Demystifying the Divide: Chevrolet Traverse RS vs. LT – Which Fits Your Style?

The vehicle line we love to provide and service so much here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse never shows up light-handed on options, as our variety of well-equipped family haulers come in so many shapes and sizes! The Chevy Traverse received an extended makeover for the 2024 year, officially marking the 3rd-generation variant of this capable 3-row crossover. It shows up for duty with a bit more rugged of a persona, and power coming from an incredibly gutsy and efficient new 4-cylinder. 

Even though the powertrain has fewer cylinders, it still cranks out 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. Decidedly all-in and punching the pistons for duty every day are two new dual overhead camshafts, variable valve timing, and spark ignition direct injection. This savvy and persistently strutting turbo engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive or an optional all-wheel drive setup. The 2024 model year also brings about another thrilling first, as the mud and sand-conquering Z71 trim adds some fine bits of off-road-ready extras.

The wilderness-ready Z71 has a twin-clutch all-wheel drivetrain, which executes torque vectoring between the left and right rear wheels to help conquer uneven and demanding terrain. This year’s Traverse will arrive right here at the Powerhouse in LS, LT, Z71, and RS trim grades. The RS resides at the top of the range, offering more aggressive looks and other bits of performance-enhancing equipment. The RS also features 22-inch wheels with all-season tires, a heavy-duty cooling system, and a 220-amp alternator. 

The very cool front grille has an entirely different blacked-out look in the front, and the RS also features active noise cancellation, power and ventilated front seats, a flat bottom steering wheel, and a crisp 10-speaker Bose sound system. The LT trim comes in front or all-wheel drive and offers 3-row seating for up to seven. It comes equipped with 18-inch wheels and all-season tires, and its major difference from the RS is the added brightwork and body-color moldings. The LT trim comes equipped with the standard 170-amp generator, with the more powerful 220-amp model available as an option. 

The LT model still comes with the 17.7-inch infotainment system, while offering a six-speaker sound system instead of ten. Coming as standard in the RS trim and optional for the LT, GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving technology incorporates GPS and very high-tech cameras to help automatically steer and maintain position. Real-time corrections and map data within the application closely determine your vehicle’s location, and then the Lane Sensing Camera detects marked lanes to assist with this “glimpse of the future” that takes over steering and staying on point. 

Pushing minivans out of favor with most of the driving public, well-equipped SUVs such as the Traverse have now become even more trucklike and solid. This year’s Traverse can still tow 5,000 lbs, which is yet another win for the smaller and quite remarkable 4-cylinder! The Motor Trend crew claimed after their test drive this winter that “GM continues to have one of the smoothest, most seamless auto start-stop systems in the business- you don’t even notice it!” Second-row passengers enjoy cubbies in the front-seat backs, USB outlets, power for a laptop, HVAC controls, and a very useful tray for a wallet, glasses, or phone. 

Many excellent safety features come as standard on the new Traverse, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, and automatic braking when pedestrians and cyclists are detected. When the Autoblog team set out on a mission to see how the 2024 Chevy Traverse ranked up against the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, they claimed that they were “excited to get more time behind the wheel with a teeming load of passengers and cargo- especially in that Z71!”

Gravel Guru: The Capable 2024 Chevy Traverse- Where Every Path is Your Playground!

Since the very first Chevy Traverse was launched in 2009, the 3-row crossover market has changed drastically. We’ve watched intently here at Mid-Missouri Powerhouse as this segment has wholeheartedly pulled ahead of the family-toting minivan category to become a replacement of sorts for the nearly Winnebago-esque family truckster! Crossovers have enjoyed a good deal of success with a form of very squared-off styling while going all-in to emulate body-on-frame characteristics. 

The big story for this year’s Traverse is the turbocharged 4-cylinder, which dusts its cleats off and steps eagerly up to the plate with more power and better fuel economy than the outgoing V6. If that’s all not quite exciting enough to make you seriously consider a test drive, there’s also the inclusion of the hands-free Super Cruise system. The amazing 2.5-liter 4-cylinder cranks out 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed transmission, with the choice of all-wheel or front-wheel drive. The EPA fuel rating is 23 mpg for the front-wheel drive trim.

That’s a notable improvement of 2 mpg city over the outgoing model, with the Autoweek staff claiming that the new 4-cylinder offers an exciting sense of power that is more than adequate. Anyone paying close attention to the way things behave directly off the line will agree that things feel quicker than the old model in all ways. Every Traverse will have driver tech such as rear automatic braking, blind-zone steering assist, and adaptive cruise control. 

One of the coolest new features that modern technology has offered busy commuters is stop sign recognition, which uses advanced forward-facing cameras to detect and then classify signs. The addition of Super Cruise has also beefed up its automatic lane changing feature, which offers excellent performance and a very smooth transition after the job is done back to hands-on driving. This year’s model offers the Z71 package for the first time, with the whole trail-ready assembly coming with 18-inch wheels wrapped in 265/65 R18 Goodyear Wranglers. 

There’s a set of very capable protective skid plates added to the mix, on duty to protect the many valuables underneath during frequent grass, brush, and incline assaults. There’s also a dedicated “Terrain” drive mode, which takes over brake-holding duty and allows you to fully control the throttle to help conquer hills. While the toughest and most jagged inclines of locations such as Moab may not be quite etched onto the itinerary, the Traverse’s new Z71 trim is perfect for the spur-of-the-moment flex on hillside gravel, or gleefully ripping through a previously occupied and half-treacherous quarry! 

The 2024 model is now 79.5 inches wide, which has grown almost an entire inch from 2023. This will ultimately mean that longer road trips will become more comfortable, as it has now created more room in the cabin. During expeditions that aspire to see much further than “the next town over”, the third row offers easy access thanks to the flipping second-row captain’s seats. There’s a 17.7-inch touchscreen greeting you during the first glance of the interior, which is paired nicely with a standard 11-inch digital driver display handling monitoring duty for the performance necessities.

This effort is an amazing example of putting an aggressively best foot forward in a very competitive segment. With the added new tech features, XXL display, and the addition of the adventurous Z71 trim to the mix, this year’s Traverse should sway any demographic rightfully towards the “mid-large” category!