2020 Chevy Traverse Vs. Honda Pilot

The 2020 Honda Pilot and 2020 Chevy Traverse both have a lot going for them. People often compare these two vehicles when they’re looking for the best midsize SUVs. With three rows of seating, both of these vehicles offer a lot of space, versatility, and possibilities. If you’re already familiar with these vehicles, take a quick look at recent changes to both for the current model year:

• • The Honda Pilot is now available with a Black Edition appearance package. Expect to pay about $50,000 if you want this package, but it does look great. Trim pieces like the grille, door handles, and headlight trim are all black. There are no performance upgrades associated with the Black Edition Performance Package, but the interior also sees some upgrades. Look for red accent lighting and red stitching throughout the cabin.
  • The Chevrolet engineers focused their upgrades on capabilities and performance instead of cosmetic features, and the new 2020 Traverse is even more impressive than you remember it. Upgraded technology includes Chevrolet’s state of the art infotainment system and the Buckle to Drive feature. Introduced as part of the Chevrolet Teen Driver system, Buckle to Drive is more effective than a standard chime at getting drivers to buckle up. Especially in such a family-friendly vehicle, this safety feature changes the game.

Performance Comparison

The Pilot offers features like the available all-wheel drive for those who need a vehicle that can go anywhere and drive in bad weather. Other available features, like the Intelligent Traction Management system, also seem intended for driving in poor conditions. The 2020 Pilot has 280 horsepower, which is respectable for a vehicle of its size.

The Traverse with 310 horsepower offers a little more oomph for drivers who like an exciting experience behind the wheel. The extra power is especially nice considering these two vehicles get almost the same gas mileage:

• • The 2020 Traverse gets an estimated 18 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway.
  • The 2020 Pilot gets an estimated 19 miles per gallon city and 27 miles per gallon highway.

The Traverse comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission and its superior engine, offering smoother shifting than the six-speed transmission in the Pilot. Either vehicle will provide you with excellent performance for something that seats up to eight, but the Traverse has a slight edge here.

Interior  Comparison

We’ll touch on these interiors’ comfort in a moment, but most people have one top question for a vehicle of this size: how roomy is the interior? The spacious Traverse outclasses the Pilot by a lot in this category. The Traverse offers 23 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in use compared to the 16.5 to 18.5 in the Pilot. The difference only gets more noticeable from there:

• • The 2020 Traverse offers 57.8 cubic feet of room once you fold the third row of seats down.
  • Fold the second row, too, and you have a cavernous 98.2 cubic feet of cargo space.

Even some large SUVs don’t have that much room, which makes things interesting and starts to put the Traverse in a class of its own. This midsize SUV is unlike anything else. The Pilot makes up for its lack of space with some excellent interior features like seats that make it easy to access the third row. These vehicles can be had with available amenities that make the ride even more comfortable for the driver and passengers.

Exterior  Comparison

Some of the Pilot’s interior features like optional second-row captain seats remind us of the popular minivans Honda has made through the years. Unfortunately, the outside sometimes reminds us of a minivan, too. The exterior is a bit dated, but it also isn’t the ugliest car on the road. If you can overlook some awkward curves, angles, and surfaces, don’t rule the 2020 Pilot out yet. The Black Edition appearance package helps.

With that said, the 2020 Traverse does prove that drivers can still expect some sense of style to go along with all of the size and performance. Bold yet refined, this popular midsize SUV from Chevrolet looks good from top to bottom and no matter the angle. Thoughtful aesthetic touches make it fashionable without being overstated. No matter where you go, this vehicle will look like it was made for the setting. Consider a special edition Chevy Traverse like the Redline Edition if you want a little bit more flash.

Safety Feature  Comparison

Families rely on these vehicles, so safety is a top concern. Both the Pilot and 2020 Traverse received five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA). Furthermore, both offer excellent safety and driver assistance features:

Honda Sensing comes standard in the 2020 Pilot. It includes things like the Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Keeping Assist System, and Adaptive Cruise Control. If modern safety technology is a big deal to you, you’ll probably like what the 2020 Traverse has to offer:

• • Standard Rear Vision Camera
  • Available Forward Collision Alert
  • Available Front Pedestrian Braking
  • Available Automatic Emergency Braking
  • Available Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning
  • Available Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
  • Available Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Available Rear Park Assist

For those who want the highest possible safety technology level, look to Teen Driver Technology from Chevrolet. With this system built into the vehicle, it’s like having a 24/7 driving coach for your new driver. Set a speed alert, a volume alert, and more, then track performance with an in-vehicle report card. New features like Buckle to Drive prove that Chevy vehicles are always getting innovative new features to keep people safe on the road.

Warranty – Traverse or Pilot Reliability

The 2020 Pilot and 2020 Traverse have very similar warranties:

• • They both offer coverage for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
  • The powertrain of both vehicles is covered for five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.

With little to separate the official warranties, some drivers like to anticipate which vehicle will be more reliable even more than those first three years on the road. When the warranty runs out, which brand do you expect to perform? Chevrolet makes some of the most dependable vehicles that last a long time and still perform capably. That’s why the manufacturer can offer things like the Chevrolet Optional Extended Limited Warranty for 2020 vehicles, including the Traverse.

Test Drive the New Traverse

The Honda Pilot is a good vehicle, but the 2020 Traverse blows it away in numerous categories. That’s why Kelly Blue Book rates it a 4.2 out of five while the 2020 Pilot only ears a 3.3 out of five. Even with its superior quality, the 2020 Traverse is more affordable. 

The 2020 Traverse starting price of only $29,800 is significantly less than the $31,650 you can expect to pay for a Pilot. Find a Valley Chevy dealership to test drive this cost-effective SUV.

Joe has been closely associated with the automotive industry for the past 10 years. He worked closely with dealerships at his previous job with the Charlotte Observer, who had a partnership with Cars.com. At his current role, he is actively involved in promoting the Chevy brand in the Phoenix-Metro area along with Valley Chevy.