Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A white 2019 Chevy Trax on a tree-lined city street

Matching Chevy’s SUVs to Types of Drivers

Which of the Chevy SUVs are you going to opt for? Making that decision is easier said than done. The brand is one of the industry-leaders for this particular segment, meaning customers will surely have some difficulties choosing between their long list of options.

For instance, the incredible Chevy Trax is the perfect choice for those who have to travel around in the city, while the Chevy Equinox proves to be an excellent option for those hunting around for a road tripper. Sure, it might not be that difficult to choose between these two nameplates, but your predicament is exasperated when you also have to consider the Chevy Traverse, Chevy Tahoe, and Chevy Suburban. Each of the Chevy SUVs is impressive in their own way, meaning you may need some help making a final decision. 

Fortunately, we’re here to make your decision a whole lot easier. Below, we reviewed which of the Chevy SUVs would best appeal to certain type of drivers. See which nameplate best fits your wants and needs, and that hard-to-make decision will be a whole lot easier…

City Drivers: 2019 Chevy Trax

Who told city-dwellers that compact SUVs couldn’t be fun to drive? While we picked the 2019 Chevy Trax as an ideal vehicle for those living in cities, that doesn’t mean the vehicle still won’t provide suburban drivers with an enjoyable driving experience. 

The 1.4-liter turbocharged ECOTEC engine is still capable of delivering solid power specs at 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. However, the vehicle is truly appreciated by city drivers thanks to the efficiency specs. Thanks to a number of fuel-saving technologies, drivers can anticipate a 26-mile-per-gallon city fuel efficiency, providing them with plenty of additional opportunities to save some money. 

Of course, this might not even be all that important to you if you’re going to be relying on your new SUV for city driving. Rather, you’ll be eyeing the array of safety functions that will help to prevent any fender benders. For instance, the Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking will automatically apply the brakes if a collision appears to be imminent, and this can be especially helpful if you find yourself constantly traveling behind unpredictable cabs. Of course, the accompanying Forward Collision Alert would have already notified the driver of the danger by this point, and the audible and visual cues should provide the operator with more than enough time to adjust. 

The vehicle also comes equipped with Front Pedestrian Braking (which will detect sudden objects traveling in front of your ride) and the Rear Cross Traffic Alert (which will detect sudden objects traveling in back of your ride). The Rear Park Assist will be appreciated by those who have difficulties squeezing into tight parking spots, while the Rear Vision Camera will allow drivers to monitor everything that’s happening behind their vehicle at all times.

Road Trippers: 2019 Chevy Equinox

If you’re planning on taking a journey in your brand-new SUV, there’s truly no better choice than the 2019 Chevy Equinox. The nameplate provides drivers with a long list of amenities and advantages that will come in handy throughout your journey.

For starters, the Chevy Equinox provides a whole lot of space to fit all of your cargo. If owners take advantage of the 60/40 split-folding fold-flat rear seats, they can unlock an incredible 63.9-cubic-feet of cargo space. That way, if you have to fit any oddly-shaped luggage, you’ll have more than enough space to work with. Plus, engineers included a hands-free lift gate, meaning you can quickly and easily access the rear of your vehicle with the simple flick of your foot.

Of course, the brand provides several additional amenities that will be appreciated throughout your journey. The Chevy Infotainment System 3 will provide quick access to a handful of useful applications (including radio), and drivers can seamlessly connect their smartphone to the unit thanks to the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Equinox can even be equipped with 4G LTE Wi-Fi, meaning your occupants can remain on the grid throughout your journey.

Teen Drivers: 2019 Chevy Traverse

If you’re going to be sending your teen driver off on their first solo journey, you can rest easy if they take the wheel of the 2019 Chevy Traverse. The vehicle is equipped with a number of safety functions that will keep those inexperienced drivers safe, including their renowned Teen Driver Technology. These functions all played a major role in the nameplate earning a Five-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

The Teen Driver Technology will keep those younger drivers safe at all times. When the younger driver takes the wheel, these various technologies will automatically activate. The vehicle will also mute the audio until the driver and front-seat passenger are all buckled in. At the end of the trip, parents can monitor their child’s driving habits thanks to the in-vehicle report card.

Speaking of those advanced safety functions, there are a number of technologies that will come in handy when traveling on the highway. For instance, the Lane Change Alert (with Side Blind Zone Alert) provides the operator with an extra set of eyes, while the Forward Collision Alert will notify the driver if a collision appears to be imminent. Meanwhile, the much-appreciated Forward Automatic Braking will take control if the driver doesn’t respond, applying the brakes to lessen (or, hopefully, prevent) the impending collision.

Luxury Lovers: 2019 Chevy Tahoe

A man and woman walk away from a white 2019 Chevy Tahoe on a busy city street

The 2019 Chevy Tahoe isn’t necessarily known as a luxury vehicle, but you wouldn’t know that by looking at the SUV. The vehicle is one of the most opulent offerings in the segment, providing customers with that style and elegance that they’re surely seeking.

This sentiment primarily revolves around the interior amenities, including the premium stitching and premium leather upholstery. The available 12-way power-adjustable heated/ventilated front seat will keep the driver comfortable, but they’ll also appreciate the convenience that the power-adjustable functions provide. The second-row seats can also be heated, providing everyone with the utmost comfort. 

Engineers even included a number of sound-deadening materials, providing occupants with some necessary peace-and-quiet. The acoustic-laminated windshield and inlaid doors (with triple seals) will cut down on the noise from the roaring engine or wind, allowing everyone to travel without a headache.

Power: 2019 Chevy Suburban

This nameplate is the brand’s most muscular SUV, so it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the nameplate is the perfect choice for those seeking the utmost power from their new ride.

The 5.3-liter EcoTec3 V8 engine provides some of the best power specs in the entire class. The system is ultimately capable of delivering up to 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, meaning you’ll have no issues overcoming your fellow drivers on the highway. These numbers also have a vicarious impact on the towing capacity, as drivers can haul up to 8,300 pounds with their SUV. 

Plus, despite all of this power, the Suburban even manages to be relatively full efficient as far as Chevy SUVs go. Drivers can expect the system to deliver up to a 22-mile-per-gallon highway fuel efficiency. Therefore, while they may have to dish out some extra money for their new Suburban, they can at least save some money at the gas pump.

Hopefully, your impending decision wasn’t made even more difficult with those descriptions of the brand’s options. Instead, we hope that you maybe zeroed in on one or the nameplates that best fits your specific wants and needs. Fortunately, you shouldn’t be worried… regardless of which of the Chevy SUVs you end up with, we’re confident that you’ll be happy with your decision.