2024 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in six trim levels, presented a distinctive look that continued the "swagger wagon" vibe, even without the commercials. Competing with the Kia Carnival for style points, the Sienna featured sleek front and rear fascias and offered colors like deep blue, red, or green. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims boasting Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appeal, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, with exclusive colors and off-road features, added a half-inch more ground clearance, making it slightly more rugged. Inside, the Sienna offered cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight, with the XSE trim providing leather-trimmed heated and cooled front seats and a leather-trimmed power steering wheel. The interior design emphasized spaciousness, with satin accents and a fixed center console, and upper trims included a built-in vacuum cleaner.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse was available in four main trims: LS, LT, Z71, and RS, with the Z71 being the new addition for moderate off-roading. Chevrolet clarified that the Z71 was not meant for extreme off-roading but could handle reasonably rugged terrain. Pricing was competitive, with the LS starting at $38,995 and the RS at $55,595. The Z71 model, priced at $47,795, featured gloss black-painted 18-inch alloy wheels and Iridescent Pearl Tricoat paint. The interior, with Jet Black and "Torch Red" accents, offered optional synthetic leather seating. The Traverse's performance was enhanced by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, surpassing the previous V6. The AWD system in the Z71 was advanced, and the ride was smooth, with progressive brakes and a seamless stop-and-start feature. The Traverse's fuel economy ranged from 18 mpg city to 26 highway.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. AWD models had an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite the sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was not thrilling, feeling sluggish off the line with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that was smooth but slow. The CVT could be loud, and the brakes were a bit grabby. However, the steering was light and accurate, and visibility was excellent. The Sienna offered Normal, Eco, and EV modes for different driving conditions, but those seeking more driving pleasure might consider alternatives like the Honda Odyssey or Kia Carnival.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse replaced its previous 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. This new engine provided 18 more horsepower and 50 more lb-ft of torque than the V6. AWD was optional on all trims, with the Z71 featuring a dual-clutch system for better grip. The Traverse offered acceptable acceleration and passing power, with a pleasant exhaust growl. The steering was adequate, and the ride was smooth, even with the Z71's all-terrain tires and extra ground clearance. The brakes were progressive, and the stop-and-start feature was seamless. Fuel economy estimates ranged from 18 mpg city to 26 highway, depending on the trim.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna offered practical interior features, including a lower storage pass-through, four cupholders, and a shelf with a wireless charging pad. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide 25 inches, providing up to 40 inches of legroom, but the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible, with 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna had tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for eight in the base LS model, with second-row captain’s chairs available in higher trims. The Z71 and RS were seven-seaters, with easy access to the third row. The Smart Slide second-row seats were user-friendly, and a power-folding third row was available. The Autosense power liftgate was standard, opening automatically when the key fob was nearby. Cargo volume was 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 96 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Traverse had ample storage, including a hidden area under the center console and an underfloor storage bin in the cargo bay. Visibility was mostly positive, with some limitations in the third row.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included physical buttons for common menus, but the backup camera was grainy. The Sienna had a 7-inch digital display in the gauge cluster, a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available. Optional features included an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse boasted a 17.7-inch infotainment touchscreen, standard on all models, with rapid response times and simple menus. An 11-inch digital instrument display was configurable and helpful for navigation. The system ran on Google-based software, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The wireless charging pad in the Z71 was effective, and physical controls for volume and HVAC functions were retained. The Traverse offered Super Cruise, a hands-free driving aid, with expanded functionality. However, headlight controls were buried in the infotainment system, and the driving mode button was not prominently placed.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna had side curtain airbags for all three rows and reminders for seat belts and checking the rear seats. The NHTSA rated the Sienna with four stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS gave it a "Good" rating for crashworthiness but "Average" for front crash prevention.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of the test drive. However, it offered a comprehensive suite of driver aids, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and more. The Traverse also featured a surround-view parking camera and rear pedestrian alert.