In recent years, we’ve seen families shift away from traditional “family cars” like station wagons and minivans and embrace SUVs. As parents with young kids have become an increasingly large demographic for SUVs, automakers have taken notice and put more effort into making their models family-friendly. The 2024 Chevy Traverse is a great example of this phenomenon.
The Traverse is a three-row midsize SUV that’s entering a new generation with a complete redesign for the 2024 model year. It’s getting a variety of changes, from a bolder front face aesthetic to a new off-road capable Z71 trim. But perhaps the biggest difference between the 2023 Traverse and 2024 Traverse is the amount of safety features that come standard across the lineup. This upgrade is sure to make families take notice, especially those who need a vehicle that can seat more than five at a time.
Features that come standard on the outgoing 2023 model will be rolled over to the new generation, of course. This includes basics like a comprehensive airbag system, a LATCH system for attaching car seats for babies and young children, and a tire pressure monitoring system. It also includes driver assistance features like Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, IntelliBeam High Beam Assist, and a Following Distance Indicator.
While those features are all fairly common throughout the modern automotive industry, Chevy also stands out with some unique features like Teen Driver, which lets parents coach their young drivers by limiting certain settings while the teenager is behind the wheel and looking at an in-vehicle report card to see where there’s room for improvement. While the 2023 model was already fairly well-stocked, plenty of features were reserved for higher trim levels. For the 2024 model, many more pieces of safety technology will come standard, even in the most affordable model. Let’s take a look at ten features that are newly standard on the next-generation Chevy Traverse.
#1. All-New Rear Seat Belt Reminder
We’ll start the list with a feature that wasn’t available on the 2023 model because it’s brand new. The Rear Seat Belt Reminder lets you know if a passenger in the back has removed their seat belt. This lets parents take action right away if a child has slipped out of their seat belt.
#2. Upgraded Buckle to Drive
Buckle to Drive is a safety feature that encourages drivers to put on their seat belts by preventing the Traverse from shifting out of Park for 20 seconds or until the driver is buckled in. This feature can really help teenagers develop good habits while they learn to drive. Buckle to Drive was already standard on the 2023 Traverse, but the 2024 model is getting a newly upgraded version. Now, the front-seat passenger will also have to buckle up before your teen can start driving. If a young driver is going out with a friend, this can help encourage them both to stay safe on the road.
#3. Adaptive Cruise Control
Previously standard only on the RS trim and above, Adaptive Cruise Control makes driving long distances on the highway safer. Old-fashioned cruise control systems let you rest your ankle to avoid fatigue from setting in, but they keep the vehicle at a consistent speed no matter what, so it can be jarring when traffic suddenly slows down or comes to a stop. Adaptive Cruise Control lets you set a following distance as well as an ideal speed. You’ll cruise along at the set speed when it’s safe to do so, but the system will automatically slow down or stop to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you.
#4. HD Rear Vision Camera
Backup cameras have been required in all new vehicles sold in the United States for years, but not all cameras are created equal. In the new Traverse, all trims will be equipped with a high-definition camera that gives the driver a clearer view of the area behind them. This makes it easier to see what’s going on at a glance and recognize small details, like toys that have been left out on the driveway.
#5. HD Surround Vision
With a midsize SUV like the Traverse, it can be helpful to see more than just what’s behind you when parking or backing out of the garage. Because of the vehicle’s height, it can be difficult to see obstacles that are low to the ground in front of you and to the sides as well. HD Surround View gives you a 360º composite image of the entire area surrounding the vehicle, making it easy to stay fully aware of your surroundings while maneuvering tight spaces at low speeds.
#6. Lane Change Alert With Side Blind Zone Alert
Side Blind Zone Alert uses lighted graphics built into the side-view mirrors to let you know whenever a vehicle is in your blind zone. If you put on your turn signal while the blind zone is occupied, the Lane Change Alert will give you an audio warning as well. This can prevent you from getting into a lane change collision on the highway.
#7. Rear Park Assist
While mirrors and camera views can show you what’s behind you while you’re in reverse, it’s still possible to miss something, especially if you’re distracted by a car full of rowdy kids. Rear park assist detects objects behind the vehicle and alerts you to their presence. This gives you a chance to stop and pay closer attention before continuing.
#8. Rear Cross Traffic Braking
When backing out of a space in a parking lot, you don’t just need to worry about what’s directly behind you. Most vehicles will be coming from the left or right, and your view of them might be obstructed. Rear Cross Traffic Braking gives you a warning when cross traffic is approaching behind you while you’re in reverse. If you don’t react to a warning in time, Reverse Automatic Braking can hit the brakes to prevent a collision.
#9. Rear Pedestrian Alert
Of course, other vehicles and large objects aren’t the only things worth avoiding while you’re backing up. Pedestrians are smaller and are, therefore, more difficult for automated systems to detect. Rear Pedestrian Alert is specifically tuned to look out for people who may be standing or walking behind your vehicle while you’re backing up.
#10. Safety Alert Seat
The 2023 model’s Safety Alert Seat was only available on the top-tier Premier and High Country trims, but the 2024 Traverse includes it as standard all the way down to the base LS model. This unique feature works with a variety of driver assistance features that warn you of imminent danger. Visual warnings require you to take your eyes off the road in order to see them. Audio warnings are better, but you might miss them if there’s too much noise around and generic beeping sounds can’t tell you what the problem is or where it’s coming from. Safety Alert Seat warns you with seat vibrations that will be on one side or the other only if danger is coming from the left or the right and on both sides if it’s coming from the front or back. This lets you know immediately where you need to pay attention and is difficult to misinterpret or overlook.
