2024 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Chevrolet Traverse

Are you the “never leave town” family, or the “road trip every other weekend” family? If you’re the latter, then you know that the vehicle you take accounts for about 80% of the overall experience. For serious recommendations on SUVs that can make or break your next camping trip, your friends at Essential Ford of Stuart are here to compare the new 2024 Ford Explorer and the 2024 Chevrolet Traverse so you can make an informed decision the next time you swing by the lot. For new Ford vehicles near you, check out our new inventory online!  

2024 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Chevrolet Traverse

Every family trip is unique and special, and Ford is a great brand for finding a custom ride that fits your style. The new Explorer is also very valuable in the practical sense, giving you seamless accessibility features so you no longer have to break a sweat just to get everyone in their respective seats. The new Traverse markets a gimmick in the form of a 17.7-inch infotainment center, but everything around the screen is even more ordinary than ordinary.


Performance

Families that tend to follow the road signs to their destinations, whether it be camping grounds in the forest or the closest beachfront, can easily get by with the Explorer’s standard 2.3L EcoBoost engine with 300 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. If a bit of off-roading is on the agenda, then the upgraded 3.0L EcoBoost V6 with 400 horsepower was designed for you! The 10-speed automatic transmission makes every drive feel smooth as a pearl, and you’ll have a wide range of driver modes on hand to fit every terrain. Trailer Sway Control is also in your arsenal to help you keep steady if you’re pulling anything along for the ride.

You’ll only get one type of engine in the Traverse, and it’s a 2.5L Turbo with 328 horsepower. That’s slightly more than the Explorer’s standard, but it’s a shame that you don’t get the option to go for an upgrade. It also comes with an 8-speed transmission system, meaning that you might notice a few more jolts here and there compared to the Explorer when trying to push your limits. Take away all of the useful driving enhancements that you can find in the Explorer, and the Traverse looks rather empty in comparison.

Safety & Features

You can expect your Ford Explorer to be built tough as nails, but there’s also peace of mind to be found in the safety and driver-assist features by your side. Ford Co-Pilot360 has your back with a lane-keeping system, rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera, but the Explorer has even more to offer. The Blind Spot Information System can warn you of what escapes your view around the corner, Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking is there for you as a last resort, and Post-Collision Braking activates should an accident happen regardless. Not to mention, the available and upgraded Active Park Assist 2.0 feature takes the stress out of parking if you happen to struggle with larger vehicles (it’s okay, it happens to the best of us).

The list of safety and driver-assist features that you get in the new Traverse is very minimal. You’ll have Chevy Safety Assist with front pedestrian braking, blind-spot alerts, automatic braking, and so on. But when tested side-by-side, you’ll notice that the features in the Explorer are more abundant as well as intuitive, and we love the useful Active Park Assist 2.0 feature too much to let it go.


Interior

Adjusting the components inside of the new Explorer is like witnessing beautiful origami that sculpts itself. Manipulate the third row with the PowerFold feature, find the perfect angle with 10-way powered seating adjustments, open up the cabin with a twin-panel moonroof, and so much more. Multi-color ambient lighting turns every road trip into a portable rave machine, and the 10.2-inch portrait-style touchscreen is a unique take on infotainment that makes it easier to access your media and navigation. Some honorable mentions in terms of amazing interior features include the tri-diamond leather seating, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster, a 14-speaker B&O sound system, and the tri-zone automatic temperature control system. Needless to say, the new Ford Explorer is ready for pretty much anything!

Look up the new Traverse just once and you’ll probably see some marketing for the new 17.7-inch infotainment screen. If you’ve never seen a touchscreen this large before, it’s because it’s not at all common. However, this gimmick appears to be the main (and only) brag-worthy feature in the Traverse. Much of the design planning went into this massive screen to be made as a selling point, with everything else in the cabin left bare. You can get a sunroof, wireless charger, and Bose speaker system, but not much else.


Bottom Line

The 2024 Ford Explorer is a highly capable sport utility vehicle with amazing performance, loads of safety features, and an easy-to-use cabin that’s both functional and stylish. For an SUV this incredible, a starting price of around $36,760 sounds like quite the steal. The new Traverse starts at around $39,000 and it feels as though the only reason you’re paying an extra couple thousand is to have the opportunity to own one of the largest infotainment screens currently available, and we just can’t justify that cost.

Ask Us About The 2024 Ford Explorer!

Interested in the 2024 Ford Explorer? Call Essential Ford of Stuart anytime at (727) 287-0955 to stay up to date with all the latest news on this incredible new SUV that many fun families are eager to get their hands on! For new Ford vehicles currently available near you, feel free to shop our new inventory online at your convenience.