Compare the2026 Toyota 4Runner VS 2027 Chevrolet Traverse

The Toyota 4Runner has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Traverse doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Toyota 4Runner is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Chevrolet Traverse, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	4Runner	Traverse
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-20 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-16 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-16 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2 sec	1.9 sec
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-16 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	2.3 sec	1.4 sec

Both the 4Runner and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available four-wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota 4Runner is safer than the Traverse:

	4Runner	Traverse
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	30	55
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	.47 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	51	260
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	.83 in
Torso Max Deflection	.94 in	1.06 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	424 lbs.	602 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The 4Runner’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Traverse’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4Runner for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Traverse.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 4Runner’s reliability 59 points higher than the Traverse.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

The 4Runner Trailhunter’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 139 lbs.-ft. more torque (465 vs. 326) than the Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The 4Runner’s optional 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 139 lbs.-ft. more torque (465 vs. 326) than the Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota 4Runner turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Chevrolet Traverse:

	4Runner	Traverse
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	15.7 sec

On the EPA test cycle the 4Runner 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the Traverse AWD (23 city/24 hwy vs. 20 city/24 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the 4Runner i-FORCE MAX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Traverse doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The 4Runner has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Traverse. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the 4Runner’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Traverse:

	4Runner	Traverse
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.2 inches	12.4 inches

The 4Runner stops shorter than the Traverse:

	4Runner	Traverse
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver

The 4Runner has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Traverse; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The 4Runner offers an active front sway bar, which helps keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnects at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Traverse doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 4Runner offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Traverse’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 4Runner’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.4% to 50.6%) than the Traverse’s (56% to 44%). This gives the 4Runner more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the 4Runner SR5 has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Traverse (8.1 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the 4Runner to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The 4Runner Trailhunter/TRD Pro’s minimum ground clearance is 2.3 inches higher than on the Traverse Z71 (10.1 vs. 7.8 inches).

The 4Runner is 9.6 inches shorter than the Traverse, making the 4Runner easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 4Runner has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Traverse doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the 4Runner. The Traverse doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The 4Runner’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Traverse’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The 4Runner’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Traverse’s (6000 vs. 5000 pounds).

The engine in the 4Runner is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Traverse. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The 4Runner Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Traverse doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The 4Runner’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Traverse’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the 4Runner the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Traverse can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Toyota 4Runner retains 69.9% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 48.14% resale value of the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $8835 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota 4Runner, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Chevrolet Traverse isn't recommended.