Consumer Reports is singing the praises for the 2022 Chevy Traverse SUV crossover, in the under $40,000 category. In this crowded segment, which is getting ever more crowded by the day, this is an important accomplishment. It was by no means perfect, but here’s how and why CR says the Traverse is one of the best for 2022.

What was Consumer Reports’ overall rating for the Chevy Traverse?

CR has access to surveys it sends out to owners to get opinions from the ground. It also road tests each vehicle it rates, with reviews found on its website. And for those road tests, CR gave it a 95 out of 100 possible points based on a number of factors.

For braking, it got a five out of five points. In the acceleration, transmission, front and rear seat comfort, ride quality, cabin noise, interior fit and finish, and cargo space, it received four out of five possible points. Though it carries over most all of these qualities from the 2021 model, the 2022 Traverse did get a refresh.

Traverse got a refresh for 2022

That means an updated front and rear fascia, standard LED headlights, new wheel designs, new seating options, an optional eight-inch infotainment screen, and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. All of this was supposed to happen with the 2021 Traverse, but the pandemic put these changes off until the 2022 model.

What did CR find not to like? It said fuel economy and emissions could be improved. That’s partly because Chevy only offers the Traverse with a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter LGX gas engine. So the score for fuel economy was only a two out of five, and for greenhouse gas emissions, a four out of 10. 

CR also didn’t like the two-way lumbar support adjustment and manual sunshade for the sunroof. It was also critical of Chevy’s decision to offer the advanced active safety features only on its top-of-the-line trims. But owners had more positive comments.

Owners gave the Chevy Traverse an 84 out of 100 for overall comfort

The Chevy Traverse has done well in past Consumer Reports surveys. For driving experience, owners gave it an 81 out of 100 possible points. For overall comfort, owners punched the number up with an 84 out of 100. Owners weren’t so kind with their value rating. The Traverse only managed 54 out of 100 points. 

Chevy’s Traverse is a big seller for GM. Some of its best numbers have come in the last few years, with 2018 and 2019 hitting almost 150,000 each year. For 2021, sales slipped to 116,251, partly due to supply chain issues and microchip shortages. With the refresh and added features, Chevy expects to see those numbers increase.

GM scored big with the Traverse and its offshoots, the 2022 Buick Envision, and the 2022 Chevy Blazer. They also received the best new crossover honors from CR. So if you’re looking for a medium-sized SUV crossover that’s under $40,000, don’t overlook these GM offerings.