The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Traverse doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Traverse doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn't react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Traverse has a collision warning system without the crash-mitigating brake feature which could reduce stopping distances.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Highlander AWD's standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Traverse doesn't offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Highlander and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Chevrolet Traverse:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Chevrolet Traverse:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Traverse has not been fully tested, yet, but doesn't qualify for 2015 or 2016 “Top Pick Plus.”

The Highlander's corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Traverse's (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 23% better than the Traverse.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 9th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Highlander V6 is faster than the Traverse LTZ:

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the Traverse:

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Traverse:

The Highlander's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Traverse LS' standard 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Traverse LS.

The Highlander has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Highlander flat and controlled during cornering. The Traverse's suspension doesn't offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the Traverse LTZ AWD pulls only .80 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander's turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Traverse's (38.7 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Traverse (8 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 500 pounds less than the Chevrolet Traverse.

The Highlander is 1 foot shorter than the Traverse, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Highlander has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Traverse uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Highlander has .3 inches more front headroom, 2.9 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear legroom than the Traverse.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The Traverse's third row seats don't recline.

The Highlander's optional 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 Highlander's standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Traverse's standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver's window opens automatically. The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Traverse's optional power windows, only the driver's window closes automatically and only the front windows open automatically.

The Smart Key System standard on the Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum allows you to unlock the driver's door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Chevrolet Traverse doesn't offer an advanced key system.

The Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Traverse doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Traverse only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Traverse's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Traverse doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Highlander's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Traverse LT/LTZ.

Both the Highlander and the Traverse offer available heated front seats. The Highlander Platinum also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren't available in the Traverse.

A built-in pollen filter removes pollen, exhaust fumes and other pollutants from the Highlander's passenger compartment. This helps prevent lung and/or sinus irritation, which can trigger allergies or asthma. The Traverse doesn't offer a filtration system.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Highlander Limited offers an optional Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Traverse doesn't offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. Kiplinger's estimates that the Highlander will retain a greater percentage of its original price after three and five years than the Traverse.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $6484 to $8270 less than for the Chevrolet Traverse.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander second among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The Traverse isn't in the top three.