The 2024 Chevy Traverse Z71 Wears the Z71 Badge with Pride

We were watching intently here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse last July when GM eagerly unwrapped the new 2024 Chevy Traverse for public viewing, showing off a good number of sweet changes and upgrades. The Z71 trim was now available, boasting canyon-sweeping and boulder-conquering upgrades to properly navigate the wild. The Traverse is the first unibody vehicle to sport the Z71 namesake, combining the chassis and body into one single and quarry-crushing architecture build!

This type of construction improves crash safety and shows up at the scales with a low and desirable economical weigh-in. As soon as you get the time to hit the road and really see what the handling dynamics are like, a unibody vehicle offers many advantages as it provides an excellent sense of precision and spirited charisma. Body-on-frame vehicles tend to have a bit more flex, which allows the chassis to twist and contort to meet the demands of an uneven surface. Body-on-frame vehicles have very rugged and tough characteristics and can be easily customized for greater clearance.

Even though the new 2024 Chevy Traverse Z71 is a unibody vehicle, it's still very well equipped to jump off the asphalt and eagerly smash some light off-roading. Upgrades over the rest of the Traverse lineup include an extra very valuable inch of ground clearance, as well as 18-inch wheels wrapped in a beefy set of all-terrain tires. You will also be happily kicking up dust courtesy of a skid plate and red tow hooks up front, with a very unique front fascia design for a much-improved approach angle. The twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system was also closely worked over to improve viable traction on any off-road surface.

A 17.7-inch infotainment display is now featured as standard, and the V6 has been swapped out for a new turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four producing 315 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. It’s quite obvious that 3-row SUVs have recently become the vehicle of choice for the suburban American family, and we definitely expect the segment to explode in popularity over the next few years. The Car and Driver review team reflected that the 2024 model looks more assertive, thanks to its beefier grille and athletic stance. The 2024 Traverse is expected to have more of a draw towards men, with ramped-up capability and chiseled new looks. 

The cabin has been fully revamped with a very clean makeover, centered around the new touchscreen and boasting physical controls for volume and climate control system. Six USB ports for optimal gadget charging along with 11.0-inch digital gauge cluster render things in the tech department fully up to speed, and there’s a very handy passthrough under the center console that opens extra space. This Z71 trim can be optioned with faux-leather upholstery, while the RS provides the same treatment for the first two rows. The RS model also brings blacked-out exterior trim, a three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel, and flashy red accents on the black interior.

The RS’s suspension is gifted with a sportier tune and a very cool lighting animation that plays as you approach with key in hand. The LT and Z71 both offer the panoramic sunroof option that makes all four seasons that much more surreal and enjoyable. Depending on the configuration, you’ll be towing up to 5000 pounds, and each Traverse is equipped with the “Buckle to Drive” system, which requires occupants to strap in safely before beginning the cruise. The Traverse will also now be offered with the latest and greatest version of Super Cruise, which handles acceleration, steering, and braking duties in a semi-autonomous and efficient form!