition technology required precise prompts.

The Touring trim also included a rear-seat entertainment system with a 115-volt power outlet, an HDMI port, and Cabin Talk, which allowed the driver to communicate with rear-seat passengers via speakers or headphones. The system could play DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and streaming audio apps, though modern kids might prefer using the onboard WiFi with their own devices.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse top “Good” ratings in all crash tests, along with a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention. However, the Traverse’s headlights received mixed scores, ranging from “Acceptable” to “Poor,” and its LATCH child-seat anchors were rated "Acceptable." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, though it earned four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact tests.

The Traverse lagged behind in offering standard driver-assist technology. Features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available, but many required higher trim levels, unlike competitors who offered these as standard.

Conversely, every 2021 Honda Pilot came with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting from the EX trim, a blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning system was also standard. Though Honda Sensing was not the latest version and lacked some refinement, it was effective.

The NHTSA awarded the Pilot a five-star overall rating despite four-star results for front-passenger protection in a frontal crash. The IIHS gave the Pilot top “Good” ratings in most areas, except for an “Acceptable” rating for front passenger small overlap frontal impact. The headlights received mixed reviews, with basic standard headlights rated "Acceptable" and higher trims rated "Good."