2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid vs 2026 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse presented itself as a smaller version of the Chevrolet Tahoe, boasting an upright design and a high-set grille that contributed to its robust appearance. Its front end mirrored the Tahoe with eye-slit LED headlights and a distinctive air intake/fog light design integrated into the grille. The sides maintained a clean, semi-rounded shape, accentuated by a forward-angled pillar behind the rear door, which was blacked out at the top to create a semi-floating roof effect. Unlike the squared-off wheel wells of Chevy’s pickup trucks, the Traverse featured rounded wheel wells with thin black flares, adding to its unique style. The grille varied by model, with chrome and black options, while the Z71 trim stood out with red front tow hooks and all-terrain tires. Wheel sizes ranged from 18 to 22 inches, and an optional Midnight/Sport Edition package on the base LT added a sleek, blacked-out look. Inside, the Traverse was dominated by a 17.7-inch touchscreen and an 11-inch digital instrument cluster, with a well-organized centre console thanks to the shifter's relocation to a steering wheel stalk. The interior materials were smart, with soft-touch surfaces and contrasting stitching, though some hard plastics were present. The base LT trim offered a range of features, including cloth upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and a hands-free power liftgate, while the RS trim added leather upholstery and additional power adjustments.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, particularly in its Platinum Hybrid Max trim, was a blend of performance and efficiency. It featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine paired with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, producing 362 horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, aided by a traditional six-speed automatic transmission that avoided the droning typical of CVTs. While the Hybrid Max offered impressive power, it came with a fuel economy trade-off, rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined, compared to the standard hybrid's 7.0 L/100 km. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The Hybrid Max excelled in acceleration, with electric motors eliminating turbo lag, and provided a soft, isolating ride quality. Handling was secure, though the tires tended to scrub and squeal early in curves. Visibility was excellent, aided by available camera systems, though the front camera's frequent takeover of the infotainment screen was a minor annoyance.

The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse excelled in road manners compared to its larger sibling, the Tahoe, thanks to its car-like unibody architecture. Measuring 5,194 millimetres in length and weighing 2,173 kilograms with standard AWD, the Traverse offered more controlled handling than body-on-frame vehicles like the Tahoe. While it exhibited some lean in corners, it never felt unstable. The steering was light and direct, and the ride quality was generally smooth, though it could become busy on rough surfaces. The Traverse was powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms, which was average for its class. The engine provided adequate power, with a 0 to 100 km/h time of around eight seconds, though engine noise was a drawback. The Traverse required manual engagement of AWD and drive modes, which included Normal, Sport, Off-Road, Snow/Ice, and Tow/Haul.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max emphasized performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre engine and electronic full-time AWD, delivering 362 horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate quickly, with the electric motors eliminating turbo lag. The traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoided the droning typical of CVTs. While the Hybrid Max offered impressive power, it came with a fuel economy trade-off, rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The Hybrid Max excelled in acceleration, with electric motors eliminating turbo lag, and provided a soft, isolating ride quality. Handling was secure, though the tires tended to scrub and squeal early in curves. Visibility was excellent, aided by available camera systems, though the front camera's frequent takeover of the infotainment screen was a minor annoyance.

The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse, at nearly 18 centimetres shorter than the Tahoe, offered ample passenger space but less cargo capacity. The RS trim featured second-row captain’s chairs for seven-passenger seating, while the LT and Z71 trims used a second-row bench for eight-passenger capacity. First-row occupants enjoyed comfortable seats with good range of motion, and the centre console provided excellent storage options. Second-row passengers had ample space, but the third row was best suited for children due to limited legroom. The Traverse offered 648 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,603 litres behind the second row, and 2,764 litres behind the first row, with a flat load floor enhancing usability.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid provided comfortable seating in all three rows, with more than 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, adding a touch of luxury. The front and second-row seats offered heating, ventilation, and supportive cushions. However, the rear doors were long and required ample space to open, making child seat installation challenging. The second-row captain’s chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row. The Grand Highlander offered 586 litres of cargo space behind the third row, 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and 2,761 litres with the second row folded, nearly matching the Sienna minivan’s capacity.

The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse boasted excellent technology, featuring an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and quick response times. Google Maps, Apple Music, and Amazon Music were standard, and the system included a satellite radio trial, Wi-Fi hotspot wiring, and eight years of OnStar Basics. The base audio system had six speakers, with an optional 12-speaker Bose system available.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, in XLE trim, featured a 7-inch digital driver display with traditional analog gauges, while Limited and Platinum trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. All models had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Toyota Connected Services provided features like automatic collision notification and a digital voice assistant. The system was easy to use, though the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously was a drawback. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 Chevrolet Traverse came equipped with a comprehensive set of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Enhanced Driving package added GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driver-assistance technology, while the Driver Confidence package included a surround-view camera system and traffic sign recognition. The Traverse earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a range of standard safety features and driver assistance technologies. Proactive Driving Assist was standard, though it could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS due to “Acceptable” ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.