Features to Look Out for When Shopping for a Used Second-Generation Chevy Traverse

If you’re shopping for a used three-row SUV for your life around Dallas, and you’ve landed on the Traverse, you’re in luck because there are several solid years of this model to explore. If you’re looking for a Chevy Traverse for sale in Dallas, forget the lackluster trips to your local dealerships, only to come home empty-handed, and discover a new way to shop with the help of Online.cars. We’re revolutionizing the way you find your next vehicle by putting the power back in your hands. Shop from a massive online inventory that spans the entire country, ensuring you find the exact Traverse to fit your travels throughout Dallas and beyond.

Shopping used is always exciting because it opens up so many possibilities. You aren’t limited to the current year’s lineup and its particular trims and features. However, sometimes, all of those choices can be overwhelming, and we get that. That’s why we’re here to give you our expert insight on which pre-owned Traverse model years you should consider when exploring our online inventory. We believe that 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 are worth a look because, starting in 2018, Chevy added a handful of features to the model that improved comfort, performance, and safety. These model years will have already seen most of their depreciation, so you can find them at amazing prices, but they aren’t so old that they won’t meet the needs of modern drivers. Below are some of the best features we like from these years.

An Overview of the Traverse’s Second Generation

The Traverse’s second generation technically ran from 2018 through 2023. Today, we’re looking mostly at 2018 through 2021 because in 2022, the Traverse saw a refresh (don’t worry, we’ll cover that, too). However, we know that 2018 through 2021 models will deliver exceptional value, and can be purchased at impressively low prices now that they’ve been on the market for a handful of years. Here are some of the features you can find when looking at these model years.

The High Country Trim Makes Its Entrance

For long-time fans of the Chevy brand, you probably already know all about the High Country. Other models, including the Suburban, Tahoe, and Silverado, have had it for some time. It’s a beautifully designed luxury trim that makes car time much more enjoyable. If you want to impress clients or just treat yourself to something nice, consider this trim. 

For the second generation, Chevy gifted the High Country to the Traverse lineup, and it’s been there ever since. You’ll find things like perforated leather seats, suede accents, and large, intuitive touch screens. You also get power-folding third-row seats in this trim, so at the press of a button, you can put down that rear row to create extra cargo. This trim also has chrome roof rails that look cool and give you a place to attach exterior storage solutions like cargo boxes and bike racks. 

There’s also the SkyScape dual-panel sunroof, which lets in both natural light and fresh air. So, on those smolderingly hot Texas summer days, you can let in a breeze and enjoy the sun. The front seats are ventilated and heated, too, to help you get that perfect full-body temperature on hot or cold days. Even the second-row outboard seats are heated, so your rear-seat passengers will be happy, too.

A Split-Folding Second Row

Three-row SUVs are great people haulers, and the Traverse is more than ready to pick up a big group of friends or family from the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. However, historically, three-row SUVs have had one problem: accessing that third-row isn’t easy. It’s common to see third-row passengers in other SUVs awkwardly tossing a leg over that second-row seat-back and climbing over. Flexible kids and teens might put up with it, but adult passengers can’t tolerate it. 

Chevy recognized these issues, and the second generation added the split-folding second-row bench seat to the Traverse. This feature includes a curbside seat that can tip up and slide forward (even with a forward-facing child seat in place). Your third-row passengers will have a much easier time getting to their seats thanks to this feature. When second-row passengers don’t need the extra space, they can slide their seats up to give third-row passengers more legroom.

New Driver Assistance Features

If safety is a priority for you (and if you’ve seen how people drive on the I-30 during rush hour, it probably is), then 2018 and later are the years to check out. In 2018, Chevy added several new available driver-assistance features that greatly improve safety on highways and city streets, as well as in suburban areas. The first is the Surround Vision camera, which will give you a comprehensive view of your Traverse. Whether you’re navigating tight streets downtown or a tight parking spot in your office parking garage, you’ll appreciate this full view. 

Next, there’s Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning. It lets you know when you’re drifting from your lane and can even gently steer you back into it. Finally, there’s Front Pedestrian Braking. Previously, the Traverse only had automatic braking that would respond to potential collisions with vehicles. Front Pedestrian Braking, however, is prepared to detect people on foot and take over braking when necessary to avoid a potential collision. 

A Traction Mode Selector

If you’ve lived in Dallas long, then you know how the conditions can change. That means there are days when the roads are perfectly dry, but there are times when they can be wet and slippery. So, even though Dallas is a big city, you need a vehicle that’s ready to tackle just about any road. The paved streets of this city aren’t always as manageable as they appear. Luckily, in 2018, Chevy added a Traction Mode Select feature. It lets you make real-time adjustments to your vehicle to adapt to driving conditions. Switchable AWD is also available in 2018 through 2021 models, which lets you change between FWD and AWD in real time as conditions change. So you can switch to AWD if you sense a loss in traction and back to FWD for the best fuel economy when it’s safe to do so.

The City-Slick RS Trim

The High Country wasn’t the only trim Chevy added in 2018. They also gifted us the RS, which has a head-turning, street-ready style. It gets blacked-out parts like the bowtie emblems, grille, window trim, and roof rails. It rolls on 20-inch dark-painted aluminum wheels, too. On the inside, you’ll find black leather-appointed seats. Plus, it enjoys a 10-speaker Bose sound system. If you need the utility of a three-row SUV but want something distinctly anti-suburban in look and feel, consider the RS.

A Look at the 2022 Refresh

If you are interested in the second generation but want something a little more recent, you can find many of the features we covered above in the 2022 model. However, you’ll notice some cosmetic changes. For 2022, Chevy changed the face of the Traverse, reshaping the grille and expanding the lower bumper (which received the addition of a blacked-out section). Several exterior lighting features got updates, like the headlights that became more narrow and the rear LED lights that received some new elements, boosting their style points.

Find Your Chevy Traverse From the Comfort of Home

The years 2018 through 2021 were certainly some inspired ones for the Traverse. If you shop these years, you’ll feel like you’re enjoying truly fresh and modern features, but you’ll get access to some jaw-dropping prices. The best part is that when you shop with Online.cars, you don’t have to leave your couch to explore your options. And when you have questions, our Vehicle Solution Specialists are always a phone call away. So you can have the personal touch you’d experience at a dealership, without having to visit one.

You can take care of every part of buying a car online with us, too, including applying for financing! We work with a large network of trusted institutions to get you competitive loans. We even offer approval for all credit types because we think everyone deserves access to quality vehicles. Once everything’s finalized, we’ll deliver your vehicle straight to your door! So you don’t have to make time in your busy schedule to pick it up. Experience a better way to buy your next car and visit Online.cars today! Your perfect used Traverse is waiting for you.