Chevy Traverse vs Toyota Highlander: Size, Cargo, MPG, and Price
Wareing Sheridan Chevrolet
The Chevy Traverse vs Toyota Highlander choice is about how you move a full family and a full weekend of gear. Both new three-row SUVs seat seven or eight. Both can tow up to 5,000 pounds on their gas models when properly equipped. They spend their money in different places, including interior layout.
The figures here come from Chevrolet.com for the 2027 Traverse, Toyota.com and the 2026 Highlander brochure, the Toyota USA Newsroom, and the EPA at fueleconomy.gov, checked October 26, 2026. Prices and equipment change by trim, so confirm the window sticker on the vehicle you are looking at. You can shop live stock on the Traverse inventory page.
Cargo
98 cu ft max in the Traverse. Up to 84.3 cu ft in the Highlander.
Power
328 hp in the Traverse. 265 hp in the gas Highlander.
Fuel
Highlander Hybrid reaches up to 35 MPG combined. Gas Highlander and Traverse sit lower.
Price
Chevrolet lists $41,100 to start. Toyota lists $46,270 for the gas Highlander.
Traverse vs Highlander at a glance
| Item | Chevy Traverse | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Model year on OEM site | 2027 | 2026 |
| Starting MSRP | $41,100 | $46,270 (gas XLE) |
| Engine | 2.5L turbo, 328 hp, 326 lb-ft | 2.4L turbo, 265 hp, 310 lb-ft (gas). Hybrid available. |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive | All-wheel drive standard for 2026 |
| EPA combined MPG | 22 FWD, 21 AWD (EPA) | 24 gas AWD. Up to 35 hybrid (EPA / Toyota) |
| Towing | Up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped | Up to 5,000 lbs gas. Up to 3,500 lbs hybrid. |
| Max cargo | 98 cu ft | Up to 84.3 cu ft |
| Seats | 7, or up to 8 on LT with available bench | 7, or up to 8 with available second-row bench on eligible grades |
| Touchscreen | 17.7-inch standard | 8-inch or available 12.3-inch |
Starting prices are manufacturer MSRP and exclude destination, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Traverse MPG combined figures are from fueleconomy.gov for the 2027 model. Highlander gas and hybrid MPG come from Toyota and the EPA.
Size, seating, and cargo space
The Traverse is the bigger box for gear. Chevrolet lists 98 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume, 56.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row. Toyota USA Newsroom lists up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo in the Highlander with the second and third rows folded. That gap shows up when you load coolers, hockey bags, and a week of luggage for a trip out of Sheridan. Compare seating in the new Traverse and the new Highlander with your car seats installed.
Chevrolet lists the 2027 Traverse at 204.4 inches long (204.7 on Z71), 87.8 inches wide, and 69.5 inches tall (70.6 on Z71). Both SUVs seat seven with second-row captain’s chairs. Both can reach eight seats when you order the available second-row bench on the trims that offer it. Chevrolet says the LT can seat up to eight with that bench. Z71, RS, and High Country seat seven.
If you are still deciding between a two-row Chevy and a three-row Traverse, start with our Equinox vs Traverse guide. For the full Chevrolet size ladder, see Chevy SUVs by size.
Engines, power, and fuel economy
The Traverse uses a turbocharged 2.5L engine with 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic. That extra power helps when you merge onto I-90 with a full cabin or climb with a trailer on the hitch.
The gas Highlander uses a 2.4L turbo with 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Toyota lists a hybrid powertrain on Highlander as well, with a manufacturer-estimated combined rating of up to 35 MPG. The brochure rates Hybrid XLE at 35 city / 35 highway / 35 combined, and Hybrid Limited and Platinum at 35 city / 34 highway / 35 combined. Gas Highlander grades are listed at 21 city / 28 highway / 24 combined.
Chevrolet lists 20 city and 26 highway MPG for the Traverse with front-wheel drive. The EPA rates the 2027 Traverse at 22 MPG combined with front-wheel drive and 21 MPG combined with all-wheel drive. The EPA rates the 2026 Highlander gas AWD at 24 MPG combined. If fuel cost is the top number on your list, the Highlander Hybrid is the efficiency play. If you want more horsepower in a gas three-row, the Traverse leads on the OEM horsepower figures.
Towing
Chevrolet says the 2027 Traverse can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Chevrolet lists trailering equipment on LT, Z71, and RS, with Hitch View, Hitch Guidance, and a Trailering App called out on those equipped trims. This page does not claim High Country includes that same trailering package; confirm hitch hardware and the rating on the window sticker for the Traverse you buy. Toyota lists up to 5,000 pounds of towing for the gas Highlander with the 2.4L turbo. The Toyota USA Newsroom lists up to 3,500 pounds for Highlander Hybrid grades.
Match the loaded trailer weight to the rating on the exact vehicle before you buy. For bigger trailers or ranch equipment, look past both of these at the best Chevy SUVs for Sheridan or a Silverado on our truck inventory.
All-wheel drive and Wyoming winters
All-wheel drive is available on the 2027 Traverse. The Z71 adds an Advanced Twin-Clutch AWD system, Terrain Mode, and Hill Descent Control for roads that leave the pavement. Toyota’s 2026 Highlander lineup has standard all-wheel drive across grades, with Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD on gas models and Electronic On-Demand AWD on hybrids.
