2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse had a somewhat nostalgic design approach, relying on styling details to differentiate its trim levels. Its exterior was a typical SUV look with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. The Traverse's restrained styling allowed for cosmetic elements to stand out, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome accents on the High Country model. The interior mirrored this restrained styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson, in contrast, had a more conventional design that appealed to those who preferred a traditional small crossover look. It featured an upright layout providing a commanding view of the road. Inside, the Tucson boasted a modern and attractive dash design with tech features seamlessly integrated. The trim levels ranged from SE to Ultimate, each adding more features like LED headlight accents, heated seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The Tucson's interior was comfortable and supportive, even on long trips, with plenty of cubbies and compartments for storage.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel particularly powerful off the line but had enough grunt for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, but it lacked agility on twistier roads. The AWD system required manual activation and could send torque to individual wheels, but its impact on handling was minimal. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, which was average for the segment.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines came with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard front-wheel drive, with optional all-wheel drive. The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at higher speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine was livelier around town. The Tucson provided a comfortable and refined ride, striking a balance between softness and athleticism. The Tucson's towing capacity was 1,500 pounds with the base engine and 2,000 pounds with the 2.4-liter engine.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, depending on the second-row configuration. It provided above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims. However, the Traverse was limited in interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it was adequate for weekend bags or large boxes. The Tucson's front seats offered solid headroom and legroom, and the rear seats were accommodating enough for adults on road trips. The Tucson also featured plenty of cubbies and compartments for storage, with helpful trays for the driver.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trim levels offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse's infotainment system was user-friendly, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio and climate. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had 2 USB ports as standard, but wireless phone charging was only available on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim came with an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was easy to use, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact crash tests. The Traverse offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking only available on higher trims.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.