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!”

2024 Chevy Traverse Prototype’s Exterior Updates, Striking Sculpture Spotted During Testing

Attractive and powerful three-row SUVs have so many reasons to be wildly popular among consumers, and the 2024 Chevy Traverse is a model that has been long-awaited here at the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse! Delays have become so commonplace in manufacturing over the past few years, but the good news is that things are becoming steadily better and better. The Traverse is now finally getting the makeover it was scheduled for, and GM Authority spy photographers have captured it testing in camo.

This was not the first time this auto news crew saw it testing as a prototype, but it is the first time it was spotted in the LT trim level. Covered in typical camouflage, there are still several visual elements that provide clues on what to expect. The front end boasts very broad and square horizontal styling elements across a multi-tiered fascia, which is separated into a series of horizontal dividing lines. There are three grille dividers for the lower intake, and five grille dividers to host the upper intake. 

Since one of the upper dividers is larger than the others, it provides a strong visual connection between what appears to be LED lighting signatures on the thinner side. This LT prototype was also spotted rolling on a set of split-spoke wheels, which are quite a bit like the 18-inch Bright Silver painted aluminum wheels that come standard with the Chevy Traverse LS. 

The finished product of a boxy and upright shape sees two ridges suggesting that roof rails may reside there, and there is a trailing-edge roof spoiler attached directly to the top of the hatch. 

It is rumored that the 2024 Chevy Traverse may ditch the high-country trim level, while also adding a new active trim to the lineup. The turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-4 L3B gas engine is the sensible powertrain, which is also found under the hood of GM’s pickup trucks. It cranks out 310 horsepower and 430 lb.-ft of torque, propelling this popular and ideally large-sized crossover riding on the GM C1-2 platform. 

Production is scheduled to begin at the GM Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan this coming December, which is GM’s newest US location built from the ground up. Here the best practices of new technology and the rewards of dedicated men and women giving it 110% every day are faithfully etched into each vehicle. 

The standard 7.0-inch and available 8.0-inch infotainment screens could be replaced with a larger unit, as a glance at the relative in the form of the Blazer features a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. 

Among the convenience features already included are a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, a power liftgate, and a power-folding third row. We’d also be willing to bet that the engine could gain an automatic start and stop technology, which has been a massive game changer in the quest to always conserve fuel. Ideal for the tougher of workdays and the well-prepped play days, the Traverse can tow up to 5,000 lbs. and carry a payload of 1,850 lbs.