For Sheridan winters, all-wheel drive helps you get moving on snow and ice. It does not help you stop. Winter tires still matter on either SUV. If you want the Chevy path with more off-pavement hardware, look at a Traverse Z71 on the lot.
Tech and safety
Chevrolet lists a standard 17.7-inch infotainment screen and an 11-inch driver information screen on the Traverse. That large cabin screen is one of the first things you notice on a new Traverse. Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance is available. Chevrolet lists over 20 standard safety and driver assistance features.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ is standard on the Highlander. Higher grades offer a 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Hybrid XLE listings show an 8-inch multimedia screen. Available Panoramic View Monitor and a panoramic moonroof show up on upper grades. Walk the new Highlander interior next to the Traverse before you pick a seating layout.
Both brands put a strong standard safety suite in these SUVs. The Traverse leans harder on screen size and available hands-free highway help. The Highlander leans on Toyota Safety Sense across every grade.
Price and trims
Chevrolet lists the 2027 Traverse from $41,100 on the LT. Models include LT, Z71, RS, and High Country, with High Country listed from $56,100. Toyota lists the 2026 gas Highlander from $46,270 on XLE, with XSE, Limited, and Platinum above that. Hybrid XLE starts at $48,020 on toyota.com.
That is about a $5,170 gap at the gas starting point before destination, taxes, and dealer fees. For that money difference, the Traverse brings more listed horsepower, more maximum cargo volume, and a larger standard touchscreen. The Highlander brings standard AWD on every 2026 grade and a hybrid path that the Traverse does not offer in this comparison.
Current offers change, so we don’t list payments here. Check Chevy special offers or talk with our finance team.
Reliability
No single score ranks every Traverse against every Highlander. Chevrolet and Toyota do not publish a head-to-head reliability ranking for these two SUVs. Look up recalls for the exact vehicle by VIN at NHTSA.gov, ask for service records on a used one, and compare the factory warranty on each window sticker.
Shoppers who ask “what is the most reliable Chevy Traverse” or “what car is better than a Highlander” are usually weighing ownership history and warranty more than a marketing claim. Bring those questions to the desk and we will walk the sticker with you.
Which three-row SUV fits you?
Pick the Traverse if
You want more maximum cargo room, more listed horsepower, a larger standard touchscreen, available Super Cruise, or a lower starting MSRP on the gas three-row.
Pick the Highlander if
You want standard AWD on every 2026 grade, a hybrid powertrain with up to 35 MPG combined, or Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ as your main safety suite.
If you need less than three rows, step down to the Equinox. Our Trax vs Equinox comparison covers the smaller Chevy SUVs.
Compare a Traverse in Sheridan
Wareing Sheridan Chevrolet is at 107 E Alger St, Sheridan, WY 82801. Call (307) 674-6419 and we can pull a Traverse so you can load your gear and drive the same roads you use every week. Have a trade? Start with our value your trade tool.
Common questions
Is the Chevy Traverse bigger than the Toyota Highlander?
On maximum cargo, yes. Chevrolet lists 98 cubic feet of max cargo in the 2027 Traverse. Toyota USA Newsroom lists up to 84.3 cubic feet in the Highlander with the second and third rows folded. Chevrolet lists the Traverse at 204.4 inches long.
Is the Toyota Highlander an SUV or a crossover?
Toyota markets the Highlander as a three-row SUV on toyota.com. Shoppers and some guides call three-row unibody models crossovers. For this comparison, treat both the Highlander and the Traverse as three-row family SUVs.
Which gets better gas mileage, the Traverse or the Highlander?
The Highlander Hybrid leads on fuel economy, with Toyota listing up to 35 MPG combined. The gas Highlander is rated 24 MPG combined by the EPA for 2026 AWD. The EPA rates the 2027 Traverse at 22 MPG combined with front-wheel drive and 21 with all-wheel drive.
Can the Chevy Traverse and Toyota Highlander tow the same amount?
On gas models, both list up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Chevrolet calls out trailering equipment on LT, Z71, and RS; confirm the hitch package on any other trim, including High Country, before you assume it matches. Highlander Hybrid grades list up to 3,500 pounds per the Toyota USA Newsroom. Always check the rating on the vehicle you are buying.
What is the difference between the Highlander and the Grand Highlander?
They are different Toyota models. This page compares the Chevy Traverse with the Toyota Highlander, not the Grand Highlander. Search results often mix the two. If you are shopping Grand Highlander vs Traverse, that is a separate comparison.
What is the most reliable Chevy Traverse?
No single answer covers every model year and trim. Check recalls by VIN at NHTSA.gov, review service history on used units, and read the warranty on the window sticker for the Traverse you are considering.
How much more does the Highlander cost than the Traverse?
Chevrolet lists the 2027 Traverse from $41,100. Toyota lists the 2026 gas Highlander from $46,270. That is about $5,170 in starting MSRP before destination, taxes, and dealer fees. Trim and options change the real number.
Can I compare a Traverse in Sheridan?
Yes. Wareing Sheridan Chevrolet can line up a new Traverse so you can sit in all three rows, check the seats with your car seats, load your gear, and drive it on the same Sheridan roads you use every week.
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