With the latest Chevrolet Traverse High Country, we finally get a proper full-size SUV. There’s none of that crossover nonsense in play with its three-row seating capacity for seven (eight if Ozempic is involved). However, the Traverse doesn’t feel as bulky or heavy as a Lincoln Navigator or Yukon Denali from behind the wheel. The latter machines get their own zip codes from the assembly line, and the driver needs an intercom to communicate with passengers in the back seats. By contrast, the Traverse is a reasonably sized commuter carrier.
However, its engine is a big question mark. The engine runs on par, and Chevy has put capable engineering and reliable build quality into it, but it’s decidedly small for a car in its SUV class. Like other versions in its trim line, the Traverse High Country has a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. While it will make 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque with the 8-speed automatic transmission, those numbers should serve a 121-inch wheelbase car that weighs more than two tons.
Given that the High Country AWD is intended to be the rugged rugged vehicle in the Traverse family for off-road enthusiasts, the SUV is also expected to tow an additional 5,000 pounds. As tested, the Chevy seems to have enough power for roads, highways, and moderate off-road duties, but there doesn’t seem to be much to offer in the acceleration department.
As for engine durability, it all comes down to how this generation of turbochargers hold up over the miles. There are a number of people buzzing about gearheads these days as they shop the used car market. Whether domestically built or imported, if the model in operation relies on a smaller, high-compression engine boosted by turbochargers, some experts say watch out for the 100,000-mile mark. That’s when the rubber (or in this case, not) meets the road — when car buyers find out whether their turbocharged power plants hold up with age.
Fossil fuel engines of the past decades relied solely on cylinders, pistons, camshafts, etc. The idea of using turbochargers to boost engine power has made its way from high-performance engines to consumer cars, allowing engineers to remove cylinders without sacrificing too much horsepower. Fewer cylinders then allowed for smaller overall engine sizes and less weight under the hood, which often resulted in enhanced fuel efficiency.
“Eco” types of all breeds are happy because turbocharged engines promise environmental and economic benefits. However, those turbochargers are an essential engine component that takes a lot of the stress of V6 engines that behave like V8s — and inline-4s drive 4,500 pounds of the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse High Country AWD while towing up to another 2.5 tons. Turbo-boosted engines will sweat less when pushing a sporty hatchback or crossover down the road.
Putting concerns about engine size on the back burner for a moment, the $59,095 Traverse High Country’s comprehensive feature package remains competitive with more expensive vehicles in its class. There are approximately 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats, and an auto-sensing power lift gate that knows when you need to load your supplies. Outside there are LED headlights, a chrome luggage rack and 22-inch high-clearance wheels for supposed off-road operation. Interior features include a panoramic sunroof, heated and cooled perforated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, a 17.7-inch touchscreen, and a Bose premium sound system.
On the safety side, the driver embraces computer-assisted adaptive cruise control, blind-spot steering assist, Chevy Safety Assist, Collision Mitigation, and Lane Keep Assist to monitor driver alertness. These features obviously help improve road conditions, as the High Country (despite its aforementioned off-road ambitions) is more of a family truck than a potential roadster, even with its all-wheel drive system.
Combining all these features and options inside and out, the Traverse High Country AWD has most of what similar-block European SUVs priced up to $70,000 have to offer. This added value eliminates some of the concerns regarding engine size.
The driving experience is satisfying, but sometimes you’ll find yourself longing for a few extra cylinders. Regardless, the Traverse handles easily. In fact, it’s a tribute to how Chevy engineers (and those at other automakers that produce full-size SUVs and pickup trucks) implemented electronically assisted steering to make larger machines as easy to drive as cars half its size.
Obviously the operator has to be aware of the extra size, but the Traverse corners or parallel stops with more effort than any other daily commuter. The MPG numbers are attractive for a non-electrified full-size SUV at 20 city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. After all, there’s a lot to recommend about the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse High Country AWD, making it a value in the showroom. The only thing that bothers it is the ride-or-die four-cylinder decision in a full-size SUV.
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