Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer: Which Used Buy Wins?
As used buys (July 2026), the Chevrolet Traverse typically lists for $39,997 against $40,927 for the Ford Explorer (same model years — 2024–2026 — national medians from live listings). the Chevrolet Traverse leads on NCAP safety (5.0★ vs 4.9★ average). Overall medians mix very different trims — at the cheapest common trims it's the LS at $27,714 vs the XLT at $32,146; see the trim-by-trim tables for a fair match. Every figure below is live market data, not book values.
Head to head
Trim-by-trim prices (last 4 model years)
A fair comparison matches equivalent trims, not overall medians. Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, the Chevrolet Traverse LS ($27,714) faces the Ford Explorer XLT ($32,146); the most common trims on the market are the LT (58.1% of Chevrolet Traverse listings) and the XLT (33.8% of Ford Explorer listings); at the top of the market, the HIGH COUNTRY ($50,062) faces the ST ($47,722). Share = portion of the model's trim-labeled used listings (a supply-side popularity signal: what the market actually stocks and sells most). “Cheapest”/“Priciest” mark the ends of the quotable trim range — trim ladders don't map one-to-one across brands, so this is not a factory base-model claim.
| Chevrolet Traverse | Ford Explorer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trim | Typical price | Share | Trim | Typical price | Share |
| LSCheapest | $27,714 | 4.2% | XLTMost popularCheapest | $32,146 | 33.8% |
| LTMost popular | $34,990 | 58.1% | LIMITED | $33,840 | 5.5% |
| PREMIER | $35,691 | 5.0% | TIMBERLINE | $36,271 | 2.5% |
| LT Z71 | $42,995 | 2.5% | ACTIVE | $39,995 | 17.4% |
| RS | $46,995 | 16.9% | ST-LINE | $39,999 | 17.6% |
| Z71 | $48,313 | 9.1% | PLATINUM | $45,910 | 7.0% |
| HIGH COUNTRYPriciest | $50,062 | 4.3% | STPriciest | $47,722 | 12.8% |
| — | TREMOR | $55,325 | 2.0% | ||
Rows are aligned by price position (both sides sorted cheapest-first), not by equivalent equipment — trim names never map one-to-one across brands. Full per-trim detail (price ranges, mileage) is on each model's price page: Chevrolet Traverse prices · Ford Explorer prices.
Used price by model year
| Year | Chevrolet Traverse typical | Ford Explorer typical | Difference | Chevrolet Traverse MPG | Ford Explorer MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $46,609 | $45,790 | Chevrolet Traverse +$819 | 21–22 MPG | 19–24 MPG |
| 2025 | $39,997 | $40,927 | Ford Explorer +$930 | 21–23 MPG | 20–24 MPG |
| 2024 | $39,634 | $35,786 | Chevrolet Traverse +$3,848 | 20–23 MPG | 20–24 MPG |
| 2023 | $31,172 | $32,791 | Ford Explorer +$1,619 | 20–21 MPG | 20–27 MPG |
| 2022 | $25,692 | $29,354 | Ford Explorer +$3,662 | 20–21 MPG | 19–27 MPG |
| 2021 | $22,995 | $24,698 | Ford Explorer +$1,703 | 20–21 MPG | 19–27 MPG |
| 2020 | $20,040 | $22,795 | Ford Explorer +$2,755 | 20–21 MPG | 19–28 MPG |
| 2019 | $18,488 | $18,058 | Chevrolet Traverse +$430 | 20–22 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2018 | $15,874 | $16,653 | Ford Explorer +$779 | 20–22 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2017 | $10,696 | $14,488 | Ford Explorer +$3,792 | 17–18 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2016 | $9,549 | $12,509 | Ford Explorer +$2,960 | 17–18 MPG | 18–22 MPG |
| 2015 | $8,900 | $10,752 | Ford Explorer +$1,852 | 19 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2014 | $7,500 | $9,746 | Ford Explorer +$2,246 | 19 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2013 | $6,995 | $8,499 | Ford Explorer +$1,504 | 19 MPG | 18–23 MPG |
| 2012 | $6,588 | $7,850 | Ford Explorer +$1,262 | 19 MPG | 19–23 MPG |
| 2011 | $5,850 | $7,900 | Ford Explorer +$2,050 | 19 MPG | 19–20 MPG |
| 2010 | $6,598 | $6,000 | Chevrolet Traverse +$598 | 19 MPG | 15–17 MPG |
| 2009 | $5,995 | $5,466 | Chevrolet Traverse +$529 | 19 MPG | 15–17 MPG |
Typical price = national median asking price of live listings for that model year (July 2026); MPG = EPA combined range across rated versions.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to buy used — Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer?
Comparing the same model years (2024–2026), the Chevrolet Traverse is cheaper: it typically lists for $39,997 versus $40,927 for the Ford Explorer (national medians, July 2026).
Which is safer — Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer?
By NCAP overall crash-test rating the Chevrolet Traverse averages 5.0 of 5 stars across rated years versus 4.9 for the Ford Explorer. Always check the specific model year's rating in the table above.
Which is more reliable — Chevrolet Traverse or Ford Explorer?
NHTSA lists an average of 3.5 recalls per model year for the Chevrolet Traverse and 10.2 for the Ford Explorer — an edge for the Chevrolet Traverse. Recall and complaint counts scale with sales volume, so treat them as context and check any specific car's VIN history.
Which trims should I actually compare?
Like for like: at the cheapest common trims, a Chevrolet Traverse LS typically lists for $27,714 vs $32,146 for a Ford Explorer XLT; the most common trims on the market are the LT ($34,990, 58.1% of Chevrolet Traverse listings) and the XLT ($32,146, 33.8% of Ford Explorer listings); at the top of the market, the HIGH COUNTRY ($50,062) faces the ST ($47,722). Overall medians hide this trim mix — use the trim tables above for a fair match. Trim names never map one-to-one across brands, so "cheapest" means the least expensive trim with a real market share, not the factory base.
https://vehisales.com/research/compare/chevrolet/traverse/vs/ford/explorer.
Dig deeper
Chevrolet Traverse — live listings & specs Ford Explorer — live listings & specs Chevrolet Traverse prices by year Ford Explorer prices by year Chevrolet Traverse MPG by year Ford Explorer MPG by year
See also: All model comparisons · Best used cars by budget · Used car prices by model.