2026 Chevy Traverse Fuel Economy & Performance

Just a couple years ago, for the 2024 model year, the Chevy Traverse was completely redesigned for its third generation. It continues to increase in popularity, with 2025 being a record year in sales for the model. Which brings us to the 2026 Chevy Traverse.

 

This year it’s available in a couple new exterior color options – Polar White and Sandstone Gray – but it otherwise remains the same incredible third-gen model, with its impressive fuel economy and performance. We’re going to dive into some of the details about its powertrain, to show you exactly why it’s such a popular choice in the full-size crossover segment.

Beneath the hood of every 2026 Chevy Traverse lies a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine tethered to an eight-speed automatic transmission and your choice of front- or all-wheel drive. While the Traverse used to be offered with a V6 engine, engineers decided to make the 2.5L turbo the exclusive choice as it’s not only more efficient but delivers more power as well.

• Horsepower – 328 hp
• Torque – 326 lb-ft.
• FWD Fuel Economy – 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway
• AWD Fuel Economy – 19/24

Your fuel efficiency can vary based on your driving habits and the conditions you’re driving through, but these are the average fuel economy ratings. Match them with the 19.4- or 21.7-gallon fuel tank, respectively, and you’ve got plenty of range for your summer road trips this year.

Naturally, the more you have in your vehicle, the less efficient it will be. But sometimes you have to pack your vehicle full of people and/or stuff, which the Traverse is absolutely great at. With a spacious interior and the ability to hitch a trailer, you should be able to handle the majority of loads you’ll need without having to borrow a friend’s pickup truck.

• EPA Passenger Volume (without sunroof)
  • Front Row – 61.1 cu. ft.
  • Middle Row – 54.9 cu. ft.
  • Rear Row – 41.0 cu. ft.
• Cargo Volume
  • Behind Rear – 22.9 cu. ft.
  • Behind Middle – 56.6 cu. ft.
  • Behind Front – 98 cu. ft.
• Maximum Towing Capacity – 5,000 lbs.

That towing capacity becomes enabled when equipped with its available trailering equipment. Plus, you’ll gain the benefits of Hitch Guidance and Hitch View, a pair of technologies that make it easier to align and hook up your trailer than ever.

While not necessarily the traditional meaning of the term “performance” when it comes to automobiles, we would be remiss if we didn’t touch on all of the advanced safety features and technologies that comes standard on the 2026 Chevy Traverse while talking about how well it performs. In addition to air bags and seatbelts, your Traverse will come standard with Chevy Safety Assist and a few other great technologies

• Teen Driver
• Buckle to Drive
• Rear Seat Reminder
• Chevy Safety Assist
  • Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Following Distance Indicator
  • Front Pedestrian Braking
  • IntelliBeam High Beam Assist
  • Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning

These standard features will keep you, your passengers, your cargo, and anyone around you on the road much safer by sending alerts and even taking control of the vehicle when necessary. You can augment this standard safety by opting for even more great safety and driver-assistance features.

• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Blind Zone Steering Assist
• HD Rear Vision Camera
• HD Surround Vision
• Intersection Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
• Rear Cross Traffic Braking
• Rear Park Assist
• Rear Pedestrian Alert
• Safety Alert Seat
• Side Bicyclist Alert
• Traffic Sign Recognition

And lastly, you can opt for the Enhanced Driving Package on both the LT and Z71 trim levels, but it comes standard on the RS. It adds even more incredible safety tech to your Traverse.

• Driver Attention Assist
• Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist
• Super Cruise