Compare the2025 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2024 Buick Enclave

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Chevrolet Traverse are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Chevrolet Traverse achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Buick Enclave has not been tested.

Both the Traverse and Enclave have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Traverse has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Enclave’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Traverse’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Traverse and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Chevrolet Traverse is safer than the Enclave:

The Chevrolet Traverse achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Enclave is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

There are almost 3 times as many Chevrolet dealers as there are Buick dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a standard 220-amp alternator. The Enclave’s 170-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse first among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Enclave isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

The Traverse’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (328 vs. 310) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Chevrolet Traverse is faster than the Buick Enclave:

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse gets better mileage than the Enclave:

The Traverse stops shorter than the Enclave:

For better traction, the Traverse’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Enclave (275/45R22 vs. 255/65R18).

The Traverse’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Traverse offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Enclave’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

For greater off-road capability the Traverse Z71 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (7.8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Traverse to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Traverse offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Traverse has 3.1 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear hip room, .6 inches more rear shoulder room, .7 inches more third row headroom, .1 inches more third row hip room and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Traverse RS/High Country’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Enclave doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Traverse uses the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Traverse’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Enclave does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Traverse’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chevrolet Traverse and the Buick Enclave, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Buick Enclave by almost four to one during 2024.