2024 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse was available in three main trims in Canada: LT, Z71, and RS. The Z71 was a new addition, designed for those seeking a three-row SUV with moderate off-roading capabilities. Chevrolet emphasized that the Z71 was not intended to compete with hardcore off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco but was capable of handling reasonably rugged terrain. The Traverse's pricing was competitive, with the LT starting at $50,833 and the RS topping out at $65,733. The Z71 model, priced at $56,833, featured gloss black-painted 18-inch alloy wheels and Iridescent Pearl Tricoat paint, with a Jet Black interior accented by "Torch Red" highlights. The standard cloth seats were comfortable, though synthetic leather was available for an additional cost.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was positioned as a sportier SUV within the Range Rover family, boasting a taller stance with a shorter wheelbase and chopped top for a more athletic appearance. The SV Edition Two, the highest-performance model, featured 23-inch carbon-fibre wheels and a carbon-fibre hood. Despite its subtle exterior, the interior was adorned with red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up "SV" inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters. The minimalist dashboard design was interrupted only by a touchscreen, shifter, and engine start button. The high console and door panels created a cockpit-like feel, though it made the front seats feel slightly cramped. Material quality was high, but the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse replaced its previous 310-horsepower 3.6-litre V6 with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. This new engine offered 18 more horsepower and 50 more lb-ft of torque than the V6. All-wheel drive was standard across all trims in Canada, with the Z71 featuring a more advanced dual-clutch system. The Traverse provided acceptable acceleration and passing power, with a pleasant exhaust growl during acceleration. The steering was adequate, and the ride was smooth, even with the Z71's all-terrain tires and extra ground clearance. The brakes were progressive, and the stop-and-start feature was seamless. Fuel economy was rated at 12.4 L/100 km in the city, 9.9 on the highway, and 11.3 combined.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base Dynamic SE model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The plug-in hybrid variant produced 454 hp and 487 lb-ft, while the Autobiography model increased output to 543 hp and 590 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used a twin-turbo BMW V8 with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and had a top speed of 290 km/h. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension provided a luxurious ride, while four-wheel steering and brake-based torque vectoring enhanced agility. The Terrain Response system and air suspension offered impressive off-road capabilities.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for eight in the LT and Z71 trims, while the RS model featured second-row captain's chairs, reducing capacity to seven. The Smart Slide second-row seats were easy to use, and the power-folding third row was standard on the RS. Cargo volume was 648 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,764 litres with the second and third rows folded. The cabin featured numerous storage nooks, including a hidden storage area under the centre console and an underfloor storage bin in the cargo bay. Visibility was generally good, though the third row felt slightly claustrophobic. The Z71 model had a power-operated driver's seat, but the front passenger seat was manually adjustable.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was a two-row five-seater, offering more room than the Velar but less than the full-size Range Rover. Front-seat occupants had similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, while rear-seat headroom was only slightly less than competitors. The Sport provided 835 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 1,860 litres with the rear seats folded. The power-operated tailgate and air suspension's "access height" setting facilitated loading and unloading. The Sport's towing capacity was 3,500 kg for turbo-six and V8 models, and 3,000 kg for plug-in hybrids, surpassing some competitors.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument display. The system ran on Google-based software, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as intuitive voice commands. A wireless charging pad was included, and physical controls for volume and HVAC functions were retained. The Super Cruise hands-free driving aid was available for the first time, expanding its functionality to over 1.2 million kilometres of roads by 2025.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport had a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design left few physical controls, requiring screen widgets for climate control and drive mode selection. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition Two featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers, providing a unique, albeit slightly tacky, experience.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of the test drive. However, it offered a comprehensive suite of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, and adaptive cruise control. A surround-view parking camera and rear pedestrian alert were also standard.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though the parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.